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PHOTO CREDIT: MICHAEL SEGAL
PHOTOGRAPHY
Christmas 2006
message
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To all my dearly, devoted
FOVI-ites,
Wow!!! What a year!!! In
fact, as I near the end of this wonderfully unpredictable year, I have to
admit, I’m still not sure whether I’m coming or going. Considering all the
significant changes that has taken place, especially during the latter half
of the year, I guess anyone would have to agree that it’s completely natural
to feel this way. Especially now that I sleep in a different bed every 3-6
days, depending on schedule. I literally wake up some nights in the dark,
confused as to where I am…it takes a few moments for me to find my footing,
so to speak; or at least, on what side of the continent my feet are touching
down on.
Please know, that with
the whirlwind of changes have come so many beautiful blessings as well.
Even the final days on AMC were anything but short on them. It really is a
beautiful gift to have so much love and appreciation poured out on one’s
self by one’s co-workers and supporters, the faithful viewers. What an
amazing support group you all have been. I never felt alone or let down,
that’s for sure! I will be forever moved and humbled by the genuine
expressions of friendship, support, and sorrow as my tenure there came to an
end in “
Pine
Valley
” as the dastardly Dr. David. (And what an exciting ride the brilliant, but
not so good, Dr. took me on all those years! I will miss him dearly as
well; of that you can be sure…).
After nine years, all of
which seemed to go by in a blink and a breath, I will carry with me all the
days of my life some truly beautiful memories and experiences, certainly not
the least of which are the many successes and joys we’ve all experienced
together as a team from year to year as FOVI. Even this year, we shared in
another wonderful accomplishment with our fund raiser to give support to the
Carol M. Baldwin Fund for Breast Cancer Research. I’d have to believe, from
these past years of experience, that all of you must be the most generous
and selfless “fans” out there. You continue to raise the bar in your
attention to the needs of others and have truly paved the way for so much
more giving in the hearts and actions of other fan clubs as well throughout
these years since we’ve charted this course together. As I say every year,
thank you for giving me the privilege of being associated with all of you.
As the New Year comes
upon us, I approach this upcoming year with a great deal of excitement in
anticipation as to what the year may have in store for me and my family.
Perhaps more than ever, I do feel God’s providential hand guiding me through
it all, which has been the source of such peace and purpose. I’m equally as
grateful for this opportunity to play opposite some of the most talented
people in daytime on Y&R as I find my way into the mindset and actions of
another “David,” Mr. David Chow (I know…Chow?? I assure you, there is a
story behind it that’s quite funny which was communicated to me recently by
the show’s Executive Producer and Head Writer,
Lynn Latham. One of these days,
I’ll have to fill you in on how he came about). We’ll see together, where
it all leads to…
I want to wish all of you
a blessed Christmas, Hanukkah & holiday season. Thank you all for the
wonderful gifts, both to me and to my family, and to so many others whose
lives continue to be blessed by your compassion expressed thru giving. You
continue to lift my heart up through it all… Please pray for my family while
I’m away and for my safe travels as I zigzag, to and fro, across this
beautiful country of ours.
May God bless you all
richly with the knowledge of His incomparable love…
Group Hug,
Vincent
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CHRISTMAS 2005
My Dear Friends,
Some of you may remember where this quote comes from, but most of you
probably don’t without a little explanation. Last night I had the great
pleasure of watching once again “It’s a Wonderful Life” with my 2 daughters
until late in the evening.
Siena
has seen it several times herself, but it was my opportunity to share this
inspired film w/ my youngest daughter, Aria, for the first time. I’m happy to
report that she also loved it, which was no surprise to me; I knew she would. I
can’t imagine any reason why anybody wouldn’t, although I’m sure there are some
out there who don’t. Still, it’s just hard to imagine why they might not…
At the end of the film, as the members of the entire town of Bedford
Falls flow into the living room of George Bailey and deposit contributions from
their own pockets onto a table in the center of the room, contributions to help
a fellow neighbor in desperate need, George suddenly sees a worn out copy of
“Tom Sawyer” on the growing pile of money. Knowing it to be the same copy owned
by his guardian angel, Clarence, George lifts and opens it to read, “No man is a
failure who has friends,” Clarence. “P.S. – Thanks for the wings.”
What a great quote! And, so true…
I also feel that way so often when I think of all that we’ve been able
to accomplish together as friends throughout these many years. Our successes
are measured by the depths of human needs filled and go so far beyond AMC, Dr.
