PLAYOFF BASKETBALL AND HOCKEY

I had a sports weekend.Saturday I was invited to see my Brother's Grandson (10 years old) play
Basketball at Salem State University for a league championship.It was neat in the sense that both teams were from Swampscott
and all the players know each other and basically "hang"together. I guess that means in a few years
Swampscott should have a good team at the High School level.

It was great for me since Grandson Jordan Cummings is a "Star" point guard on one team;
and a "Star" forward on the other team is John Caponigro whose Father,Joe is the Coach.

Joe is a Star in his own right since he works at Panakio Adjusters with yours truly, and is the
Baseball Coach at Lynn English.He has assisted many of his players go to Elite College Programs
along with some to MLB Teams.

Each team won a game on Saturday and Sunday. in Basketball........One was named the CHAMPION.

I also saw MY Alumni, Malden Catholic win It's fourth straight Super Eight Title in Hockey at the Garden.

The skill level of the players in both sports is terrific.It is different from my day.......which was long ago.

ABORTION IS NOT POLITICALLY CORRECT...

The Knights of Columbus has released  a Marist poll that had the following findings.

84% OF AMERICANS WOULD LIMIT ABORTION TO THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF PREGNANCY;

THAT ABOVE STATISTIC INCLUDES STRONGLY PRO CHOICE AMERICANS;


74% OF AMERICANS FAVOR A BAN ON ABORTIONS AFTER 20 WEEKS WITH THE
ONE EXCEPTION....TO SAVE THE LIFE OF THE MOTHER

53%  BELIEVE THAT LIFE BEGINS AT CONCEPTION

60% THINK THAT ABORTION IS MORALLY WRONG..

This is a tough issue for many people,however, it is easy for me.Life is under the jurisdiction of God.

24 HOURS…….KIM DOES IT AGAIN..

The pool at the YMCA IN Swampscott/Marblehead  ,Ma.was the site of a magnificent feat today.
Kim Garbarino once again pulled off an amazing swimming milestone.

He swam for 24 hours.He started at 1 pm yesterday until this Sunday afternoon at 2pm.

Let's do a little math.The pool  down and back for one lap is 50 yards.30 laps is is 1500 yards
add two more laps and you have the magic mile of 1600 yards.(32)

I was with Kim in the pool mid morning today and he said that he stopped counting miles at thirty early
morning.he did not know the exact time.


So……He knew he had done 960 laps…..He may have stopped counting at  4-5 am and he continued
swimming until 2pm Sunday.He ended at 2pm because of the Daylight Savings change.

His original goal was to be a mile an hour for 24 hours…..He passed that …..and who knows what he exactly did…..UNBELIEVABLE……..1200…..1500 ?......or more.....

Many people gave him support including his lovely Wife,Amy.I am sorry I do not have  the names…
Kim thanks you all.

I also had the opportunity to see his good friend Sgt. Joe Ross, of the Massachusetts State Police
swimming beside Kim this morning and making a visual observation of his Health.Joe had stopped over at the pool two other times during the night and early morning to check up on him.

Everyone can use a friend like that…..even if you could not swim.

This effort was for the YMCA YOUTH SWIMMING PROGRAM.Please go to the Y website and
give them some money…..Come on….do it.

"TO ASHES YOU WILL RETURN"...."AND LIFE IS LIKE A PUFF OF SMOKE"

Tomorrow is the beginning of Lent......with  Ash Wednesday....reminding us that life is short.......
We all wish to avoid the thought of death and the fact of it's reality,however, their are ways
to deal.......as they say........

Reach out to the spiritual which is unseen and sometimes seen if you pay attention.A coincidence
many times is really a "wink from God"........A push from the Heavens hoping we come around.

Think about your life,your purpose and what impression you want to leave your family,friends,
and the whole world.

A good exercise for all in this Lenten Season.

Love.....from Thoughts

DO YOU HAVE A RELATIVE WHO IS OR WAS A GOALIE ?

I have a Brother who was a great GOALIE.........however they can be strange.....It is a hazard of the
position.

He sent me the following link and he thinks it is hilarious.....what do you think ?

Subject: Slapshot

Date: February 28, 2014 at 10:19:57 PM EST

To: Harvey Rowe

The goalie from slap shot.

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://youtu.be/n_w4MV_LwMw

RALPH CRONIN....RIP

Ralph's Funeral  was "packed to the rafters" last Monday at Saint Pius.Father Greg gave
a nice talk that touched on all the lives Ralph touched and how he was a valued member of our Lynn Community.

The Story people have been mentioning is the circumstances surrounding his death.Ralph's devoted wife,Linda was cross country skiing with him and  he said   ......"The view is so beautiful."...........
and he fell and closed his eyes without a sound.......!

Was this view a reward from God  for his good life,spirituality, and all the assistance he gave in his life ?

I think so........How about you   ?...............

RALPH CRONIN…..A BEAUTIFUL LIFE

Ralph Cronin of Lynn,MA will be laid to rest today at a Funeral Mass at St.Pius.He has spent his life
assisting many people without fanfare……..He was a humble man who figured out his purpose in this life as "God's Missionary"……It was a "Beautiful Life"

More on this later.