Posts
Recently I was contacted by some old classmates to join a reunion committee
for our eighth grade graduating class. I immediately said yes, and we met for dinner
at a small place in Conshohocken. The meeting lasted a couple of hours, and it
probably could have went all night. We had such a good time talking and reminiscing
about the old neighborhood, all the different people, the nuns and the one teacher we had. I can't believe we were finally able to set a date and finalize details.
It has been fifty years since that grade school graduation, the year started off in the fall of 1963. Less than three months into the journey our world was shattered by the
assassination of President Kennedy. We knew then our lives had been changed. All of
a sudden it seemed like we were sucked into a vortex spinning out of control. Three months later, we were caught up in the tumultuous frenzy of the " British " invasion,
led by the Beatles. Our knowledge of what we thought was music was completely
changed. I have to admit, to me it was for the better, I can spend hours listening to
the Beatles, even to this very day. In the spring of that same year the civil rights
movement started to take root in America, and we were bombarded by horrific images
on our television screens of defenseless black Americans being hanged, or having fire hoses turned on them, or being beaten by police wielding "billy clubs ". There was also the matter of a small conflict that was starting to escalate in Southeast Asia.
Viet Nam was in the beginning stages of the next "hot spot" for the United States.
Through all this we somehow managed to carry on with our goal of finishing our
elementary education so we could take that next step to high school.
Since the reunion meeting, I have been assigned to look up the graduates from that class. Some I have seen and been in touch with all these years. Quite a few I am sorry to say have passed away. Others , thanks to the invention of social media, I have been able to contact. The one constant I have found in everyone I have talked to, is they all
remember those days and they all have a strong bonding to the members of the class.
I will admit there are a few exceptions.
The reunion will bring us together, in a physical sense, but as I talk to my former
classmates I get the feeling that they have not forgotten, who we were, and how those times made an impression on our lives. Most of all for better or worse, we have a strong sense of kinship. We will always be a part of each other's memories, and
how those formidable times changed our lives.
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Friday, 1963
It was a sunny and crisp autumn day that November. I, like most of the kids in my
neighborhood was home having lunch. In those days Mom liked to listen to the radio
for enjoyment while she did her normal chores around the house. In between music and commercials there would be maybe five to ten minutes of news, weather and sports. This was long before 24 hour news like today. The top story I remember hearing was the President and Mrs. Kennedy had arrived in Dallas, Texas for a
political fund raising trip. Soon the music came back on and it was time to head back to school. Almost all of us lived within walking distance, and we had time for some touch football before the bell rang and we went back into the classroom. I was just getting settled in for Sister William's class when we heard and saw Mother Superior
at the classroom door. Her and Sister William had a short conversation and you could tell right away something was wrong. I wondered who was going to be in trouble now ! Sister William started to speak and her voice started to tremble. The President has been shot. Children please bow your heads and pray for him. Sister tried to answer our questions but she was overcome with emotion. We were told we would be let out of school shortly and to go home and pray for the President. I seem to remember that
there was complete silence among all the students, not just in our class but throughout the school. I ran home as fast as I could and turned on the TV. My Mom had tears in her eyes and sat down with me as we watched Walter Cronkite give us as much information as he had at the time. Someone handed Mr. Cronkite a piece of paper, and I vividly remember him reading it to himself, then removing his glasses and wiping away tears, then he said President Kennedy has died at sometime after 1 p.m. this afternoon Dallas time. There was complete silence for good while.
That whole weekend was spent with the TV on watching the news about the events surrounding the assassination. I tried to occupy myself to take my mind off of
what happened, but I could not. I was afraid, what is going to happen next? Could we end up going to war? It had only been a year since the Cuban Missile Crises. Many thoughts were going through my head. The only solace I could find was to pray. Pray that God would help us all find away to get through this difficult time.
