The Best Gift of All

Welcome back to Christmas in New Jersey. I hope that you all are enjoying our Christmas celebrations. I am enjoying the fact that Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are lasting a few weeks in these episodes. Those two days always seem to fly by in no time. It's great to be able to watch it go by over the course of a few weeks. 

Since my last blog was so long, I'm going to try and spare you all and get to the point. Besides, I think my fingers are still recuperating from last week.

It really bothers me that I have to start off by disagreeing with Teresa, but such is life. I don't feel that I was "messed up" or a "bad cousin" for inviting Joey and Melissa to Christmas Eve. On the contrary, I would have been messed up if I hadn't. When I invited Joey and Melissa they still had not been invited to Teresa's house and they didn't have plans to be together yet. They were trying to work things out, but their relationship was not back to normal and when I asked them. They told me that they hadn't heard from Teresa or any plans for Christmas Eve. When they accepted our invitation I told them that I was going to try and mend things with Teresa and that I would also invite the Giudices as well as my uncle and aunt. Because of our very friendly hello at the Gorga Christmas party, I wasn't feeling the Christmas cheer so I didn't invite Teresa. 

However, when Melissa and Joey told me that they were planning to stop by Teresa's, I didn't feel slighted. In fact I encouraged them to stay. Even if Teresa and I weren't getting along, it doesn't mean I wouldn't want Joe to mend his relationship with his sister.

I can't believe Teresa calls me evil. Actually, now that I think about it, I believe it. Teresa's capable of anything. For someone who says she doesn't like to go tit for tat and likes to stay positive, she knows how to hold on to a misunderstanding that happened months ago and bring it to a nasty place. No matter how angry I am with her, I would never call her evil. A f---ng bitch…yes, because she can be, but not evil. Even though I get frustrated with her, I do love her, and she's still my cousin. 

Joey and Melissa are adults with their own opinions and their own feelings, not to mention free will. They make their own decisions. Melissa even told Joey, we could stay at Teresa's, Kathy will understand. Of course I would understand. Christmas is about love and family and the spirit of the season. Maybe I was expecting a miracle when I thought I could get a chance to put things behind Teresa and me. I'm not going to push Teresa into having a relationship with me. I can respect that Teresa is not ready to put things behind us. She has a right to feel whatever it is she is feeling, even if I don't agree with her. 

After the Gorga Christmas party, I decided that I was not going to continue to try and reason with Teresa. Family is family and I am going to give her space, but continue to be supportive of Joey and Melissa as best as I can. However I am only human and I do have feelings as well, and sometimes they get the best of me. I hope we can forgive each other one day.

On to the Manzo house. Love the collective kitchen chaos, and it's so obvious that Caroline loves it too. It was great to see the generations of love all gathered around the table. I must admit I've been very curious about this olive sauce since last week's episode. I wonder if Caroline will ever share that family recipe. How cute was Uncle Louie and his speech? Words to live by. 

I don't remember how old my kids were when we couldn't trick them about Santa Claus, but CJ is one smart kid. I swear he's a man trapped inside a little boy's body. I bet next Christmas he will devise a plan to keep Nicholas believing in Santa. 

I thought it was very gracious of Caroline to include our family in their New Year's Eve party at the Brownstone. We'll have to see, since my husband Jeff Goldblum is planning a trip back to Jurassic Park. Hopefully I can get him to change our plans. Richie actually gets that quite often. I remember one time we were on a cruise and someone asked him for his autograph. Richie was happy to sign, "Bon Voyage! Love, Jeff." Personally, I think my Richie is cuter. Sorry, no offense, Mr. Goldblum.

The Manzo unity bracelet was a beautiful gift and gesture from Caroline. 

It makes me sad to see Jacqueline and Ashley go through a tough time, especially around Christmas. I think that everyone matures at different rates. We often reach our a-ha moments at different stages in our lives. Some sooner than others. It's frustrating as a parent to see your child with so much to offer and so much talent not put it to good use. It is difficult to find the right words to get through to your kids. Add being in the public eye and now it just got harder to hear. However, Jacqueline has told me that sometimes when we watch ourselves in action, it helps to see where we could have done things differently. Ashley has a huge heart and is blessed with so much talent. 

I will never get tired of watching little kids on Christmas morning. The Giudice girls know how to enjoy themselves. Teresa's morning sweets looked great. I love panetone and nochi, they are two of my favorite Christmas treats. My mom always made nochi too, and I can finish an entire tray, but the only ones I've ever tried making were fried. I'm trying to cut back on fried food, so I haven't made them in a long time.

I know it's all about kids on Christmas, and there was no shortage of gifts for the Gorga little ones. But Lady Gorga must have been an especially good girl this year. You go, girl! All kidding aside though, anyone can see that Joey really believes that the true joy is giving rather than receiving. Isn't it wonderful to see a man that appreciates his wife and all that she does for their family all year round? Even better is seeing how childlike Melissa is when she receives them. 

I'm often asked how Richie and I stay so connected and genuinely enjoy each other after being together for over twenty years. Marriage isn't always easy and you have to work at. 

How endearing to see that after nearly thirty years together, Albert still got down on one knee to propose to Caroline. 

I regret to inform you that as I suspected, Richie returned the wedding ring. Oh well, I tried. I also bought him a bracelet that I'm happy he decided to keep. Oh, well going have to come up with another solution to this wedding band dilemma. In all seriousness, it really doesn't matter all that much. Whether you wear a ring around your finger or not, it's what's in your heart that matters. Richie has shown me everyday for over twenty years how dedicated and committed he is to our family and me. I am so blessed and grateful to have two loving and supportive kids. When they exhibit such respect and kindness towards one another and our family, my heart is just bursting with joy. The best gift of all is the good health and well being of my family. As I'm moved to tears watching this scene, I'm reminded that we should never dwell on anything that keeps us from enjoying our blessings.

Wishing you all love and peace throughout the year. 

Lots of Love,

Kathy xoxo

P.S. The wedding ring and bracelet I bought for Richie were from Mamari Jewelers in Nanuet, N.Y. Check out Melissa and I when went Christmas shopping HERE.

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