Movies and TV:
I've always enjoyed the old films of Errol Flynn. One of my other all time old favorites is "Captains Courageous," with Spencer Tracy. A few years back I saw "Pay it Forward." I loved the message in this film about the spontaneous acts of kindness: the altruistic attitude about doing things for others. I recently saw "Night at the Museum" with Ben Stiller. I thought it was entertaining if you keep a child like attitude about it. Not for the intellectual. Also enjoyed Freddie Bartholomew films, and 50 First Dates. I love old TV shows like MASH, Lucy, The Honeymooners, etc. It was a time of innocence and good natured humor. No need for cursing or sexual content. Just good clean fun. Also Star Trek and all the Law and Orders.
Books:
I enjoyed a book called "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell. It talked about how little things can make a big difference. In it he wrote that there is a point in everyone's life, a moment, that changes the rest of your life. It can be as small as making a left turn instead of a right or as big as the tragedy that changed my life forever. From that moment, all I knew, was to change in leaps and bounds and what was a career path was to become a higher calling. All lives have tipping points and if you know what to look for maybe you can create them in you own life. I recently read, "Eragon" by Christopher Paolini: a very good fantasy and the basis for the new movie which I am yet to see. Also enjoyed all the Harry Potter books, Pillars of the Earth, The Da Vinci Code, The Book Thief, Mysterious Island.
Favorite foods:
I love Italian cooking because it's easy for me and I love the smell of the Italian spices used in the dishes. Lasagna, the different sauces marinara, bolognes, vodka, aiolio Alfredo. I do have a fondness for a particular recipe of raspberry thumbprint shortbread cookies.
Simply Wonderful
by Daniel Rodriguez
My mother was a factory worker all her life. She operated a sewing machine for the handbag designer Judith Leiber. When she and Dad came over from Puerto Rico as teenagers, they had to start from square one, learning English and coping with a new environment.
We weren't rich, but Mother made things work. We had things even when there was no money to have them, and no matter what, she always made time for us.
Coming from a very big and loving family, Mother and her ten brothers and sisters assured every holiday would be a major event. Our family parties were legendary.
Dad was a hard worker, too. He started out as a laborer in a box company and later moved on to a job at the Transit Authority, before retiring. I'm certain I inherited his clown genes. He and I would spend the day seeing who could make Mother laugh the most. Even their divorce during my teenage years didn't change my relationship with either of my parents, because I was always close to them and particularly to my mother.
There was always music in our house. Mother used to sing to us when we were kids. She had one song that I remember very well, "You're Not Sick, You're Just in Love." It was a beautiful lullaby. She instilled a deep love of music in all of us. I have been singing my whole life and my mother always encouraged me.
When I started singing and doing shows in junior high, Mother attended every one of them. In what was to become a grand leap of faith, she allowed me to take singing and dancing lessons with Elliot Dorfman, a teacher at my school and my mentor during those early years. It took a lot of trust on her part to realize I did have potential and to let me go.
If it wasn't for Mother, I don't think my music career would have taken off. I wouldn't have had the training necessary. She sacrificed a lot for us and worked hard to make sure I was given every opportunity.
My Mother is my biggest fan. She always knew that I would be, at least in her mind, famous. Even when I doubted it, she was certain. I had been giving concerts every week since I was twenty-four and not looking beyond the obvious that I was giving the gift of music. After a great show, I'd say to her, "Everybody loves it, I get standing ovations. How come I'm not famous?" My mother would be the one to bring me back to earth and say, "Are you doing it for fame or are you doing it because you love to do it?" I'd say, "You're right, I'm doing it because I love to do it," and she'd say, 'Well then, you're already famous."
When I sang the National Anthem at the 2002 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony in Salt Lake City, it was amazing for her to watch me on television. I was so grateful that I was able to share that moment with her.
There is one story that I believe really shows the type of person my mother is. After she left her job at Judith Leiber she started working as a home healthcare attendant. Her sister's mother-law was suffering from Alzheimer's; at the same time her sister was very ill, so her brother-in-law asked my mother to take care of his mother. She said, "I'll take care of your mother if you take care of my sister." Although in her fifties, she went to school in order to learn how to become an attendant. She's been taking care of this one lady for the past seven years. My mother lives with her during the week and only gets to come home on the weekends. It takes a truly strong person to deal with that illness on a daily basis. It is a true testament to my mother's goodness and strength, and to the type of woman she is.
My mother has a great heart and bestowed upon me the ability to love people for who they really are. She adheres to the simple philosophy of "Live and let live." The greatest lesson she taught me goes back to our family motto: "Live simply so others may simply live."
It's a simple life-enjoying the little things that make life worth living, not focusing on the big prize but enjoying the ride. That's the lesson that she taught me that has helped me immensely in my career. I consider myself a passenger in a moving car - I let God do the driving and I get to look out the window and enjoy the ride.
My mother taught me to always have faith and that all things are possible if you're true to yourself.
Thanks Mom, I love you. Daniel