I was too young to know anything about the President's politics or his agenda, all I know is he and his wife projected a vitality and strength and gracefulness that made me proud to be an American. President Kennedy was a shining example for any young man my age, to emulate. As I got older and read and heard stories about him, it removed some of the luster on his image, but I still respect and admire him even till this day.
November 22, 1963 is a day that I will never forget, not only for what happened to the President, but also a lesson my Father taught me while talking about the assassination that weekend. Never presume that things will suddenly fall apart because
you are not there. Everyone is replaceable. Our President was killed but the country did not stop. Life goes on. Enjoy life while you can because you never know when your time will come.
neighborhood was home having lunch. In those days Mom liked to listen to the radio
for enjoyment while she did her normal chores around the house. In between music and commercials there would be maybe five to ten minutes of news, weather and sports. This was long before 24 hour news like today. The top story I remember hearing was the President and Mrs. Kennedy had arrived in Dallas, Texas for a
political fund raising trip. Soon the music came back on and it was time to head back to school. Almost all of us lived within walking distance, and we had time for some touch football before the bell rang and we went back into the classroom. I was just getting settled in for Sister William's class when we heard and saw Mother Superior
at the classroom door. Her and Sister William had a short conversation and you could tell right away something was wrong. I wondered who was going to be in trouble now ! Sister William started to speak and her voice started to tremble. The President has been shot. Children please bow your heads and pray for him. Sister tried to answer our questions but she was overcome with emotion. We were told we would be let out of school shortly and to go home and pray for the President. I seem to remember that
there was complete silence among all the students, not just in our class but throughout the school. I ran home as fast as I could and turned on the TV. My Mom had tears in her eyes and sat down with me as we watched Walter Cronkite give us as much information as he had at the time. Someone handed Mr. Cronkite a piece of paper, and I vividly remember him reading it to himself, then removing his glasses and wiping away tears, then he said President Kennedy has died at sometime after 1 p.m. this afternoon Dallas time. There was complete silence for good while.
That whole weekend was spent with the TV on watching the news about the events surrounding the assassination. I tried to occupy myself to take my mind off of
what happened, but I could not. I was afraid, what is going to happen next? Could we end up going to war? It had only been a year since the Cuban Missile Crises. Many thoughts were going through my head. The only solace I could find was to pray. Pray that God would help us all find away to get through this difficult time.
I was too young to know anything about the President's politics or his agenda, all I know is he and his wife projected a vitality and strength and gracefulness that made me proud to be an American. President Kennedy was a shining example for any young man my age, to emulate. As I got older and read and heard stories about him, it removed some of the luster on his image, but I still respect and admire him even till this day.
November 22, 1963 is a day that I will never forget, not only for what happened to the President, but also a lesson my Father taught me while talking about the assassination that weekend. Never presume that things will suddenly fall apart because
you are not there. Everyone is replaceable. Our President was killed but the country did not stop. Life goes on. Enjoy life while you can because you never know when your time will come.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Father's Day
Today is Father's day, a day we honor those who helped nurture us when we were young. What is a Father or the more common term Dad. There is no program or class
to show a man how to be a Dad. Many can father a child, but so many have failed at being a Father or Dad. I think of my Dad often, he has been gone from this earth almost twenty years. Was he a good Father or Dad? He had been on his own since he was seven years old. His Father died and in those days it was hard to keep a family together. He and his brothers were sent to a farm to live and work because his Mother couldn't afford to keep the family together. In those days the government didn't pay a woman to have more children, there was no welfare, it was fend for yourself. I remember him telling stories of how he and his brothers were treated, he said they ran away everyday, only to be sent back because they had to work. There were no child labor laws then , they were cheap labor.
How did this young boy with this very tough childhood learn how to be a Father?
Maybe he decided he would not let his sons grow up in the same environment he endured. He wasn't very educated, very little formal schooling, but he seemed to know everything. Whenever there was a family crisis, he was the steady ship's captain. He never let us see his emotions. How he must have felt when my Mom was sick with a lung disease and he had four mouths to feed, two of us under the age of two. My younger brother had just been born, only eighteen months after me. He was able to handle it all, going to work, visiting the hospital and making sure we were provided for. I never heard him complain. No one taught him what to do when events in the family did not go as planned. Somehow he knew what had to be done.
