June 2014
ScreaminMamas
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The voice of everyday moms
happy father’s day!
inside this issue: King Andrew happy father’s day, dad! horseshoes & box lunches Uncle Rick & his garden mangos from heaven dad’s that rock! a publication of harmoni productions
Letter from the Editor Vito Gerbino
Hello Fabulous Mamas & Contributors! Each month we celebrate the Everyday Mom, so this month is special because it’s our time to recognize all the special men in our lives - fathers, sons, husbands, brothers, uncles, grandpas. There is so much joy in seeing a dad bond with their child or a grandpa passing down those manly stories... watching your son grow into a man with a family of his own and the joy of a brother or uncle who shares in the delight of raising your own kids. Though sometimes it may seem there are few and far between, there really are plenty of sterling men out there. For this we take our hats off! Good Dads Rock!
This month also celebrates summer fun and our Heavenly Father - for He is our driving force and the engine that never quits on us. We’d also like to give special attention to our ScreaminMamas contributor and supporter, Shiela Velar, for her invaluable assistance with streamlining our design and layout. Thank you, Sheila! And a HUGE Thank You to the fabulous Irene Gray for sharing the picture of her Dad, Ernie Smith, for our SENSATIONAL Cover Photo! WOW! Thank you, Irene! You’ll also see a few ‘dad’ quotes & old pics of some of our other dads scattered about in memory. Happy Father’s Day to all. - Darlene
FUN & HEARTFELT FATHER’S DAY QUOTES
“It is not flesh and blood but the heart which makes us fathers and sons.” - Friedrich von Schiller “Never raise your hand to your kids. It leaves your groin unprotected!” - Red Buttons
EDITORIAL Darlene Pistocchi - Editor-in-Chief Denise Weatherby - Postmaster/Books Deanna Wolverton - Director of Ops/Georgia Lena Luig - Submissions/Copy Editor PROMOTIONAL Corinne Ramos - Promotions/Event Coordinator Sandra Lemire - Writer/Consultant/Strategist LaDiDa - Sales/Marketing/Events CREATIVE Susan Kissinger - Illustrations/Design Studio Marcella Kumer - Short Stories/Poems Janine Taranto - Writer/Kiddy Corner Sheila Velar - Layout & Design Consultant LaDiDa - Stories/Poems/Recipes/Photography Darlene Pistocchi - Layout/Design/Graphics JUNE CONTRIBUTORS Irene Gray, Patty Carroll, Milton Cust, Anthony Bui, Linda Seccaspina, The Livingston Family, The Rockwells, The Weatherbys, The Tarantos, The Mejias Family, The Velars & The Carbonells
TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 3 King Andrew Page 4-5 The Best Dads in Universe Page 5 Dr. Snyder/SKDS Design Studio Page 6 Mangos from Heaven Page 7 Happy Father’s Day, In Memory... Page 8 Happy Father’s Day, Dad Page 9 Proverbs 4:11-13 Page 10 Interview with Dentist Dad Page 11 Austin Page 12-13 Casanova Page 14-15 Uncle Rick & His Garden Page 16 Learning to Love What’s Right Page 17 Marvin the Martian Mambo King Page18-19 A Father’s Love Page 20-22 Horseshoes & Box Lunches Page 23 ScreaminMama Subscriptions Page 24 Angels & Dolphins Page 25 Susan Kissinger Design Studio Page 26 James, the Loveable Ogre Page 27 Dad’s that Rock! Page 28 Father to the Fatherless
Cover Photo: Ernest C. Smith, Circa 1948, Times Square, Courtesy Irene Gray As always, all of us at ScreaminMamas thank all of our supporters, contributors, advertisers, sponsors and fans for helping us reach our goals of sharing YOUR stories. If you would like to advertise with us, sponsor us or have a story, photo, memory, recipe, or other work of art that you would like to share, please email us screaminmamas@gmail.com.*All rights reserved; no part of this publication may be reproduced, reprinted, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of ScreaminMamas and/or Harmoni Productions, LLC. Authors/artists retain all rights to their work. ScreaminMamas/Harmoni Productions retains all rights for layout & design.
