Love. Honor. Manhood.

Yesterday my brother and Ed celebrated their wedding - which took place last August after the defeat of DOMA - with a beautiful reception in Boston at Legal's Harborside.  The reception was for family on both sides. My girls were  included with love and acceptance for who they are and how they are (which is not "perfect" because of their autism.)  

How is it that Richard didn't think twice about whom to invite? He was raised by THIS man. My father, who is 91 years old, gave this glorious toast to Richard and Ed yesterday. Of course it is a poem - he has always loved poetry and can recite stanza after stanza from "rote memory." (A term I heard often during homework time as a kid.)

How many gay men and women, teens, have been shunned by family? Cast out? Too many. Not in the Rossi or Wood families.    Love does not come with strings or requirements. It simply exists.

I think this is my Dad's proudest moment - and he has had many. He's told us stories of sticking up for African Americans during WWII taking note of the blatant discrimination. He never wavered in sending my sister and me to college.

He's 91! That's OLD school - and Irish Italian to boot.   Rich and Ed could have faced a stone wall of rejection. Not so. Not so.

My mother too - never wavered in her love for her child. Did she worry about him when he came out?  Every day - I'm sure. That's what a mother does.

And this? Below? THIS IS FAMILY. And I love them.

My parents!

My folks going to my brother and Ed's wedding party today. Love the Caddy limo! 

22 Years Married Yesterday

We are blessed in many ways - despite adversity that would have exploded most marriages years ago. 

Every family member and friend. Some are gone. We miss them. 

Mark left for his sales meeting the Monday after we married. We've yet to do anything "by the book!" 

My favorite reception photo. My friends and I laughing over the mechanics of peeing while wearing 43 pounds of silk and petticoat. 

Before our rehearsal dinner - a beautiful party thrown by Mike and June Stagliano. 

My wonderful Grandma Yoli at my shower. The grande dame of the wedding. 

Time to Teach Someone Else to Make the Donuts!

Pre-Wedding Jitters?

October 18, 1991. We had our rehearsal dinner at the Marriott Hilton Head, SC. My Father in Law and Mother in Law threw a fabulous party for us.  I miss Mike Stagliano very very much. He was a wonderful Father in Law.

Life Changed

10 years ago this month my husband lost his good paying executive job with benefits. And everything changed. Some for the better, like coming home to New England. (Thank you God and baby Jesus.) Some - not so much. No more shopping sprees at Nordstrom's in a shiny killer BMW without a care in the world. I can promise you that in America, once you fall down - or are pushed as in our case - unemployment on top of the financial disaster of autism - it's DAMN hard to get back up again. The deck is stacked against you in a thousand ways - both big and small. It has made me stronger, leaner, more loyal to those who reach out, a bit meaner, well maybe more than a bit, a bit nicer, well maybe not quite a bit, a lot wiser, a whole lot more grateful, and far less tolerant of bullshit.

This is the house we sold to stay afloat.

This is the shiny car we drove. Vroom!

This was my family. Still is......

And my family - it's all that matters to me. It has changed since 2003. We've lost members, gained members. Blood and genetics means nothing to me. I know who has stood by us without judging - who has reached out to us with love and care and kindness - and so many of you are my autism family. And my new CT family.

Snakes on A Pain!!!!

Last May, I told my haircutter that my hair was much too long. It was. Let's take off some length turned into a 1920's bob above my chin. Finally it's growing out. A curl fell in my face today and all I could hear was Samuel L. Jackson yelling,  "Snakes on a plane!!!!!"   Pain. A pain. Moi. Get it?? 

Karate Testing