My Father taught me so many things in life. He showed me more by example than by word. His family was the most important thing in his life. Not just our immediate family but also his birth family. He had many brothers and a couple of step-brothers
also sisters and step-sisters. I remember him always having them over for visits or us getting in the car and visiting them. I knew he had a love for all of them. I remember how he cried when Uncle Rudy died. Rudy was a step-brother, but in my Dad's eyes
there was no step.
Take the time today to appreciate your Dad. Remember there is no school for fatherhood. If your Dad taught you one thing in your life that you have used to make your children better people, than you are very lucky.
If like me, your Dad has left a lasting impression on you, and you miss him everyday than he has earned the title "FATHER".
to show a man how to be a Dad. Many can father a child, but so many have failed at being a Father or Dad. I think of my Dad often, he has been gone from this earth almost twenty years. Was he a good Father or Dad? He had been on his own since he was seven years old. His Father died and in those days it was hard to keep a family together. He and his brothers were sent to a farm to live and work because his Mother couldn't afford to keep the family together. In those days the government didn't pay a woman to have more children, there was no welfare, it was fend for yourself. I remember him telling stories of how he and his brothers were treated, he said they ran away everyday, only to be sent back because they had to work. There were no child labor laws then , they were cheap labor.
How did this young boy with this very tough childhood learn how to be a Father?
Maybe he decided he would not let his sons grow up in the same environment he endured. He wasn't very educated, very little formal schooling, but he seemed to know everything. Whenever there was a family crisis, he was the steady ship's captain. He never let us see his emotions. How he must have felt when my Mom was sick with a lung disease and he had four mouths to feed, two of us under the age of two. My younger brother had just been born, only eighteen months after me. He was able to handle it all, going to work, visiting the hospital and making sure we were provided for. I never heard him complain. No one taught him what to do when events in the family did not go as planned. Somehow he knew what had to be done.
My Father taught me so many things in life. He showed me more by example than by word. His family was the most important thing in his life. Not just our immediate family but also his birth family. He had many brothers and a couple of step-brothers
also sisters and step-sisters. I remember him always having them over for visits or us getting in the car and visiting them. I knew he had a love for all of them. I remember how he cried when Uncle Rudy died. Rudy was a step-brother, but in my Dad's eyes
there was no step.
Take the time today to appreciate your Dad. Remember there is no school for fatherhood. If your Dad taught you one thing in your life that you have used to make your children better people, than you are very lucky.
If like me, your Dad has left a lasting impression on you, and you miss him everyday than he has earned the title "FATHER".
Monday, October 29, 2012
Election Time
In a few days we as Americans will be going to the polls to elect candidates for
higher office. It is something I believe we should all take pride in doing. It is our
right and our duty as good citizens.
What makes me upset about the election process is the media and the politicians have split the country. It is almost impossible to find an unbiased point of view about each of the candidates. Television channels and radio stations and periodicals have taken one side or the other in the election process. The media, in my opinion, should present the facts and nothing but the facts. It amazes me how often I read an article or hear on the radio about a story and I only receive part of what really happened in a
certain instance. Many times I see or hear commercials how one candidate or another voted on a particular topic. Unfortunately, they don't present all the facts on why he or she voted the way they did. For example, a bill concerning increases or cuts in health
care spending, might have addendums to it. Some add ons might be giving money to a
Senator's state for highway funding, or to build a new stadium. If a candidate votes yes or no you will only hear that he or she voted for or against the health care bill.
You never hear the full reason why.
