16Dec 2013 by CJ

Making Struffoli and enjoying the memories that come along with it

Love & Relationships
I always remember my grandmother making Struffoli (honey balls) around Christmas time. Struffoli is a kind of Italian cookie, which was originally created to symbolize abundance and good luck. Stories exist that nuns once gave them to the Italian aristocracy during the holiday as a sort of thank you for all the good works they’d done for charity. However they came into existence, they’re a gooey sweet treat I always enjoyed eating growing up – and still do! When my grandmother reached the age where she could no longer fully prepare a meal for herself, my wife and I decided we would make the Struffoli dough at our house and then bring it over to assemble it with grams. On the small television in one corner of her kitchen, we’d…
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12Dec 2013 by CJ

Remember what the “true” gifts of Christmas really are

Love & Relationships
I’ve always believed with age comes humility - a clearer sense of what is truly valuable in our lives. As children the holidays are a time of continual receiving - not giving - and for some this ideal continues well into adulthood. But I fully believe that anyone who’s journeyed long enough through the ups and downs of life understands that the holidays are a time for remembrance. A time to recall Christmas’ of yesterday, which no longer exist anywhere but in our hearts and in our minds. A time to remember that Christmas is about you and me – the people who make it special. It’s during this time of year that my wife and I display a book entitled “The Christmas Letters” written by Bret Nicholaus. The book…
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04Dec 2013 by CJ

Though the experience is over, memories are a window into the past

Life & Living, Love & Relationships
The other day I was rummaging through a drawer for something-or-other and came across the enclosed photograph. Within seconds I was transported back to being a teenager for a pleasant trip down memory lane. Throughout high school, I always worked behind-the-scenes on the school plays. [caption id="attachment_2010" align="alignright" width="283"] Craig's moment in drag[/caption] Fascinated by the workings of theatrical productions as a kid, this became one of the highlights of my high school years whether it was working on sets, organizing props and furnishings or pulling open the curtain at show time.My drama teacher Mr. Richard Snyder, who also directed and produced all of our main stage productions, was an incredible influence on me. A friend and mentor, he made a shy and insecure teenager feel appreciated and accepted and…
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26Nov 2013 by CJ

The gifts you GIVE are what help you make a life

Love & Relationships
“Many of us tend to believe that our lives are the only ones burdened with the trials and tribulations of life. Some of us are so caught up in a world of materials and social popularity that we forget about what’s truly important, and how grateful we should be every morning we’re able to start a new day with few obstructions.” C. Ruvere, The View from Here In January of 2013, I wrote a post about an inspiring woman named Jeannine Walston – the daughter of a former co-worker I had the great pleasure of working with for the better part of a year. https://craigruvere.com/a-wonderful-resource-for-cancer-patients-and-caregivers/ Sadly, her life has been anything but void of obstructions. Her personal cancer story beginning back in 1998, and continuing today - having recently undergone…
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08Nov 2013 by CJ

In marriage, you won’t agree all the time and that’s okay!

Love & Relationships
My grandparents were married for over 60 years – an amazing length of time when you think about how many marriages today come to an end after only a few years of giving it a try. But this is reality and I’m not going to sit here and tell you that their marriage was not without its share of hardships and challenges along the way - that they never argued or disagreed about one thing or another. That my grandfather didn’t often refer to my grandmother as “fart-face” – a pet name I later learned he meant with no malice. I don’t think you could be with the same person for that long and not bicker here and there – even butt heads from time to time. I mean 60…
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