IT’S CHRISTMAS ALL THROUGH THE HOUSE Published Great South Bay, 50 + Life, This Week
At Christmas, Mother serenaded the family all through the house with her own written Christmas Carol she wrote, aptly entitled, “It’s Christmas All Through the House,” accompany by her piano instrumental of the song’s musical score and verse she wrote. Time wrapped itself with every note she sang, a part of long ago singing across time.
My Mother’s (Helen Fischetti) passion was song writing. Her creative song writing was a hiatus from daily life. Her musical repertoire were numerous songs, yet, “It’s Christmas All Through the House” remained her favorite and was brought out every holiday year at Christmas; fostering a sense of family belonging by sharing Mother’s traditional song at our gathering. .
Alas, her song went unpublished. Perhaps to compensate for the unpublished song, I sought to memorialize her favorite song, “It’s Christmas All Through the House,” by way of laminating a copy of her handwritten musical score onto a decorative plaque suitable for display, as my Christmas gift to her. I am anything if not sentimental.
The gift touched my Mother’s heart and love of music. I felt it important that I remember this snapshot of time when Mother opened my gift brought out every year at Christmastime. I can still envision my Mother opening the gift and how happy she was. If music is the food of love – play on.
Mother was so pleased by my Christmas gift she displayed the plaque above her beloved piano. The plaque held the spotlight above her piano until she passed away.
After she passed, my gift was returned to me. I display the plaque in my living room where her song, “It’s Christmas All Through the House,” continues to be “heard” all through the house. Sometimes the best gift is the one that is returned.
Susan Marie Davniero (Fischetti)
N.Y. films have affairs to remember
Thursday, December 20, 2007, 10:20 PM
A
A
A
Published NY Daily News
When we asked for your favorite local holiday movies, we had a feeling one might pull ahead of the pack--and you didn't prove us entirely wrong.
"My favorite is 'Miracle on 34th Street,'" says Susan Marie Davniero, "given that it celebrates the meaning of the holiday season: you have to believe even when common sense tells you not to. Watching it is like unwrapping a gift. Miracles do come true in the movies."
IT’S CHRISTMAS ALL THROUGH THE HOUSE
(Published Life Style Plus)
With a wreath on the door
And a light for a stranger
It’s Christmas all through the house
With a star on the tree
And a babe in the manger
It’s Christmas all through the house
I can see the candles glowing
Hear the carols in the air
Out in the night it’s gently snowing to say-
It’s Christmas everywhere!
With hope in our hearts
And a love for our neighbor
It’s Christmas all through the house
I can hear the angels singing
And they promise peace on earth
Their song divine to us comes
Bringing the story of His holy birth
With a prayer on our lips
And a song as we labor
It’s Christmas all through the house
Words and Music by Helen Fischetti
(submitted by her daughter Susan Marie Davniero)
Published: Long Story Short: Poetry Page December 2011
IT'S MOTHER'S CHRISTMAS FRUIT CAKE
That time of year
Our Mother dear
Is baking again
Her special blend
Fruits and spices bake
It’s Mother’s
Christmas fruit cake!
A Mother’s love entice
Asking; “Want a slice?”
A looming silent lull
Meets with a “We’re full.”
We pass the plate
It’s Mother’s
Christmas fruit cake!
Susan Marie Davniero
SUSAN MARIE DAVNIERO is a published poet listed in "The Poet's Market 2011." She writes in traditional rhyme verse and has been published in various publications including Great South Bay Magazine, Write On!, The Poet's Art, Creations Magazine, Poetic Matrix, Pink Chameleon, Shemom, and others. She has also written essays and letters published in newspapers and magazines. They don't know her; yet, by way of writing they might. She is never at a loss of words. She has found her place as a writer and a poet. With every poem published she is inspired to write more. Writing feeds her soul - literally food for thought.