Most people I know and talk to have a real concern for how things are going in our country. There are also many who believe that their vote does not count. I believe that is wrong. We have to let the media and the politicians know that we all want to work towards one common goal, what is best for our whole country. We want unbiased and fair reporting of all the facts and we want our elected officials to listen to the people and strive to make this a greater nation than it already is.
higher office. It is something I believe we should all take pride in doing. It is our
right and our duty as good citizens.
What makes me upset about the election process is the media and the politicians have split the country. It is almost impossible to find an unbiased point of view about each of the candidates. Television channels and radio stations and periodicals have taken one side or the other in the election process. The media, in my opinion, should present the facts and nothing but the facts. It amazes me how often I read an article or hear on the radio about a story and I only receive part of what really happened in a
certain instance. Many times I see or hear commercials how one candidate or another voted on a particular topic. Unfortunately, they don't present all the facts on why he or she voted the way they did. For example, a bill concerning increases or cuts in health
care spending, might have addendums to it. Some add ons might be giving money to a
Senator's state for highway funding, or to build a new stadium. If a candidate votes yes or no you will only hear that he or she voted for or against the health care bill.
You never hear the full reason why.
Most people I know and talk to have a real concern for how things are going in our country. There are also many who believe that their vote does not count. I believe that is wrong. We have to let the media and the politicians know that we all want to work towards one common goal, what is best for our whole country. We want unbiased and fair reporting of all the facts and we want our elected officials to listen to the people and strive to make this a greater nation than it already is.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Vacation
Recently I just returned from vacation. The family and I went to Ocean City, N.J. I have always loved going there, it is quiet and family oriented and it seemed like a very nice place to visit. I had a nice time and really enjoyed being with my children and grand-children, but it occurred to me that going there is not what it is cracked up to be.
For starters, we paid an exhorbitant amount for a week's stay. It is inconceiveable to me that people pay , in some instances almost three times their mortgage payment. The house we stayed in was nice, it had four bedrooms, a master bath, multiple TV's,
cable, internet, a washer and drier. The same things I have at home. There are nice restaurants, stores, a playground, and close by, the casinos. The same things I have at home. If you want to go to these places, you have to drive, just like at home. The only difference I can see is Ocean City has the ocean and a beach full of sand. I have a big yard, a deck with an awning and a pool.
People say " its the idea of getting away ". Yes it is true, but when I sit in my yard by my pool, I am away. It is quiet and peaceful, just like the shore and I don't have to fight traffic to get there.
I guess you can say as I get older I get more cynical, I just feel that the shore has really become overpriced and it annoys me to have to finance someone's mortgage payment. What also annoys me is having to pay to use the beach, but that's for another time.
I have been to quite a few vacation spots in my lifetime, and quite a few have been less costlier than the shore. I guess if I still lived in the inner city I would think differently about the shore. I told the family, next year they can come to my house and stay, we can go shopping, go out to dinner, go to the casino, relax by the pool and spend time together. We can all sleep in our own comfortable beds and relax in our own comfortable living rooms.
This blog is just my opinion, I'm sure there our lots of people who love everything about the shore. I do believe though that we are all pressured to go to these vacation spots in order to help their economies, and things are made to appear more attractive than they really are. That however, is how our economic system works. It is after all about making a dollar, and I think the shore practices that very well.
For starters, we paid an exhorbitant amount for a week's stay. It is inconceiveable to me that people pay , in some instances almost three times their mortgage payment. The house we stayed in was nice, it had four bedrooms, a master bath, multiple TV's,
cable, internet, a washer and drier. The same things I have at home. There are nice restaurants, stores, a playground, and close by, the casinos. The same things I have at home. If you want to go to these places, you have to drive, just like at home. The only difference I can see is Ocean City has the ocean and a beach full of sand. I have a big yard, a deck with an awning and a pool.
People say " its the idea of getting away ". Yes it is true, but when I sit in my yard by my pool, I am away. It is quiet and peaceful, just like the shore and I don't have to fight traffic to get there.
