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An Open Book

Caroline hopes that people can relate to the events of the show.

By Caroline Manzo

Hello again! It’s been a while. Sorry for not blogging last week, I was out of town. For those of you who watched, I hoped you enjoyed it!
 
I’m sitting here at my computer and I’m having a bit of a struggle trying to get my thoughts together. Within the past month parts of our nation have endured wild fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, devastating floods, and today marks the tenth anniversary of 9/11/01, a day that forever changed this country and continues to affect so many.
 
I want to share a story with you regarding a fan encounter that I had yesterday. I was doing an appearance in New Jersey with my husband, kids, and Jacqueline. A woman came up to me with a beautiful young girl by her side. I did the usual thank you for watching photo op, and the woman pulled me aside and started to cry. She began to explain to me that she had lost her husband in the Twin Towers on 9/11 and that the young girl beside her was her daughter. I looked over at the young girl and she had tears in her eyes. I guess she knew what her mom was telling me, and then she smiled. Her mom told me that meeting us was just the diversion she needed to make a very difficult day somewhat bearable for her daughter. She then thanked me and hugged me.
 
My point in sharing this story is to validate a thought I’ve had and shared many times. We are a group of women on a reality television show who are often thought of as an embarrassment and not quite how society or family life in New Jersey should be depicted. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again -- we have the audacity to be ourselves, to live our lives as an open book for the world to see, and in doing that I know that many of you see yourselves in us, find strength and sometimes comfort as you watch and know that there are others out there living through the same experiences as you are. But through our insanity we also take people away from their hurt and their sadness if only for an hour a week.
 
On this very sad anniversary and to those who are trying to rebuild their lives after the floods and the fires, I just want to say thank you for giving us the honor and the privilege to make you smile.
 
9/11/01 NEVER FORGET -- God Bless America

How to Watch

Watch The Real Housewives of New Jersey Season 14 premiere May 5th at 8/9c on Bravo and stream next day on Peacock.

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