Stephanie and Billy's Christmas Gifts for Susan and Laura
Susan Laura and Teresa with Dennis the Menace Pupperts
Add caption
My Sisters and I with Santa Teresa, Susan and Laura
SANTA PULLS THE CHRISTMAS STRINGS Published Long Story Short, Great South Bay
It was a Christmas morning of yesterday
When our stockings hung on the stairway
My sisters and I hurried down the stairs
To find our Christmas stocking gifts there
Santa came and gave my sisters and me,
Puppets from ‘Dennis the Menace’ family
Santa gave me the wife with blonde tresses
Teresa unwrap the Dad puppet wearing glasses
Laura’s gift was Dennis the child of the three
‘Tis all came to be our Christmas destiny
For one day I grew up to become a wife,
Teresa wore glasses most of her life,
And Laura had a happy life
When Dennis made her his wife
This is a memory that Christmas brings
When Santa pulled the Christmas strings by Susan Marie Davniero
Unwrapping
Christmas Day
(Dedicated to
husband, Bob)
Published Long Story Short
My husband Bob’s
birthday
Is nearby Christmas
Day
His December 23
birthday
Comes only two days
away
Christmas Eve is
tomorrow
And yet it is Bob who
follows
The Lord Jesus Holy
way
Unwrapping Christmas
Day
Wishing Bob Happy
Birthday
written by Susan Marie
Davniero
Christmas
birthday card to Bob from Mom
Great South Bay Magazine
Santa’s Wink
by Susan Marie Davniero
December Issue
Santa’s wink Christmas link Makes me think If my gift will be Under the tree Is Santa and me
The Greatest Christmas Gift of All Published Long Story Short
Let’s go down the street to the two story brick house where I grew up. It was a street stretching blocks where tall oak trees looked down on us. Christmas was in the air. The peace of night was highlighted by brightly mult-colored Christmas lights from houses. Dad was known to build Christmas Decorations – one year Angels, another Choir another big Christmas Card. This year was the Angels in blue robes.
I rose before sunlight as Christmas lights still were lit in the morning dawn. It seem so long ago when I was 5 when I Love Lucy aired (my twin and I were born the same year as Little Ricky) and records were 35m discs.
That Christmas morning frost framed the window I peeked out of looking for Santa’s sleigh tracks in the snow. Frost and snow meant Christmas to me. It was a magical time when I believed in Santa Claus. I just started school that year and class mates spread the rumor there was no Santa Claus. But I knew that morning looking at his sleigh tracks Santa was real.
I quickly buttoned my pink quilted robe with the flowers and hurried downstairs with my sisters in pursuit of our Christmas gifts under the tree. Mom and Dad awoke when they heard us and slowly shuffle down the hall to the living room in slippers and robes smiling looking at the festive scene cast of their little girls under the tree unwrapping gifts.
Santa Claus came. I thought I must have been a good girl this year because Santa gave me the doll I wanted. It was the exact doll I showed Mom that I wanted at the stores, the doll almost as tall as me with curly red hair and painted pink cheeks. Santa heard my wish.
Looking back I know now that it was Mom who brought me the doll and it was Dad who laid “Santa’s sleigh tracks.” Yet, the magical memories are still there. Alas, today I may no longer believe in Santa but I believe in something far greater – the greatest Christmas gift of all – Jesus born on Christmas Day. If you believe in God – it’s Christmas every day - perhaps Santa Claus is real after all.
Written by Susan Marie Davniero
Susan Laura and Teresa Dennis the Menace Pupperts
My Sisters and I with Santa Teresa, Susan and Laura
SANTA PULLS THE CHRISTMAS STRINGS Published Long Story Short
It was a Christmas morning of yesterday
When our stockings hung on the stairway
My sisters and I hurried down the stairs
To find our Christmas stocking gifts there
Santa came and gave my sisters and me,
Puppets from ‘Dennis the Menace’ family
Santa gave me the wife with blonde tresses
Teresa unwrap the Dad puppet wearing glasses
Laura’s gift was Dennis the child of the three
‘Tis all came to be our Christmas destiny
For one day I grew up to become a wife,
Teresa wore glasses most of her life,
And Laura had a happy life
When Dennis made her his wife
This is a memory that Christmas brings
When Santa pulled the Christmas strings by Susan Marie Davniero
Lindenhurst, L.I.: Perhaps contestants on the TV show “The Voice” sing from
their mouths to God’s ears. During this holy season we question if the show’s
title is Bible plagiarism. The English translation published in 2011 (same year
as “The Voice” debuted) is titled “The Voice,” as the sacred Scriptures speak
of “the Voice of God.”