David or any “fan club.” I can never thank you enough for including me in your
vision to help others and for orchestrating our efforts so effectively from year
to year. The entire FOVI team, along w/many other volunteers who contribute
their time/talents/resources, continue to deserve all the credit, shared by my
gratitude and wonder. So, thank you all for honoring me with your friendship
and for being a friend to all whose needs you continue to meet, naturally, from
your hearts, without any urging whatsoever.
As for the show, we all know it’s been a light year for Dr. D. And were
it not for some recent indications that things might be looking up for him on
the show, I may have begun the New Year somewhat discouraged. Hopefully, time
will prove these reports true and by this time next year we’ll have something
more to celebrate in as we reflect on what new mischief D. navigated himself
through in PV, ‘06. I remain patiently optimistic…
Finally, thank you for all the wonderful letters and gifts you’ve
sent/given me throughout the year. The letters mean so much to me, knowing that
you are all taking time out of your busy lives to reach out and encourage/uplift
me; which never fails to do just that. I will never take that for granted.
Also, I recently opened the beautiful basket of delicious treats and temptations
sent to my house from many of you FOVI-ites. With all the financial
strains/demands of the season, I want to thank you all for your great
generosity; for thinking of us in your gift giving. Trust me, there’s enough
there to satisfy every member of this family’s sweet tooth!! And for the other
gifts sent, we’ll be opening them in the morning, which we do traditionally on
Christmas w/ the children present. So, thank you for being a part of our family
on this very special day as well.
Many blessings to all of you and your families!! May the year bring joy
to your hearts, hope to your souls, and the satisfaction of experiencing triumph
over personal challenges.
From all of us in the Irizarry household…
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy
Kwanza …to all our dear friends.
We collectively hug you,
Vincent,
Avalon, Siena, Aria, & Elias J
Christmas 2004
My
Dear Friends and Compatriots of Compassion – the FOVI-ites,
Boy, another
year has flown by so quickly that it really does feel as if I’ve written another
year-ending letter to all of you just a few short months back. Such is the
mystery of time passing. Even the fact that we’ve been associated with one
another as a group for nearly 5 years is astounding to me. Well anyway, this
letter isn’t going to be much different than the last in that I will never tire
of celebrating in the privilege of working beside all of you as we strive to
genuinely touch the lives of others. There have been some notable highs on the
show as well during this past year in the life of the dastardly Dr. D., but
frankly, those don’t come close to the sense of accomplishment or gratification
that comes from knowing that we’ve collectively been able to make a difference,
once again, in the lives of so many others.
From those
who lost their words in the emotion of expressing their heartfelt thanks for all
you had done in Washington D.C. for Grandma’s House as a result of your
overwhelming display of giving in love and concern, to all those precious
children being treated through St. Jude Children’s Hospital who will benefit
from that same expression of loving concern in their fight against cancer, to
even those thru Angel Tree who will have the ability to receive a gift from
their incarcerated loved ones because of your compassion and desire to assist
where others cannot provide for themselves or for those whom they love, and now
your reaching out with another generous gift to Heifer International, an
organization I’m hearing of through you for the first time. I continue to
marvel in all of this and in the collective creativity, the tirelessness
inherent in all of you to give so greatly toward these efforts. You are all
part of the gift I will rejoice in during this holiday season, as I have for all
these years past since we had joined our hearts together toward this common
cause to bring comfort to others. I thank you dearly for allowing me to be
blessed from the association of working beside all of you.
As for the
life of Davey, I wish I could be more encouraging, but in order for me to do
that I’d have to be more encouraged. Admittedly, there have been some
significant happenings over this past year – his finding out he’s a father
(hooray!!!) and a grandfather (yikes!!!); his effort to keep Bianca from the
truth about Miranda (yeah, I know… “Boo!!! Hiss!!!”), but only long enough to
protect his daughter (alright, cut me some slack…wouldn’t some of you had done
the same to protect your own children? Now, don’t lie…), and his part in
getting that baby back where she belonged all along, in her angelic, saintly
mother’s arms (JJ…whew…finally!!!). And even his growing affection for the
not-so-bad-looking mother of his daughter (…humm…I guess we’ll have to see where
that goes…). In short, I once again am ending the year not really knowing which
direction D. is going in or to what degree he will play a part in the
manipulations and machinations of the privileged, although seemingly puny
populous of Pine Valley. I have no doubt that time will soon yield the answers
to those questions. I can only hope that they will be answered positively –
with a story written for D. that will once again challenge, shock, seduce,
satisfy, enrage, entice, etc… but most importantly, entertain. That will bring
all of us into the sometimes dark, sometimes amusing, recesses of his
malevolent, yet masterly mind…(you should be hearing the sounds of diabolical
laughter in crescendo about now). As I continue to hold out hope, I do so with
the confidence gained over the years which comes in greater part from the
support and encouragement you have all sent my way. These years of playing
David have been exceedingly rewarding and rich as a result of this fact, and for
that I will once again be forever grateful.
