Happy 30th Vito

    It's so hard to believe that if my son had lived he would be thirty years old today.  There would be no denying that he was a grown man, most likely with a career and possibly with a wife and children.  Over the years I've found that imagining such scenarios is folly and it brings little satisfaction but I do it anyway.  He brought great joy to my life and I miss him deeply.

      To celebrate Scott and I will eat pineapple upside down cake (Vito's favorite) and reminesce over the photos that have been dug out.  It's so amazing how much he sprouted from May '96 to Aug. '97.  He loved life and wanted to grow up fast so he could do everything that grownups do.  He loved having fun and didn't tolerate the "shoulds" and duties of life very well.  He wanted to live his life his way.  Considering how short it was I hope he was able to do that enough.  Love you Hon.

May '96 Scott and Vito (age 12), Alex Bay

Aug. '97 Scott and Vito (age 13) at the Renaissance Faire

Aug. 16, 1997 Vito and my sister Laura at our wedding leaving the church

Vito enduring the wedding photo shoot, so handsome.

Aug. 16, 1997 Vito and my sister Laura entering our wedding reception hall all smiles

Flashback to July, 1997

Having a blast riding the Mind Eraser at Darien Lake, Scott, me, Vito, Michael and Mom. Never wear post earrings on the Mind Eraser, Owwww.

Happy Mothers Day

We had just bought an older home and moved in shortly before this picture was taken in 1997. Vito is growing up so fast and our lives are pretty chaotic with all the new changes. Vito has found a new trick when his picture is taken so it's been censored. Below are a couple Mothers Day cards from Vito, no censoring required.



This one is so sweet, I think he was 6 or 7 years old.

Home made and he's a bit older.

"The Wedding!"

When Scott and I were planning our wedding it took over our lives so much that Vito started calling it (with sarcasm) "The Wedding". Below are some pictures of him at the blessed event.


Helping? Dad with the video cam


Doing his usher duty escorting our Aunt



In the procession with my Sister


Escorting his Grandmother

The jacket comes off with sweet relief that it's over

The jacket goes back on for a pic with most of our family

Getting a dancing lesson from my sister

Misbehaving?

Dancing with Mom and smiling

8th Grade Graduate

Not a very close up picture but there Vito is, circled, soon to receive his diploma!


Nice picture of Vito's smile but his eyes are closed.



Vito with Festus our newly acquired stray and our new tortie kitten from Mom's litter of kittens. Her name was originally Pepper but it morphed into Munchie because she was so small like a munchkin.

Warm weather fun in 1997

Vito picking strawberries at the local patch in June


Scott, Mike, Vito and Mom at Darien Lake in July


Vito buying a pretzel at the Renaissance Fair in August


Renaissance Fair glass blowing exhibition

First Day of Spring

March 20th, 1997 and Vito is helping me celebrate a birthday. In front of us is a delicious birthday cake made with care by Scott.

I absolutely love this adorable, personalized birthday card below that Vito made for me one year with Scott's help. So cute that the little devil has Vito's initials on his outfit.


Happy Spring!