19Dec 2013 by CJ

Reflecting on the end of the year doesn’t always have to be a bad thing

Life & Living
For some reason the holidays are always a time for reflection. A time to applaud our accomplishments, lament our failures and mourn the loss of those no longer in our presence. Perhaps its location towards the end of the calendar is what spurs on this personal reflection in so many of us. This coming to a close if you will is often the impetus for us to look back over the last year to evaluate the past - hoping for a better future. Art Buchwald once said, “Whether it’s the best of times or the worst of times, it’s the only time we’ve got.” And I guess that’s really the only way to look at life isn’t it? This year marks the first Christmas I will spend without my beloved…
Read More
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…
Read More
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…
Read More
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…
Read More
03Dec 2013 by CJ

Simple holiday decorations bring more meaning to the season

Life & Living
It’s amazing how many holiday decorations one collects over the years. They’re often impulse purchases that are just “too cute” to pass up, but years later you find yourself asking “why did I buy this?” Over the last few years my wife and I have gone through our collection – eliminating a great deal of those impulse purchases. But they never go to waste as charitable organizations and family members typically benefit from these items that are still like-new, just not for us. But this year my wife and I went one step further by choosing to decorate our home – inside and out – minimally. Instead of adorning every square inch of our home with holiday decor, this year we picked a handful of favorite items and tastefully spread…
Read More