"The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him."- Proverbs 20:7 Pictured Right, Jack Weatherby, Back Row, 2nd from Left & AirForce Squadron, early sixties
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Mangos from Heaven... By: Darlene Pistocchi
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id you know that Mangos are the world's most popular fruit? As a matter of fact, they are considered the ‘King of Fruit’ throughout the world and one of the world's most interesting fruits! With their intriguing beginnings in India over 5,000 years ago, mangos are part of many cultural traditions and folklore. Designs of the fruit, flowers and leaves of the mango tree are still found in Buddhist and Hindu temples throughout India and the 'Paisley' design, extremely popular in the sixties, originates from India and is based on the mango.
shrivel. There are so many, I get so mad I want to curse them - but then I look up. It's like manna from heaven! It's amazing how I am provided for everyday in the absolute simplest of ways, and yet I still find time to bicker. And then I think of lost loved ones and how short our time here is. I lift my head and look around. I see so much life. So much rich color. All of these pictures are straight from my yard. We get so many mangos every year, I decided to do some research on this exotic fruit and found that aside from making the best frozen drinks and shakes, they are also an excellent source of vitamins C and A, both important antioxidant nutrients. They are high in fiber, contain over 20 different vitamins and minerals and scored 93 out of 100 on the recently introduced NuVal scoring system for overall nutritional quality.
A Hindu Legend tells the story of the mango tree growing from the ashes of the sun princess, who had been incinerated by an evil sorceress. The Emperor fell in love with the mango flower and subsequently its fruit. When the mango ripened and fell to the ground, the beautiful sun princess emerged. Thus, the mango has become a symbol of love in India, and a basket of mangos is considered a gesture of friendship. The mango tree plays a sacred role and some believe that it can grant wishes. In Hindu culture, hanging fresh mango leaves outside the front door during the Hindu New Year is considered a blessing for the house. - Source: Interesting Facts about Mangos, Maps
Developed by an independent panel of nutrition and medical experts, the Nuval System helps you see – at a glance – the nutritional value of the food you buy. Visit NuVal.com for more info.
So, no longer will I complain! I will think of my loved ones and my heavenly Father sending me buckets of these sweet, luscious fruits. I will gather them and I will share them with all my family and friends, and every year when I am full of mangos, I will think of my mom and dad as the sun princess and the emperor, looking down, eternally dancing, and sending these heavenly gifts so full of color and life. A blessing indeed. ✴✴✴ Love You, Mom & Dad
of India.com
In the midst of mango season here in Florida, I can't help but complain about all the mangoes that fill my yard! Everywhere I step, I feel a squish under my feet, then I almost stumble and fall. Some of them fill with bugs before I can get to them, others dry up and
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Learning to Love What’s Right By: Linda Seccaspina
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Quietly he sits there while I whisper information about Carrie's $18,000 dollar outfit she wears in Abu Dubai. He does not make a sound as I tell him how I used to wear skirts like that and how The View on Friday created their own version for $600. I see him shuffle from time to time but when I ask him if he is okay, he only wants to know if I am enjoying the movie. We both shed a tear at the end and he treats me to Thai Food. I thank him for taking me, and again, he only wants to make sure I had a good time.
he death of my father is probably the biggest thing I ever faced. We never got along and I thought I would never trust any man with my heart again. It took me decades to find someone who loved me for me, and even though he is a father, but not the father of my children, I wrote this for him in 2010... This morning I sit here trying to decipher what I wrote down for a Sex and the City movie review. By the appearance of my bad handwriting, I might have actually gone to see a foreign movie instead.
This morning he sits on the couch while I type, and watches The Young and the Restless with me. I have watched it almost every day since 1979. He starts to laugh and asks me who the new actress is. I tell him it's Abby and they have aged her by 8 years for a new story line.
Trying to remember what I wrote, I see Steve sitting beside me in the theatre a few days ago. He really did not care to see the movie, but he still came with me. Can you tell how much someone loves you by watching them endure a Sex and The City Movie ?
He looks at me and smiles again and says, "It's a pretty wacky little story isn't it?"
Tickets were purchased by him online to go see the popular film when I mentioned it. There was no whining, no face making, only plans to get there early to make sure we got good seats. He was stoked at least to possibly enjoying a good trailer or two. Instead, he is treated to endless “chick flick” film previews and shakes his head. When the new Twilight series Eclipse trailer comes on he watches me silently clapping my hands and says very calmly,
I smile. I don't need Carrie's Mr. Big, her wardrobe, nor John Corbett. I don't need to read Cosmopolitan like I used to for years, scouring lists of how to tell you if a man is worthy or not. I have it all here. I have all I need. I have someone that loves me. I have finally learned that the highest love of all finds its fulfillment not in what it keeps, but in what it gives.
