love thursday:
happy birthday michael!

My nephew turns 12 years old today, and I have no idea how that happened. I mean, I remember the day he was born like it was yesterday–in fact, you can read about it here–but where has the time gone? And how the heck did he get to be taller than me (not that it takes much since I’m a whopping 5’2″)?

So once again I am missing a birthday, and I’m feeling sad about that, but, cheesy as it is, whenever I feel particularly far away from my loved ones, I go outside, look up and really am comforted knowing “we’re sleeping underneath the same big sky.”

Thank you Fievel, and happy, happy birthday Michael!

I miss you more than you could ever know.

Happy Love Thursday everyone!

15 Beans of Wisdom to “love thursday:
happy birthday michael!”
  1. 08.21.2008

    Happy Birthday to Michael!

    Gee… tell me about it! I also look at my nephews and am amazed at how fast time flies.

    Well, but I do find it comforting to know that you and I are both the same height 🙂

    Thanks for the birthday wishes! It seems like there are quite a few of us around the Italian blogosphere who are 5’2″…Cherrye, NYC/Caribbean ragazza…the magic height apparently 😉

  2. Ha. I was JUST about to say the same thing as you said in your reply to Martha! Who knew 5’2″ was the new 5’11”?? he he

    Cherrye at My Bella Vita’s last blog post..Love Thursday: A Bit of Love from Mickey Mouse

    Hah, who knew is right!

  3. 08.21.2008

    Balderdash. I’m only 61.5″ and so is eg.

    Anyway, this is reality. Micheal is quickly building toward his own moment of human near-perfection at 14 years old. You are sliding away from it. Fortunately, your slide is much slower than his climb.

    Now, who here ever thought at 14 that “this is perfection”?

    Judith in Umbria’s last blog post..Fried stuffed squash flowers

    Definitely not I, Judith!

  4. 08.21.2008

    Nephews are so great, aren’t they? Mine just turned 6, and like you, I don’t really know how that happened????

    Happy Birthday Michael!!

    My Mélange’s last blog post..Three good souls

    Thanks for the wishes Robin 🙂

  5. HA! I haven’t heard that song for years and years! But, it’s true about looking at the same moon and everything…I think of that a lot when I’m away from family/friends.

    erin :: the olive notes’s last blog post..st. augustine photo tour :: evening downtown

    I just love this song, especially with mice singing 🙂

  6. 08.21.2008

    For me, it’s definitely the hardest part of being away from home . . .being away from the kids: my niece, my cousins’ children. I’m preparing my niece’s birthday present right now and I just wish I could go with the package and give her a huge hug and kiss!

    So happy birthday to Michael!

    Kim B.’s last blog post..A Happy Day in the Barbee Family

    Thanks for the wishes Kim 🙂

  7. 08.21.2008

    Ah, Michelle, that song always makes me tear up. I love it to this day and think of so many people who mean so much to me! 🙂

    That’s so sweet of you to give this shout out to your nephew!

    Christina Arbini’s last blog post..Don’t Miss Out On The Emerald City Writers Conference!

    Glad you enjoyed the song 🙂

  8. 08.21.2008

    Not sure why that posted twice. Sorry! 🙂

    No worries, Christina; my blog likes to keep us on our toes 😉

  9. 08.21.2008

    Happy B’day to your nephew! They all grow waaaaayyyyyy too fast, in my opinion.

    I ran into an old friend this morning and she was marveling at C’s height, hair, budding mustache, etc., and I was shocked to remember that her cute, pugnosed little girl is a SENIOR in high school this year. Yikes!

    jen of a2eatwrite’s last blog post..This Man has Class with a Capital “C”

    Thanks Jenn; time sure does go fast….

  10. 08.21.2008

    awwww, that song is so sweet! haven’t heard it in a long time.

    missing special days like birthdays is definitely the hardest part of being away from home. and like you, every time i miss my family i head over to the ocean and think of them, on the other side of the pacific. i can’t even imagine not living in the west coast, that’ll be too hard.

    happy birthday michael!

    odessa’s last blog post..confession tuesday

    Thanks for sharing Odessa, and thanks for the birthday wishes 🙂

  11. 08.21.2008

    Aw, Fieval. I always liked that song. 🙂

    Happy birthday, Michael!

    Stefanie’s last blog post..In which you either wish I watched the news more often or you thank your lucky stars that I don’t

    Thanks for the wishes Stefanie! That little mouse is too cute, I say!

  12. 08.21.2008

    You made me cry! *sniff*
    My sister and I were separated by circumstance for a year while we were very young teens and that was our song to each other… “Somewhere Out There”… we’d sing it on the phone together and think of each other every time it came on.
    Very touching. I’m not surprised at all that someone as sweet as you cherishes the same sentiments and love for her family!

    Hope that he has a happy birthday!!

    Hugs, Cara

    Scarlett & Viaggiatore

    Wanderlust Scarlett’s last blog post..Showers, Surprises and Suppositions

    Oh that’s so sweet with your sister! Hugs right back atcha 🙂

  13. 08.21.2008

    oh, just wait…now that my boys are teens, i am officially the shortest person in all family photos!! (coming in at a roaring 5 ft no inches). anyway, buon compleanno a michael!

    & in my catch-up on your blog frenzy…my favorite of the recipes is all of them & i want to live in italy of course & visit all the places listed in our official family tree (burgundy region, france; county kent, UK; & just outside hobart, tasmania, australia where uncle R. stil keeps the family farm)…plus add a little ireland & poland in there for D.!

    qualcosa di bello’s last blog post..love n’ music…

    Ooh I want to come tooooooo!

  14. 08.22.2008

    Happy Birthday to Michael!!!
    My brother and I used to watch this when he was small and I much younger than I am now.
    We have a 13 year difference and I have not seen him in almost 8 years.
    By the way he is 6 ft 2 and I am 5 ft 1. I got the greek genes…….. oh well.
    This made me think of him….
    thanks
    Eleftheria

    eleftheria’s last blog post..IMG00234.jpg

    I’m sorry you haven’t seen your brother in such a long time; I’m at four years and counting 🙁

    Funny enough, my brother is 6’1″ and I’m 5’2″ and I always joke that I got the Italian height genes (he got German/Lithuanian) 😉

  15. Estelle
    08.22.2008

    I have that thought regularly, My nephew is now nearing 20 and over 6 foot tall – great!

    Hah! I wonder if he’s stopped growing 😉

Michelle KaminskyMichelle Kaminsky is an American attorney-turned-freelance writer who lived in her family's ancestral village in Calabria, Italy for 15 years. This blog is now archived. 

Calabria Guidebook

Calabria travel guide by Michelle Fabio

Recipes

 

Homemade apple butter
Green beans, potatoes, and pancetta
Glazed Apple Oatmeal Cinnamon Muffins
Pasta with snails alla calabrese
Onion, Oregano, and Thyme Focaccia
Oatmeal Banana Craisin Muffins
Prosciutto wrapped watermelon with bel paese cheese
Fried eggs with red onion and cheese
Calabrian sausage and fava beans
Ricotta Pound Cake