Mary Louise

Writer/Author/Founder

for Cozy Comforter Enterprises, Inc.,

The Cozy Comforter

Land of the Unfinished Books

& Zuras

The Sound of a flowing brook, cool touch of a crisp breeze, or kiss from the sun upon my face. These bring reflection to my mind, and gratitude to my heart for the many gifts in my life.  Most precious of any accomplishments in my life, would be fortunate enough to win the Heart of a Child.

Children make the World Kinder .... with their Tender Hearts.

Believe in the Magic of Possibilities .. & .. The Innocence of Youth

From her early days in Ronkonkoma, Long Island, New York, Mary was raised with a deep appreciation for family, and nature's beauty.  She is the oldest of 6 siblings to her now passed-on-father, Vincent Robert and mother Lucille. Life in a large family was often unpredictable, but one thing consistent….always a need for more space.       

Mary recalls sharing a corner room with her younger sister, Patti.  This room came well equipped with a pink shag rug, handmade stuffed purple feet, and a corner window with a white dogwood tree.  Each Spring this tree would become home to a Robin Red-Breast nest.  Watching daily as the mother Robin teadiously put together the nest for her new babies.  Mary discovered at a very young age Life's Miracles, and how truly magical it is.

Another fond memory , is when her grandparents moved into the family home when Mary was still a child.  Her grandfather was Sicilian, (a region of southwestern Italy which forms the "toe" of the Italian peninsula.)  Her grandmother was from Calabria.  Her grandparents met in Rome, and years later came to the states.  Mary and her family tended to a large vegetable garden where they grew everything for themselves.  She and her brother Vinnie enjoyed the "spy games" they played on their poor grandfather, whereby they would frolic between mounds of tall, fragrant tomato plants thinking they were unseen while spying on their grandfather. She laughs as she remembers the particular spy game that resulted in her brother being drenched from head to toe when her grandfather "accidentally" slipped with the garden hose.  I guess this was his way of keeping us on our toes!

Other memories forever embedded in her mind were the endless "high jinks" with her brothers and sisters.  They would have "dirtiest shirt" wars …. think white t-shirts and dirt bombs, tomato or strawberry grenades; the one with the dirtiest shirt lost.  Tennis ball pitching competitions across the backyard, with the goal of making the other cry, was a regular outdoor activity.  No one was safe from the fun….neighborhood pools and chain link fences were easy targets for an endless scourging of apples.

Mary learned the value of humor, playfulness, and that laughter has been proven to be the best medication in navigating through life.  She was raised on traditional values and learned to respect life, and others at an early age; and has passed these on to both of her two beautiful adult daughters and continuing too with her adorable little grandson, Sawyer.  Her greatest influences in life have been her Nana (Also named Mary), Uncle Michael, and Aunt Helen.  They are the individuals who will forever be in her heart, and guardian angels on her shoulders that provide strength and guidance for her daily. 

Mary has learned the power of listening to others, and truly hearing what they say.  The power of maintaining a positive attitude, not focusing on the negative.  She tries to be a source of strength to others in her life, hoping one day her gifts of creativity and imagination can touch the lives of others.