Life - simple but, always complicated!!

Patricia Anne Schmitt was born to Ben & Ann Greiner on February 20, 1938 in Huntington Hospital. Pat had an older brother, Bernard Jr, who was 15 months older. Ben's brother, Henry, a lifelong bachelor also lived with them. Uncle Hennie & Grandpa were business partners. They were a close knit family, a family of strong Catholic faith. They lived and operated a potato farm on Cedar Rd. in Commack. Anthony J. Schmitt Jr. , Tony, was born on February 24, 1935 to Anthony & Cecilia Schmitt in Rosedale , Queens. He was the third of five children, although Carol Anne the fourth died in infancy. They too were a farm family, and faith filled. They eventually migrated east and bought a vegetable farm in Melville, NY, and a home in Farmingdale. Patricia Greiner was the daughter of a LI potato farmer, and married a LI vegetable farmer, Anthony J. Schmitt Jr, on September 8, 1956 at St. Philip Neri Church in Northport, NY. Pat & To...

The story below from Katharine Hepburn's childhood reminds me of the story of the Widow's mite. I learned much more about the story of the widow as told by Mark, during the mid 1990's at St. Paul's RC Church in Webster, NY. I was serving as finance council chairperson. In 1993, we had initiated a Time, Talent , & Treasure campaign. A new addition to the Church had been completed in 1992, and the capital campaign to fund that project was sucking funds from everyday parish operations. I was in charge of the treasure part of the campaign. In the second year, of the campaign, we used the story of the Widow's Mite to challenge people to give more than just from their surplus. It was successful. My wife , now  former wife,  & I went to several parishes in the Diocese of Rochester, and spoke about giving,  and not just from your surplus. We visited the parishes during Sunday Mass and spoke from the pulpit. Sure it was scary, but we believed in giving ba...

A very Merry Christmas to you. My Christmas wish is rather simple, it can be granted without spending a dime. Simply, forget about political divide, forget about the division caused  by Covid-19 pandemic protocols. My wish to rejoice about the birth of baby Jesus. Do as he would do, make peace, love thy neighbor, and if your neighbor asks you to put on a mask, smile and put it on without a fuss. Happy & Healthy New Year .   AJS      

I sure do remember when his brother rookie Police Officer Edward Byrne was shot & murdered in NYC by a drug gang .God Bless President Reagan & President Bush for honoring NYPD Officer Edward Byrne. But, most of all God Bless Lawrence for never giving up the fight for justice to honor his brother. He walked the talk. 🙏🙏 Lawrence Byrne, Former Lawyer for New York Police, Dies at 61 His younger brother, a police officer, was assassinated by a drug gang at 22, a key moment in the city’s crack epidemic of the 1980s. Lawrence M. Byrne in 2016, when the was the New York Police Department’s deputy commissioner for legal affairs. He served for four years in that post, managing roughly 100 lawyers who handled all legal issues involving the department and its 56,000 employees. Credit...Jake Naughton for The New York Times By Katharine Q. Seelye Dec. 12, 2020 Lawrence M. Byrne, who as the top lawyer for the New York City Police Department defended several hotly disputed police policies a...

The recent news reports of a significant  increase in the sales of real Christmas trees, reminds me of December 2011, and my brief time in the Christmas tree business.  Christmas Trees @ The Plant Ranch It may not have been the best of business decisions, but I have no regrets about it at all. Mistakes often provide some of the best lessons in life.  However, in my household growing up, people often second guessed you when you made an error or a mishap. Some still do that. It's one of the reasons, why I didn't share my idea with my father as I knew what his response would be , and it did prove true. But, I did discuss with Uncle Roger. Why ? Because he took a chance and went out on his own, The Plant Ranch. I'm sure he heard negative feedback from family when he left AJ SCHMITT & Sons farm. Uncle & I discussed where to get the trees (Upstate NY wholesale Christmas tree farm near Syracuse). He said yes to letting me use his Plant Ranch yard to set up op...

THE TRAIN:   At birth we boarded the train and met our parents, and we believe they will always travel by our side. As time goes by, other people will board the train; and they will be significant i.e. our siblings, friends, children, and even the love of your life. However, at some station our parents will step down from the train, leaving us on this journey alone. Others will step down over time and leave a permanent vacuum. Some, however, will go so unnoticed that we don't realize they vacated their seats. This train ride will be full of joy, sorrow, fantasy, expectations, hellos, goodbyes, and farewells. Success consists of having a good relationship with all passengers requiring that we give the best of ourselves. The mystery to everyone is: We do not know at which station we ourselves will step down. So, we must live in the best way, love, forgive, and offer the best of who we are. It is important to do this because when the time comes for us to step down and leave our seat ...