The months seem to be flying by this year. Sarnelli House just had my 86 th birthday party. It was special for me this year, because my baby sister Brigid was here that week. She is 18 years younger than me, and I got all caught up o family news. In true Irish fashion, we would sit at table after supper with some wine, talking, reminiscing, and arguing. She is a card-carrying Republican, but the arguments never wound up in a fist fight, thank God.
Anyway, over here the birthday boy always has to buy food and drinks for family and friends. I treated the staff and kids to egg noodles (their favorite), ice cream, cake, and Coke. In turn, the kids got up on stage to sing and dance, house by house, in return. It was a nice birthday.
The new house for mentally and physically disabled babies is done and will be ready to open a little late, in the middle of August. Our nurse Kate had to return to Australia to see doctors who are monitoring her skin for any problems. I don’t want to open until she gets back to check out all the preparation and furnishings. We have a staff of three new young women and one of our old pros as head honcho ready to take up residence with our 5 babies, with two more coming, and we will have to limit the baby population to 10 babies. We are the only institution in the Northeast taking and caring for these babies. So far, the government sends us sick, raped, abused, and abandoned children, but no money or help. We have to limit the number of children we take in, because of lack of space, staff, and money. One governor issued veiled threats, so I replied to close us down. The empty buildings I would turn into casinos, to make money. He wasn’t sure if I was pulling his chain or not, but that was the last negative threat from his office.
The farm is thriving. Plenty of rain, the rice is nearly all planted. Every place has vivid green trees and bushes and plants. The pigs are being born regularly, cattle all inseminated, and healthy flocks of chickens, turkeys and ducks are cranking out eggs. The lady running the farm wants geese, but I don’t like geese. When I was a little kid, my Grandma, Mae O’Connor had geese, and when I would try to get outside, they would chase me, pecking at my head, and pounding me with their wings.
I hope everyone is having a nice summer, and thank you for your kind interest and support for the horde!
Fr. Mike, children and staff of Sarnelli House
