#HolidayCheer thread: 1/ I grew up privileged. Not super-wealthy, but more privileged than many of my friends. I had an amazing woman who looked after me and cleaned the house and loved me like my second mother while my Mom worked with my father at his businesses. My father...

2/ grew up poor, the oldest of eight surviving of 11 children of Sicilian immigrants. No matter his level of success in business, despite a 10th grade education, he never lost sight of his roots, and was incredibly compassionate to all. So, this wonderful lady, Nancy...

3/ so this wonderful lady, Nancy, with my parent's support and encouragement, brought me along when she'd get children from the local orphanage together to collect newspapers and turn them into money to buy supplies for little gifts for people in nursing homes. Today...

4/ I brought some simple Christmas decorations to my Mom's room at the nursing home, and it was as if Santa himself had arrived. My Mom and her roomie were so happy, and there's more to come, of course. This thread is all about things coming full-circle. As a child, I knew...

5/ I was doing something good to make "old people" happy. As an adult, I realize the simplest of gestures can change the spirits of the elderly, and for that, I am grateful. Take an hour to just go say "hello" to someone in an elder care facility if you can. It means the world.

End of thread: the stories I've encountered since Mom broke her hip and mild dementia set in have broken and enhanced my heart at the same time. So many stories of the people in that facility. It's a heartbreak and an enlightenment at the same time. #endofthread