Susan and Bob Davierno
Great South Bay Magazine
Santa’s Wink
by Susan Marie Davniero
December Issue
Santa’s wink Christmas link Makes me think If my gift will be Under the tree Is Santa and me
The Greatest Christmas Gift of All Published Long Story Short
Let’s go down the street to the two story brick house where I grew up. It was a street stretching blocks where tall oak trees looked down on us. Christmas was in the air. The peace of night was highlighted by brightly mult-colored Christmas lights from houses. Dad was known to build Christmas Decorations – one year Angels, another Choir another big Christmas Card. This year was the Angels in blue robes.
I rose before sunlight as Christmas lights still were lit in the morning dawn. It seem so long ago when I was 5 when I Love Lucy aired (my twin and I were born the same year as Little Ricky) and records were 35m discs.
That Christmas morning frost framed the window I peeked out of looking for Santa’s sleigh tracks in the snow. Frost and snow meant Christmas to me. It was a magical time when I believed in Santa Claus. I just started school that year and class mates spread the rumor there was no Santa Claus. But I knew that morning looking at his sleigh tracks Santa was real.
I quickly buttoned my pink quilted robe with the flowers and hurried downstairs with my sisters in pursuit of our Christmas gifts under the tree. Mom and Dad awoke when they heard us and slowly shuffle down the hall to the living room in slippers and robes smiling looking at the festive scene cast of their little girls under the tree unwrapping gifts.
Santa Claus came. I thought I must have been a good girl this year because Santa gave me the doll I wanted. It was the exact doll I showed Mom that I wanted at the stores, the doll almost as tall as me with curly red hair and painted pink cheeks. Santa heard my wish.
Looking back I know now that it was Mom who brought me the doll and it was Dad who laid “Santa’s sleigh tracks.” Yet, the magical memories are still there. Alas, today I may no longer believe in Santa but I believe in something far greater – the greatest Christmas gift of all – Jesus born on Christmas Day. If you believe in God – it’s Christmas every day - perhaps Santa Claus is real after all.
Written by Susan Marie Davniero
Susan, Bob, his Mother, Gig and her husband, Al
N.Y. films have affairs to remember
New York Daily News
'Miracle on 34th St.'
When we asked for your favorite local holiday movies, we had a feeling one might pull ahead of the pack--and you didn't prove us entirely wrong.
"My favorite is 'Miracle on 34th Street,'" Susan Marie Davniero, "given that it celebrates the meaning of the holiday season: you have to believe even when common sense tells you not to. Watching it is like unwrapping a gift. Miracles do come true in the movies."
Bobbie at Christmas 1954
A
Christmas Story
Published US Catholic Magazine by Susan Marie Davniero
A Christmas Story - The story started
with the birth of Jesus. The Word of God rejoices for Son of God gave voice.His teachings of faith conceive for the
faithful to believe. Thus, lives divinity and humanity in one man – the Son of
God.
At this Christmas season we shall embrace
the whole story in all its glory - the Blessed Birth in a manager, leading to
the cross to rise from the empty tomb to the Holy Rebirth of Resurrection. A
Christmas Story is all one story.
Thus, the birth of Jesus on Christmas to
the resurrection of Easter is all one story – a story without end. Thus, the Word
of God foretold - the greatest story ever told.
Susan Marie Davniero
A
Christmas Story
A Poem
Sacred Word of God rejoice
Son of God Jesus gave voice
Teachings of faith conceive
For the faithful to believe
From the blessed Divine birth
To Holy Resurrection rebirth
Behold Son of God’s glory
For it is all one story
The Word of God foretold
The greatest story ever told
By Susan Marie Davniero
DAILY NEWS
Published December 24, 2013
Simply
having a wonderful Christmas time when I unwrap all the priceless gifts I
receive. These are a few of my favorite things - church choir carols, warm glow
of the fireplace, snowflakes falling, twinkling lights on the Christmas tree, a
kiss under the mistletoe with friends and family.
Find the comfort and
joy of the season – the best things in life are not things. Memories are made of
this – spending family time with loved ones without spending money. Being
together as a family is a gift.