I guess you can say as I get older I get more cynical, I just feel that the shore has really become overpriced and it annoys me to have to finance someone's mortgage payment. What also annoys me is having to pay to use the beach, but that's for another time.
I have been to quite a few vacation spots in my lifetime, and quite a few have been less costlier than the shore. I guess if I still lived in the inner city I would think differently about the shore. I told the family, next year they can come to my house and stay, we can go shopping, go out to dinner, go to the casino, relax by the pool and spend time together. We can all sleep in our own comfortable beds and relax in our own comfortable living rooms.
This blog is just my opinion, I'm sure there our lots of people who love everything about the shore. I do believe though that we are all pressured to go to these vacation spots in order to help their economies, and things are made to appear more attractive than they really are. That however, is how our economic system works. It is after all about making a dollar, and I think the shore practices that very well.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Son
Thirty two years ago my wife and I were blessed with a son. It was the speing of 1980. May 28th to be exact. Where has the time gone. Today, he is married and the father of twin boys. He is smart and articulate and he has a heart as big as his 6' 4" frame.
Since I first took him to work with me, at the auto repair shop, his thirst for knowledge on how machines work was beyond anything I could ever imagine.I have watched him do things with his hands that truly amaze me. He has become proficient in any job he decides to undertake. He has been a waiter, a chef, a construction worker, a swimming pool installer and today he is a mechanical engineer.
How proud of him his mother and I are. He never fails to be there whenever he is
needed. He answers the call from not only us but anyone who even knows him just a little. He is always volunteering himself to assist his friends, whether it is to help them move or to fix a plumbing job. He can always be counted on.
Most importantly, he is a good husband and father. He provides for his family and he places them on a pedestal. A lot of times when we do things together, like small jobs around the house, or helping me with my computer, he talks to me like I am the son. I step back and laugh and think my dad came back from the grave. He is so much like him.
Other times he is like his Mother. Real tough on the outside, but warm and tender on the inside.
He is everything a man could want in a son. He is kind, generous, compassionate, loving, and strong. He is without a doubt a precious gift that was bestowed on his mother and me. We will always be thankful for him. He is truly one of God's gifts to the world. It is a better place because he is in it.
Since I first took him to work with me, at the auto repair shop, his thirst for knowledge on how machines work was beyond anything I could ever imagine.I have watched him do things with his hands that truly amaze me. He has become proficient in any job he decides to undertake. He has been a waiter, a chef, a construction worker, a swimming pool installer and today he is a mechanical engineer.
How proud of him his mother and I are. He never fails to be there whenever he is
needed. He answers the call from not only us but anyone who even knows him just a little. He is always volunteering himself to assist his friends, whether it is to help them move or to fix a plumbing job. He can always be counted on.
Most importantly, he is a good husband and father. He provides for his family and he places them on a pedestal. A lot of times when we do things together, like small jobs around the house, or helping me with my computer, he talks to me like I am the son. I step back and laugh and think my dad came back from the grave. He is so much like him.
Other times he is like his Mother. Real tough on the outside, but warm and tender on the inside.
He is everything a man could want in a son. He is kind, generous, compassionate, loving, and strong. He is without a doubt a precious gift that was bestowed on his mother and me. We will always be thankful for him. He is truly one of God's gifts to the world. It is a better place because he is in it.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
The Wedding
It has been a week since my daughter's wedding. It was at least a year of planning and it seemed like it was over in an instant. I waited all my life to walk her down the aisle, and I was truly blessed to have the chance. The wedding wasn't what I knew as a traditional
ceremony, but it was so beautiful and extravagant right down to the last detail. I can honestly say my daughter has learned her trade very well. All the years she has worked in the wedding business has paid off. Her wedding was something out of a hollywood movie. She had everything scripted right down to the last hors d' ouevers.
The weather on the day of the wedding was beautiful. You couldn't ask for a better day. Blue skies and sunshine, low humidity and the temperature in the low seventys.
That morning I didn't have much to do, I spent the day doing small errands for my wife.
