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

Happy 29th Birthday Vito

Some days the only way I can move forward is to look back.  Pictures bring back long forgotten memories that get polished with hindsight and understanding until they shine brightly.

July 4,1995 Party, Vito age 11

Winter 1995 Lynn and Vito (age 12)

December 1995 Scott, Vito, Lynn

December 1995 Vito age 12

February 1996 Vito being tickled by Scott

April 1996 Lynn and Vito reading

Some of the best times I spent with Vito is when we would hang out...just being...together.

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.

March, 2001

A relaxed Vito and silly Scott enjoying Grandma Goldie's 80th birthday party.

July 2000, Family Reunion

Spring 2000

My two handsome guys. Despite the solemn occasion, my great uncle John's funeral, I insisted on a photo. Vito being dressed up is a rare thing indeed as his usual outfit was jeans and a T-shirt. We arrived to the funeral in the nick of time and not many seats were left. There wasn't room for the three of us to sit together so Vito had to sit a couple isles ahead us to the right. The minister gave an incredibly touching eulogy with many lovely, personal anecdotes about our uncle John. At one point he spoke about how God loves us all despite our faults and sins. I looked over at Vito and there were tears in his eyes.

Same outfit but a different occasion. My graduation from LPN school. I never could have done it without the help and support of Scott and Vito. They both sacrificed so much to get me thru those grueling 10 months of classes, studying and endless hours of homework. I am forever in their debt.

March, 2000

Scott and Vito posing with my beautiful blooming Amaryllis in Scott's newly updated shop. The Amaryllis was promptly returned to Vito's room where he accidentally bumped into it. The stem broke in half and Vito thought for sure I'd be furious. I bit my tongue and smiled and, despite the hopeless looking situation, told him we could fix it. We got some wet paper towel and some tape, straightened out the stem and put a makeshift splint on it. It looked ridiculous but the other 2 buds actually opened and the plant thrived for a few more weeks.

Alex Bay trip, July, 1999

The boys, ready to face the day


Vito on the seaway cruise


A nice view of Boldt Castle.



Vito and Scott in front of the castle.

Vito and his Mom ready to go to dinner.

My handsome guys!

Vito watching his Banana Flambe being prepared at Jacques restaurant in the Riveredge Hotel

A quick Go-Kart race on the way to Clayton.

Vito in the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton.

A Hydroplane on display in the Museum.

Summer 1998

Mike and Vito at our Fathers day picnic.

A shy Vito and silly Scott posing in front of Niagara Falls. A very impromptu trip we took for the 4th of July. We didn't have hotel reservations and everything was booked. We finally found a suitably clean but smelly room about 6 blocks from the Falls.

Me with Vito, he's taller than me now and becoming a young man. Posing with Mom is soooo embarrassing. We walk everywhere and my legs hurt so bad that I have to get up in the middle of the night and soak in the hotel tub to ease the pain. No wonder they hurt, look at the shoes I was wearing!

View of the Falls from the tunnel.

Up on the tower enjoying the stunning views.

View from the Tower.

Vito and Scott, adorable.

Breathtaking sight, Maid of the Mist making an entrance, bottom left.

"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

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