In closing,
I send all of you the heartfelt best wishes from all of us in the Irizarry home
– Avalon, Siena, Aria, Elias and of course, myself – that you enjoy a blessed
holiday season with friends and family, and that the light you so richly share
with so many others will be known and felt in equal abundance in your own lives
as you celebrate the sacred and sublime during your own Christmas, Hanukkah,
Kwanzaa… On my beloved families behalf, as well as all those whom you have once
again uplifted, young and old, and in parts far and wide, I send a collective
thank you!!!!! The literal definition of the word “inspire” is “to breathe life
into.” Well, this is something each of you continues to do, to breathe life
into us, as you inspire us all.
With a very
large group hug,
Vincent
Your
FO-FOVI-AN (Friend of
Friends of V.I.)
P.S.
– As we enter into 2005, please keep our brave
soldiers in your prayers. I have had the privilege during several visits to
Walter
Reed
Medical
Center
in DC over this past year to meet with many of these remarkable young men and
woman as they’ve returned home with life-changing injuries. They’ve sacrificed
so much and deserve all we can offer them in return for their service…
Blessings
to all of you throughout the coming New Year….
CHRISTMAS 2003
To My Dear, Dear, DEAR FOVI -ites,
Well, here we come to yet another year’s end after nearly 6 full
years of my playing the not-always-so-good Doctor Dave; hopefully still to your
viewing pleasure and satisfaction. It really is amazing how wonderful this
character has been to play for the great majority of this time, and how blessed
I’ve felt having had the opportunity to grow and develop my portrayal of Dr. D.,
but the truth is that the more significant satisfaction has been in coming to
know many of you over the course of the past 4 or so years since we’ve formed
FOVI and worked together to make a real difference in others’ lives outside of
the world of “Pine Valley.” This experiment of FOVI has turned out to be
everything we had mutually envisioned it would be, and even more, which is due
in greater part to all of you and to your mutual commitment, participation, and
sacrifice - the result of your compassionate hearts expressing themselves in
giving. Without these essential components, this effort would have faded
rapidly into memory as a lofty, unrealized dream. I thank you all for allowing
me to be apart of this significant happening that lives beyond all of our AMC
interests…
I can’t emphasize enough how
extraordinary the value is of your combined efforts and what they really amount
to. When I think of this year alone, I am thrilled and humbled by everything we
were able to accomplish for Habitat for Humanity and Kesley Davis (the person,
who, along with her daughters, is the new homeowner of the house toward which we
contributed over $30,000). Their lives have been forever touched by your
combined charity and manual labor (yes, many of you even donned a tool belt and
framed the outside of a house in Paterson, NJ with plywood, siding, etc!!).
Then there’s the work that many of you have done over the past several years,
completely independent of me, for Angel Tree as you’ve provided Christmas gifts
for so many children throughout the country who are forced to deal with the sad
misfortune of having a parent incarcerated during the holidays. These efforts
can’t help but be measured by the economy of human needs met, but more
importantly they resonate loudly with the Spirit these holidays are intended to
celebrate : the Gift of God’s Love. I will forever be proud and grateful to
have been a part of something such as this with all of you, with a unique group
of women who don’t simply turn it on during this time of year, being receptive
enough to know that these needs don’t just reveal themselves at year’s end, but
exist continually for so many, from day to day, year to year…
Now to the show and the
elusive Dr. D. of late: Many of you have been contacting me via letters and such
with your frustrations and concerns as to what D. has been doing, (or more
correctly, what he has not been doing) and what is in store for him. My only
response to all of you is that I apparently get information after many of you
do, since I’ve been getting emails through our dear and indispensable Sunny and
Sandy with interviews some of you have read from recent articles highlighting
comments by our head writer, producer or studio exec. as they relate to David.