Happy Father's Day,Steve xox
"Guess I will have to order tickets for that online soon." The movie begins and he knows all the characters by name as he has watched every television episode along with me. He loved the series, but does not care for the movies, as he feels it plays into a lot of dumb scenarios. He is probably right, but I still love the clothes. Steve is impressed with Liza Minnelli doing her rendition to Beyonce's song Put a Ring on it!
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Linda is a divine writer! You can find read her daily blog at connect. everythingzoomer.com/profiles and follow her on Twitter @McPheeeeee
Happy FAther’s Day, Dad Our Cover Story
By: Irene Gray
Ernest with Irene, brother Ernie (center on Ernest's lap) and brother Teddy
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rnest C. Smith was born January 19, 1929, in New York. (The sensational cover photo of Ernest was taken 1948, Times Square, NY) He married my mom, Barbara Efstration (our covergirl last Mother's Day), in 1948. I was born in 1950 and then ten months later my brother Ernie was born. They waited six years before having my youngest brother, Teddy.
He did get to hang out with his grandchildren and when they wanted to do something that I was not to sure about (you know how us moms can get!) he would say, "Oh let 'em try it... Columbus took a chance!"
We moved around a lot because my dad made a career of the Navy. He joined when he was a teen and worked on planes. After 22 years, he retired as Chief Petty Officer and we moved to Marietta, Georgia, where he bought a service station. Dad was very good working on cars. The station was called Smitty's Pure Gas until Union 76 bought them out and then it was called Smitty's Union 76. After a few years, he and my mom split up and sold the station. Dad remarried and then moved to Panama City, Florida. He loved it there - walking on the beach, ice cream, traveling, fishing, working on cars.
He was buried in Marietta, Georgia, and when my husband and I went to visit his grave we had a bit of trouble finding him! We were very close but seemed to have missed his site by one row. It was a cold day and we walked all over the place. Finally, when we found it and realized how close we were, I knew it was Dad giving us the run-around (maybe to help keep us warm) and I am sure he was getting a good laugh!
On January 29, 1996, at the young age of 68 while living in Florida, Dad left Earth, but his spirit remained!
When we went back to the car to leave, we heard country music. We opened the windows to find out where the music was coming from, but it was not coming from outside. I had a boom box under all the stuff on the floor board. YES!!! It was playing! I just know it was my dad that turned it on while we were hunting for his grave. :)
What I really love to remember is that Dad had a great sense of humor and he loved to listen to country music. He always had a transistor radio with him. I mean always! When I tried to learn something new and had a hard time, Dad would always tell me "practice makes perfect". When I had a bad dream, he would tell me I was sleeping with my rear-end uncovered!
Ernest with son Ernie after a fishing trip
I know my dad is always with me and is watching over me and his family.
Love & Miss You, Dad, soooooo very much Irene xox
What a fantastic story. It made us laugh and cry - and cry and laugh. We are so honoroed and blessed to share these memories. We are also honored to have been able to share pictures of both Irene's parents on our covers. Thank you, Irene, Barbara & Ernest!
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Ernest with his Mom, Irma
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L O V A Father’s E Matthew & Maddison
Matthew, Breanna & Maddison
"It is a wise father that knows his own child." - William Shakespeare "Honestly, I would have to say that each day is a brand new adventure. Every time I look into my daughters eyes I fall in love all over again. Her smile is infectious and makes me ecstatic. I love being a father and I would not change a thing in my life. My little girl completes me as a human being." - Matthew Hayes Rockwell
The Rockwells
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Violet & Casanova
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CASANOVA
our years ago, I received one of the most wonderful gifts - a desert tortoise named Casanova.
By: Janine Taranto & Her Precious Kiddy Corner!
Joan Van Coillie, who had both female and male tortoises, needed a home for Casanova. He enjoyed the female tortoises a bit too much, which is how he came to be known Casanova! He is quite a social guy, and the children I care for just love him. They love to feed him lettuce and watermelonhis favorite foods. continued next page...
Paige, Annie, Grayson & Casanova enjoying lunch together!
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Illustraton of God from Creation of Adam, Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo
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Photo: The Hand of God, Molinovski
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