Frances Udice Russotti

April 16 1921 to April 16 2008

30 Weeks of Chemo

April 1 marked the end of 30 weeks of chemo for Greg. Additionally, he has done Lupron (for 3 years) and Zometa. He will continue to with the Zometa and the Lupron for life.
Greg has proven to be stronger than I could ever have imagined. His growth and control over his psyche, spirituality and physical strength have been beyond impressive.
I convinced him a year or more ago to start a blog to document his process and life. I have photographed all to the place where he often tells me he is "so sick of being documented", "...hate being a specimen...". I persist...

gregbarnett.name provides an insist to living with cancer. Click on Archive for a snapshot of his world.

April 6 2013 In Memorium

Each year I post an album on Facebook as a tribute / remembrance.
This is the 2013 version. The Prince Street years...

During one of Jeannie's many hospital stays, her 3 daughters made this wonderful drawing for her. It hung next to bed until she passed. After her death, I was able to complete one shrine piece, a mock up and then a final. Until this year, I have not been able to complete the pieces honoring she and our dad.
This is the beginning of the body of work. The final piece includes a sewn on image of Jean as a teen ager and 2 polaroids of her girls. One of her large medals that she constantly wore hung across the image.
The final piece will be printed on silk and paper and encapsulated in wax.

Yesterday, April 6, 2013 marked the 34th anniversary of my father's death.
Louis James Russotti

Yesterday April 6, 2013 marked the 20th anniversary of my youngest sister's death. 

Jean Bernadette Russotti Raimondi

Invisible Matter, post 1

Invisible Matter

By

Jackie Czamanske

I wonder,

What does it take to see me?

I mean, REALLY SEE ME?

Is perception limited by demographic?

Sex? Age?

My package is no longer shiny and new.

My patina…well,

I guess that’s only valued in objects.

I stuff my soul with cookie and cake,

And snicker as I become bigger and b-i-g-g-e-r,

yet seen less and less.

Doors were once held open by pretty boys,

Now they close thoughtlessly in my face.

When were my pheromones turned off?

T-ranged women bruise me with their elbows,

on their climb to acknowledgement.

I’m left.

Weathered and worn.

Like leaves fallen from their host,

left on the ground to rot,

Only noticed by the crunch beneath passing feet.

Am I now a grey ghost,

hovering between two worlds?

Youth and death?

How can I force your eyes to focus?

What can I do to shake off this magic cloak?

I live in a world that fails daily to see my worth.

My eyes scream: STOP! LOOK!

I matter.

it is Time

In 2010 I had used this space as a repository, a place to put stuff and come back to later.
It is April 2012. actually April 17 2012. I "think" it is 4 years when on midnight of my mom's 87th birthday April 16 - she took a deep breathe and moved into another place.
Jackie came over tonight, carrying 2 bottle of wonderful white wine (we are both usually reddies) portabello mushrooms ready to be grilled and adorned with wonderful cheese and spices. And this is when "Invisible Matters" became more than real again.

This blog is dedicated to the 2 of us and those who have lived Invisible Matters.
Let the discussions begin.

thank you Jackie for being there - let the ride continue...