My Grandma, Mary Theresa Jones

For my Christmas present, my grandma gave me a book called "Mary Fitzpatrick Family History."
There are stories about my ancestors, and stories about her childhood. If I can, I will scan a picture later, but here is her favorite story to tell (as it is written in the book):

Why I'm Named Mary By Mary Jones

Mother had intended to name Eileen. About two months before my due date, she was pretty sure she already in labor, and was sure she'd lose another baby after the four previous miscarriages in the first 8 years of marriage. At some point in those first hours, a Little Sister of the Poor came to the door for a donation for the poor people in their care. She found Mother crying. Mother told the sister her fears. The sister gave her a miraculous medal and said "Pin this to the baby's clothes and if it is a girl, call her Mary."

So when the tine 3-pound baby was born on June 9, 1921, Mother and Daddy followed the sister's advice. I was baptized soon after birth with a priest friend who happened to be on hand as godfather because there was doubt I'd survive. My church baptism was much later, in Ilion on July 4th at Annunciation Church with Uncle Jack Fitzpatrick from New Jersey and Kitty Butler as godparents. By then I was up to a proud 5 pounds.

Whether my arrival and survival was a miracle or not can be questioned. However a 3-pound preemie surviving at a time when incubators were scarce and expensive could be considered pretty miraculous.

I believe that God brings miracles through ordinary human means. The almost abracadabra instant miracle is dramatic, but all of the "little miracles" are just as real.

In my case, the miracle came by way of Mother and Daddy being steered to a pediatriacian Dr. O'Gorman...when pediatrics was a new field in 1921. Mother used to push me in my carriage to his office, a mile of city blocks every day. I don't know how many days in all.l He had me on a diet of strained fruit and vegetables in the days before Gerber's came along. Mother was her own baby food factory. Of course I got milk formula, probably a mixture of water, milk and Karo Syrup. I never had any refined sugar until I was 4 years old.

Perhaps another part of the miracle was that there was a warm June and July that year which acted like an incubator.

So I'm Mary Fitz-Jones instead of Eileen. Otherwise there might have been an Eileen Plock in Ellen and Wally's (my parents) family instead of Mary Theresa (My sister).

My grandmother married Harris Jones in 1945. They have lived "happily ever after" for over 64 years and are still in love. They have seven children--five boys and two girls. She taught music and still imagines herself conducting when she attends her grandchildren's concerts or listens to the radio.

I knew she attended church every week, but I did not know how deep her faith ran until I read the part of the story about her beliefs about miracles.

Nerds

Dr. Cosby, one of America's best entertainers from the 20th Century gave the keynote address at Carnegie Mellon University's graduation in 2007. He gives great reasons for why people who like learning should refuse to accept themselves as nerds. I have had to shake off the stigma that comes with running hard after my dreams.

"Nerds..."

"Why anybody would accept themselves as nerds, bothers me. If I'm looking at nerds, according to nerds, I think it has something to do with you don't know how to mingle, you don't know how to get along with other people or dance. Or stand in a room and look human. I don't know why you want to accept yourselves as being that because you all have continued on where non-nerds stopped. Now let's do math and they quit. All the non-nerds did that. They said 'I'm tired. Why do I have to know this?'

You guys have continued on. That's not nerdy--I think it's very, very brave (considering how many friends you've lost.) But think [of] how many friends you've gained. And listen to yourselves having fun."

If you like learning, or you want to make something of yourself, keep going and don't let anyone belittle you for challenging yourself. The people who many would call nerds, have the bravery and heroism to keep pressing on despite opposition.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BY-WFfajWq8

St. Nicholas Day

Is Santa Claus real?

Yes. His name was Nicholas and he is one of the most celebrated saints of all time. He was born in Asia Minor in the 4th Century. He thirsted for "sincere and true religion." When his parents died, he inherited a large fortune that he wished to use to serve others.

His most famous act of charity is secretly throwing bags of gold into the home of an impoverished man with three daughters . Because he had no money, the man was thinking about selling his daughters into prostitution. Nicholas's aid gave each daughter the dowry she needed to marry. The last time Nicholas came, the father saw him and showered him with gratitude.

Few people know that Nicholas also suffered great persecution before Constantine rose to power. He stood against the unjust execution of three innocent men and may have even been at the council of Nicea (where the Bible was canonized).

A few hundred years after his death a Greek said of Saint Nicholas, "the West as well as the East acclaims and glorifies him. Wherever there are people, in the country and the town, in the villages, in the isles, in the furthest parts of the earth, his name is revered and churches are built in his honor. Images of him are set up, panegyrics preached and festivals celebrated. All Christians, young and old, men and women, boys and girls, reverence his memory and call upon his protection. And his favors, which know no limit of time and continue from age to age, are poured out over all the earth; the Scythians know them, as do the Indians and the barbarians, the Africans as well as the Italians." (as qtd on Catholic.org)

Courage: facing persecution, standing firm in his faith
Brave deeds: decrying injustice, rescuing three innocent men from death.
Noble qualities: selflessness, compassion, wisdom, Christ-lover, seeker of truth.

Conclusion: HERO--no doubt.

Read his full story here:

http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=371

Heroes and Heroines

I'm on the lookout for heroic men and women. Anyone is up for grabs: living people...dead people...literary people.

Hero: A man of distinguished courage, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities (dicitonary.com)

Heroine: A woman of distinguished courage, admired for her brave deeds and noble qualities.

Strive to be one.