You may not receive all the gifts on
your list under the Christmas tree – yet you probably received all that you need
in the priceless gifts of faith, love, family and friendship.
Susan and Robert Davniero
CHRISTMAS ETCHING ORIGINAL HS ARTWORK BY SUSAN
DAD’S CHRISTMAS EVE
(Published Pancakes in Heaven)
Christmas Eve tonight
Behold the sight Scene of celebration Dad’s rite of tradition
Welcome and greet
Relatives meet Dad’s the host For anisette toast
Feast on table spread
For the night ahead Meal of seven fish Christmas Eve dish
The family dines
Antipasto and wines Blessed are we In Dad’s family
Years passed
The feast didn’t last This time of year To shed a tear
From a hospital bed
No more was said A holiday to grieve Dad’s Christmas Eve
by Susan Marie Davniero
Coffee Grounds for Breakfast Published
I Believe in
Christmas
I believe in Christmas. I believe in keeping Christ in Christmas. I
believe in our Savior Jesus Christ.
That being said, however, I also believe in Free Will and Freedom of
Religion. Thus, I would not be presumptuous to impose my beliefs on others by my
choice of Merry Christmas greeting.
Perhaps by saying Merry Christmas to everyone, irrespective of their
own belief, could be perceived as judgmental, intolerant and arrogant and not
very Christmas like as Christians. What would Jesus do – say Happy Birthday to
Himself?
I believe the Christmas way is brotherhood, to let people be, for we
are all God’s children in His family. I believe in Christmas love afar – to love
all people just the way they are. I pray that all people will believe
in the Christmas way.
Susan
Keep Christmas Every Day
(Published LI Catholic Mag)
Let’s keep Christmas every day…peace; love and charity of the
holiday season are needed to be near us all year long. Why can’t people always
act like its Christmas? After all, we are all God’s children in His family. It
can feel like Christmas every day celebrating and glorifying the birth of Jesus.
Perhaps, we shall live in harmony reaching out to
others in need and loving thy neighbor. We might aim to leave the world better
than how we found it.
Missing
the joyful cheer and worship of Christmas songs from the holiday season I tune
to spiritual music on the radio that reminds me of the holiday songs. It feels
like Christmas every Day when I listen to spiritual gospel music heard on radio
stations such as Family Radio or Calvary Chapel of Hope WGSS-FM.
Let's
keep Christmas all year long. If anyone is missing Christmas, you can find it at
Church. Walking into the church, is like unwrapping a Christmas gift that lasts
all year. It's Christmas every day at Church singing gospel songs in worship and
praise of our Father. We are family. Come home to the Church. You can go home
after all.
Susan
and Robert Davniero
Published Pink Chameleon Santa Pulls The Christmas
Strings
by Susan Marie Davniero
I recall the Christmas morning of yesteryear when I was
growing up. That morning my sisters and I hurried downstairs to our red and
white checkered Christmas Stockings with our names in sparkles. In each, we
found one puppet from the “Dennis the Menace” set.
Happily by chance
there were three puppets in the set — one for each of us. Maybe that was why
Santa gave us the set of three, knowing that my parents always taught us
to share and share alike.c Santa gave me the mother/ wife character puppet
with blond hair wearing an apron, because Mom always told me I had a heart of
gold, Santa gave my older sister, Teresa, the father puppet for she was the
older sister, and my twin sister, Laura, received the star puppet — Dennis the
little rascal running around town — much like Laura’s high spirit.
But
who knew that I would grow up to be a wife; Teresa would wear glasses and Laura
would grow up to marry a man named, Dennis, a little rascal of his own —
yet this time she didn’t pull the strings. c Apparently Santa knew and pulls
the strings on Christmas. Santa knows best after
all.
Santa Pulls The Christmas
Strings
It was a Christmas morning of yesterday v When our
stockings hung on the stairway My sisters and I hurried down the stairs
To find our Christmas stocking gifts there Santa came and gave my
sisters and me, Puppets from ‘Dennis the Menace’ family
Santa gave
me the wife with blond tresses Teresa unwrapped the Dad puppet wearing
glasses Laura’s gift was Dennis the child of the three. ‘Tis all came to
be our Christmas destiny For one day I grew up to become a wife, Teresa
wore glasses most of her life, and Laura fell in love with and wed, to a
man named Dennis united.
