Tag: My oldest son

Friday Photo Flashback

Today I want to wish my oldest son, Dante’, a Happy 23rd Birthday! It is truly hard to believe he is that old. It seems like yesterday that he was born. What an amazing day that was!

This picture is one of my favorites of him. The way his eyes are looking off to the side reminds me of a mob boss. I can see that face sitting at a meeting of the Five Families and he’s takinig it all in. LOL.

This was in his bassinet, which had a Noah’s Ark theme. His whole room was done up in Noah’s Ark. There was a border on the wall, the crib sheets, the mobile, a lamp, and so many other things. I had no idea that they could make so many things for a theme. It was crazy.

Many know that he was diagnosed with Autism early on in his life. Thanks to early intervention and therapies, he is high functioning. He has Asperger’s Syndrome. He never let that define him. He was in the mainstream classes in school. He graduated and found work. He manages his money well and recently moved in to his own apartment.

I am so proud of all that he has accomplished in his life. I know he will continue to to grow and mature in the years ahead. He’s one amazing kid, well, a man now.

People say we look and act alike and I take that as a huge compliment. He is my Mini-Me and I love him very much. Happy Birthday, son. May your day be filled with love and happiness.

Love, Dad

Ella, Dimitri, Andrew and Dante

Like Father – Like Son

This phrase is so true for me. It is true is a couple ways actually.

You can find many blogs I have written about the similarities between my father and I. He is my biggest influence in music, books, movies, and TV shows. When someone tells me that I am just like my dad, I take that as a compliment.

I remember my dad introducing me to Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin’s music. The Sinatra channel on Sirius XM is my go to music channel. My children were familiar with it because I always had it on in the car.

When my oldest son, Dante’ got his first job, he was working at an Italian restaurant. When I dropped in to see him one night, he pointed out a picture on the wall. I am almost 100% sure it was this one:

He liked talking about Frank. When he started hanging out with this girl he liked, he told me his was singing Sinatra songs to her. I wish I would remember which ones. Anyway, the other night he texted me something and we chatted back and forth. He asked me what I was doing and I told him I was reading a good book….

I just thought he would think it was cool. His response made me smile:

“I have that same book!”

I couldn’t believe it. He’d actually bought it at the store!

“You make me proud, son. I love that you dig Frank,” I told him.

Like father like son!

I told him that he needed to compile his top 10 Frank songs and I would do the same. Then we need to compare our lists! He loved the idea. Hopefully, we’ll go over those lists soon, when our work schedules allow us to get together.