I don’t have anything new to report except that I can feel your pain, so to
speak. It has been a difficult several months while David has had to live in a
state of transitional flux after such an intense year of losses: wife/partner,
new-born daughter, beloved brother, psycho mother, thriving medical practice,
on-staff position at the hospital, etc… My greatest hope regarding David is
that TPTB will not lose sight of his many strengths and value as a character,
nor the core of who he is as a character, while the show itself goes thru its
own transitions and growing pains. I know that many of you share in those hopes
and desires as well, and I’m grateful for your combined and individual part in
walking this journey with me and D. I will do whatever I can to not disappoint
you, which is no different than what I’ve been committed to doing since day one,
but obviously D. needs to be given some life beyond recent past happenings for
me to satisfy that promise in the months ahead. But don’t get me wrong, I’m
just commenting on that which has been obvious to all of you as well. All may
not be as bleak as it may seem at the present time, and perhaps there is
something special and long-lasting on the approaching horizon; I just can’t say
for sure – one way or the other. I’m still holding out hope that D. will
continue to challenge, excite, shock us all as he relates to the “good” citizens
of “
Pine
Valley
” for years to come. Time will certainly tell…
All this being said, I can’t
help but express my sincere appreciation for the years I’ve been blessed with in
working with so many extraordinary and talented actors, writers, producers,
directors, studio exec’s., production staff, and the like during this time on
AMC. I will forever feel privileged to have been fashioned into the
make-believe tapestry of Ms. Nixon’s living photo album as the
morally-challenged, yet brilliant Dr. David Hayward. The breath her inspiration
brought to his making has been consistently enjoyed by me through my portrayal
of him throughout these past years, and for that I will be forever grateful as
well. Not to mention that it has been through this life-experience that I have
come to know many of you, which in the overall scheme of things has fulfilled a
much greater purpose than one would usually expect, as mentioned earlier;
therefore how can I not be anything but truly thankful for it all. So, we can
all afford to be patient and optimistic together, since there really isn’t
anything that I have lacked during the course of this experience.
I want to express my sincere
wishes of happiness, joy, and peace to each of you, as well as to those whom you
hold dear in your hearts, during this holiday season. Have a wonderful
Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, etc… My wife Avalon and I are so blessed and
thankful for all of you. We thank you for the many gifts we’ve enjoyed
throughout the year, the greatest of which is your generous expressions of
support – both professionally and personally. Our children –
Siena
, Aria, and Elias – are all well and growing so rapidly (too much so, if the
truth be told). They continue to serve as living reminders to us that the
blessings of this life are abundant to the point of being incalculable; their
innocent smiles alone often lift our hearts in joy and thanksgiving for the
lives we’ve been collectively given to share as a family.
So, on their
behalf, and the many whom have been genuinely and deeply touched by your acts of
kindness thru FOVI, let me express one final THANK YOU!!! May the New Year
bring us all together for even more acts of compassion, and may 2004 be a year
of great accomplishments – collectively as well as individually. And may the
Light of God’s Love be known and felt in each of your hearts throughout the
coming year…
Hugs to all,
Vincent, Avalon,
Siena
, Aria & Elias…
(& Dr. David, of course…)
CHRISTMAS 2001
Dear Loyal FOVIans,
We’ve enjoyed a wonderful
year in so many ways as a group, despite the apparent pains and horrors we’ve
all witnessed, and been indelibly touched by, in our beloved nation. I believe,
without any doubt, that the most notable reason for our successes is due in
greatest part to all of you and your continued support and commitment to the
goal and purpose of this so called "fan club," as was initially established when
we first agreed to develop it together. I can never emphasize enough how
grateful and impressed I am by all of your hard work, generosity, and
compassion, and how proud I am to be associated with all of you. You have all
taken this group and its efforts so far beyond what I would have expected or
hoped for, and on behalf of the countless people your charitable hearts and
actions have benefited, I thank you.
Regarding AMC, I hope the
show continues to arouse your interests, even if, at times, it’s just a playful
debate born out of controversy, (although I’ve come to realize that some of you
have a tendency to take it just a little too seriously – now play nicely
ladies), and that Dr. D. continues to keep you entertained as well as guessing
just how far he will go. My pleasure and enjoyment in playing the malevolent Dr.
with a trace of goodness, (albeit a rather difficult thread to locate at times,
but all the more reason to appreciate when revealed), continues to inspire my
creative interests and sense of sincere gratitude to have the opportunity to
develop a character with so many complex facets. It’s nice to look forward to
reading new scripts and going to work. The fun is still present, which is
extremely important and something not to be taken lightly. I hope it continues
to be as well for you. . .