This is a memory that Christmas brings When
Santa pulled the Christmas strings
Years ago, there was a commercial for Savarin coffee featuring a character known only as El Exigente … the demanding one … Oh, sure, it was great to be able to record TV shows to watch at our convenience. But remember the first time the power failed?
It makes his debut today in the New York as a TV spokesman for Savarin instant coffee. In the commercial by Smith/Greenland, the white-hatted and suited coffee connoisseur arrives by cab at a supermarket to check the ”incredible” report that some instant …
Expressway: Coffee, dad and me on Christmas morning – I could smell Savarin-brand coffee brewing. It was the only kind my dad drank. When we grew up in the 1960s, my sisters and I called our dad the "El Exigente," the demanding character in Savarin’s TV commercials … Susan Marie Davniero lives in Lindenhurst.
UNWRAPPING CHRISTMAS DAY
Publish Long Story Short (Dedicated to my husband, Bob)
by Susan Marie Davniero
My husband Bob’s birthday
Is nearby Christmas Day
His December 23 birthday
Comes only two days away
Christmas Eve is tomorrow
And yet it is Bob who follows
The Lord Jesus’ Holy way
Unwrapping Christmas Day
Wishing Bob Happy Birthday
Written by Susan Marie Davniero
BON APPETIT TO YESTERYEAR Published Pink Chameleon
Christmas Presents - Christmas is not about the Christmas resents...it is about beingpresentat Church Mass, visiting, volunteering, or being with the ones you love and family and friends. Give a priceless present of yourself for a true Christmas gift. Be present this Christmas.
Susan and Robert Davniero
Yesterday’s Christmas Blues Published Pancakes in Heaven
After Christmas
Day
A snapshot of
yesterday
There by trash cans I
see
A discarded Christmas
tree
Once at
bright evergreen
Is now all but a
memory
After Christmas Day I
miss
All the blessings of
Christmas
Gather all the people and
try
To keep the holiday spirit
alive
Living each and every
day
As if it was Christmas
Day
Like returning holiday gifts
Exchange what doesn’t fit
Yesterday’s Christmas blues
For today’s good news
Written by Susan Marie
Davniero
Attachment drawn by
Susan Marie Davniero
Friend Margie created Christmas card 1970 HS
I Believe in Christmas
I believe in Christmas
To keep Christ in Christmas
Yet, Merry Christmas we say
May not be the Christmas way
To impose our beliefs as right
Is not very ‘Christmas like’
Let the people disagree
We all God’s children in His
family
I believe in Christmas love
afar
To love people the way they are
I pray that all people one day
Will believe in the Christmas
way.
Written by Susan Marie Davniero
Unwrapping
Christmas Day
Dedicated to
husband, Bob Published Long Story Short
My husband Bob’s
birthday
Is nearby Christmas
Day
His December 23
birthday
Comes only two days
away
Christmas Eve is
tomorrow
And yet it is Bob who
follows
The Lord Jesus Holy
way
Unwrapping Christmas
Day
Wishing Bob Happy
Birthday
written by Susan Marie
Davniero
Coffee, Dad and
Me
(In memory of
Gerard Fischetti) Published Pancakes in Heaven
I was only five that
Christmas morn
When I woke at the crack of
dawn
I dash to look under the
Christmas tree
To find a Christmas present
just for me
It was Tea Cup set in blue
plastic
Packaging read toy Wedgewood
replica
With tea cup and saucer in my
hand
To the kitchen in slippers
scurrying I ran
I went to pour coffee for Dad
and me
He preferred coffee to a pot
of tea
Drinking from my cup to my
lip
Plastic bitter taste with
every sip
Although just the
same
Daddy didn’t want to
complain
He had good taste and was
polite
Even if the coffee he didn’t
like
I knew he did it because he
loved me
More than he loved any cup of
coffee
That one Christmas
season
My Dad taught me a
lesson
Sometimes good taste
would
Not always taste
good
Written by Susan
Marie Davniero
Yesterday’s Christmas Blues
After Christmas
Day
A snapshot of
yesterday
There by trash cans I
see
A discarded Christmas
tree
Once green and alive
tree
Is now all but a
memory
After Christmas Day I
miss
All the blessings of
Christmas
Gather all the people and
try
To keep the holiday spirit
alive
Living each and every
day
As if it was Christmas
Day
Like returning holiday gifts
Exchange what doesn’t fit
Yesterday’s Christmas blues
For today’s good news
Written by Susan Marie
Davniero
TASTE OF CHRISTMAS PAST
(Published Relish Food Magazine)
I remember a past Christmas when I was a child unwrapping my favorite gift under the Christmas tree – the “Easy Bake Oven.” This gift is a blast from the past.
This “Easy Bake Oven” gave me a taste of baking on my own. A light bulb was all the electricity needed to bake mini cakes. I was a proud little baker sharing my sweets with family and family boasting “I made it myself.” Sweets to the sweets – it was a gift that kept giving with every morsel.
The oven was in good taste, safety first child-proof earning Mom’s "Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval." The sweet taste lingers for Christmases yet to come – the food of thought for Christmas.
My childhood’s Christmas gift, the “Easy Bake Oven,” is a taste of Christmas past.
I recall the Christmas morning of yesteryear when I was growing up. That morning my sisters and I hurried downstairs to our red and white checkered Christmas Stockings with our names in sparkles. In each, we found one puppet from the “Dennis the Menace” set.
Happily by chance there were three puppets in the set — one for each of us. Maybe that was why Santa gave us the set of three, knowing that my parents always taught us to share and share alike.c Santa gave me the mother/ wife character puppet with blond hair wearing an apron, because Mom always told me I had a heart of gold, Santa gave my older sister, Teresa, the father puppet for she was the older sister, and my twin sister, Laura, received the star puppet — Dennis the little rascal running around town — much like Laura’s high spirit.
But who knew that I would grow up to be a wife; Teresa would wear glasses and Laura would grow up to marry a man named, Dennis, a little rascal of his own — yet this time she didn’t pull the strings. c Apparently Santa knew and pulls the strings on Christmas. Santa knows best after all.
Santa Pulls The Christmas Strings
It was a Christmas morning of yesterday v When our stockings hung on the stairway My sisters and I hurried down the stairs To find our Christmas stocking gifts there Santa came and gave my sisters and me, Puppets from ‘Dennis the Menace’ family
Santa gave me the wife with blond tresses Teresa unwrapped the Dad puppet wearing glasses Laura’s gift was Dennis the child of the three. ‘Tis all came to be our Christmas destiny For one day I grew up to become a wife, Teresa wore glasses most of her life, and Laura fell in love with and wed, to a man named Dennis united.
This is a memory that Christmas brings When Santa pulled the Christmas strings
— Susan Marie Davniero
Christmas Presents Past
Published Great South Bay Magazine by Susan Marie Davniero
I recall the Christmas morning of yesteryear as a child, when my two sisters and I (Laura my twin, Teresa, older sis and me) each found a “Dennis the Menace” puppet in each of our stockings. Apparently there were three puppets in the set. Santa gave me the mother/wife character puppet. Santa gave Teresa the father puppet of the set. And Laura, Santa gave her the star puppet, Dennis. Who could imagine then that Laura would one day grow up to marry a “Dennis?” (Yet this time she didn’t pull the strings.) Another Christmas past as teenagers my twin sister, Laura and I received a novelty key chain in our stockings that Mom had brought for us. My key chain had a dangling small rubber boy toy with dark hair and dark eyes. Laura’s key chain had a similar rubber boy toy, but hers had sandy color hair with blue eyes. Who knew than we would each grow up to marry “boys” with the same hair and eyes coloring resembling the key chains? Maybe Santa knew. Our husbands were the “boys” who held the key to unlock our hearts. I remember a Christmas when I was 19, when Santa gave my sisters and me the same gift. It seems, my mother arranged for a jeweler to design three identical necklaces from her mother’s (my Grandmother Theresa) vintage diamond necklace adorned with four sparklingly diamond stones. The remaining larger stone was created into a necklace for Mom. That Christmas morning under the tree, my sisters and I unwrapped our own individual diamond solitaire diamond necklace on a gold chain - truly a gift that linked us together. I wore this necklace on my wedding day and still wear it today. Diamonds are forever.