Avalon and I want to extend
our sincere gratitude and appreciation for all the kind thoughts, words and
gifts many of you have sent our way in congratulations for the birth of our
precious newborn son, Elias Christopher. We feel more blessed than words can
faithfully describe. He remains in good health and is growing very well. He’s
already 10 lbs., 6 ½ oz. Now if we can just get him to stay on a sleeping
schedule that would take our life’s demands into consideration, then all would
be perfect and fine. (Babies can be so self-centered, you know. It’s always
about what they want, when they want it.) But, until that time, we’ll gladly
keep him. . .
We wish you all a wonderful
Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa and any other holiday you might observe, with a new
year overflowing in the knowledge of His love and grace. As we look back at the
innumerable things which fill our hearts with thanksgiving this year, it is all
of you and your combined expressions of kindness that continue to be high on
that list. Thank you for being such a blessing to us. We look forward to the new
year’s challenges we will share in and the successes I believe we will celebrate
together with great anticipation. . .
May His blessings be upon you
and your families this holiday season and throughout the coming year.
Vincent, Avalon, Siena, Aria & Elias
(and, of course, Dr. David. . .)
CHRISTMAS 1999
Well everyone, you got me to respond before the end of the
millennium. I have been wanting to send a little letter to all of you this past
week to thank you all for the absolutely beautiful quilt you made for me, as
well as the photo album and delightful poem. Unfortunately I've been out of
commission the past 5 days fighting a terrible bout with the flu. The truth is
I'm still recovering. It was a killer. Fortunately, it hit me after my last day
at work for this year on Thurs . eve. So as much as I would have liked to sit at
my computer and compose an appropriate thank you, my body just wouldn't allow me
to do so.
I have to say in all honesty that I was very touched by your thoughtful and
creative gifts. I was also greatly impressed by the wide scope of talent you all
share collectively. I'm really at a loss for words to adequately thank you for
your continued generosity and commitment to my work as an actor and your
appreciation of David (which includes D&E). Just so you know, the quilt has now
become the blanket I will use in my dressing room for when I take naps, which I
sometimes do after our first rehearsal in the early morning. It really was a
perfect gift because I was literally mentioning to my wife Avalon a few short
weeks ago that I needed another blanket since the one I have been using sheds
its pink fibers onto my clothes. So, without realizing it, you not only gave me
something beautiful to appreciate but you filled a need for me as well.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.......
I'm sorry but I can't stay on long. I'm still very weak and I've a slight
headache so it's rather difficult for me to even form my thoughts right now. I
just didn't want to get past the holidays without finding the time or mustering
up the ability to offer my sincere thanks. It's been a great and productive
year, one which I've enjoyed immensely, and I truly feel abundantly blessed by
the warm support and thoughtfulness you all have shown me on this and the other
boards. I don't get on too often, but when I do I can always count on your
exchanges to be well articulated and rich in insights. I've also been uplifted
in spirit from the encounters I've had with some of you throughout the year at
the many personal appearances I've done. I only hope I can continue to find,
with the writers help of course, new dimensions of David to explore, or even old
ones to hone. We'll see what the new year has in store for D in PV.
A few quick things... Apologies to all of you who were planning on going to
Susan's opening. She felt terrible about having to postpone the intended date,
but she was also very ill the last 2 weeks before she went on her hiatus and as
a result she wasn't able to get the rehearsal time she naturally needed for the
play. (Is it any wonder I also got sick? We do have a tendency to work a little
closely). If there is any way that those of you who planned to take this trip
could change your travel and accommodation dates I'm sure the theatre would
exchange the tickets for the date of ====This message was cut off due to space
limitations by the ABC.com message board=====
{the rest of the
message has been paraphrased from a phone message to sstrider}
The things that were left off the message are:
1. To call the box office for reimbursement if you had
tickets for the nights she wouldn't be appearing.
2. Congratulate Jadyland on her new baby, and to tell her
how surprised he was that a baby that size came out of her.
3. Tell Sunflower thanks for the video and Inge for the
pictures and thanks to all the rest of his fans for our incredible support.
It's heartwarming.
4. Thanks to everyone for the new year's card that was on
the VI website. It was very, very sweet.
5. He is going to try to get it together within the next
month to make copies of the tapes. It depends on his schedule.
6. Thank everyone for their wonderful generosity that we
have shown him. It has been very, very heartwarming, and he is speechless about
it.
7. When he went to find my phone number he was going
through the different things from the birthday present to the laminated card was
so sweet and he appreciates it very much.
8. Tell Chanel he will try to get out to Colorado maybe
this year.
9. Tell Suesee and Casey (?KC?) he will try to get out
there to Kansas City, too
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