I went into the Village for lunch with my future son-in-law and my son. When we returned, I went and sat down in the gazebo by the water fountain and small pond. It was
cool and relaxing. I took a nice nap. I spent most of my time there reminiscing about Christa and the things we did when she was young. I wouldn't say we had a "Father knows Best" relationship, but there were plenty of times when she came for my advice and of course I gave it. Sometimes she listened and took the advice, other times she didn't. I don't ever remember telling her I told you so.
Soon it was time to get ready and I was allowed to go into her room to see her. I was in awe. She was beautiful. Her life from the time she was born to that very moment flashed before my eyes. The first time I held her, I knew if I never had a dollar I would still be a rich man. After taking some pictures it was time to walk down the aisle. I would like to tell you what I was thinking but my mind was blank. The time I had been waiting for was upon me and I was dumbfounded. A lot of emotion started building inside of me, I thought I was going to cry. When we reached the minister and Charlie, I looked up and noticed Charlie had tears in his eyes. I knew then I couldn't start crying.
I looked at Christa and saw the gleam in her eyes. When the minister said "Who gives this woman" I didn't choke. I said I do. I kissed her on the cheek and shook Charlie's hand, I think I said take care of her she is yours now. I turned and walked to my seat next to my wife and proceeded to watch the ceremony. Christa and Charlie looked so happy, and they look like the perfect couple. I know her heart belongs to someone else now but she will always be part of mine and I will always feel like a rich man when she is around.
ceremony, but it was so beautiful and extravagant right down to the last detail. I can honestly say my daughter has learned her trade very well. All the years she has worked in the wedding business has paid off. Her wedding was something out of a hollywood movie. She had everything scripted right down to the last hors d' ouevers.
The weather on the day of the wedding was beautiful. You couldn't ask for a better day. Blue skies and sunshine, low humidity and the temperature in the low seventys.
That morning I didn't have much to do, I spent the day doing small errands for my wife.
I went into the Village for lunch with my future son-in-law and my son. When we returned, I went and sat down in the gazebo by the water fountain and small pond. It was
cool and relaxing. I took a nice nap. I spent most of my time there reminiscing about Christa and the things we did when she was young. I wouldn't say we had a "Father knows Best" relationship, but there were plenty of times when she came for my advice and of course I gave it. Sometimes she listened and took the advice, other times she didn't. I don't ever remember telling her I told you so.
Soon it was time to get ready and I was allowed to go into her room to see her. I was in awe. She was beautiful. Her life from the time she was born to that very moment flashed before my eyes. The first time I held her, I knew if I never had a dollar I would still be a rich man. After taking some pictures it was time to walk down the aisle. I would like to tell you what I was thinking but my mind was blank. The time I had been waiting for was upon me and I was dumbfounded. A lot of emotion started building inside of me, I thought I was going to cry. When we reached the minister and Charlie, I looked up and noticed Charlie had tears in his eyes. I knew then I couldn't start crying.
I looked at Christa and saw the gleam in her eyes. When the minister said "Who gives this woman" I didn't choke. I said I do. I kissed her on the cheek and shook Charlie's hand, I think I said take care of her she is yours now. I turned and walked to my seat next to my wife and proceeded to watch the ceremony. Christa and Charlie looked so happy, and they look like the perfect couple. I know her heart belongs to someone else now but she will always be part of mine and I will always feel like a rich man when she is around.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Father of the Bride
In just a few weeks my daughter will be walking down the aisle as a new bride. I have to admit it is a day I have been waiting for a long time. I am not only glad for my daughter but I am excited for myself. I have always wanted to be called " Father of the Bride". Any man who has a daughter knows what I am feeling. To be the father of the bride makes a man, for at least one day, feel very important and definitely proud. It is different than being father of the groom. The father of the groom is proud of his son and excited for him, but the father is put in the background and witnesses the wedding from afar. On the day of the wedding all eyes are on the bride, as they should be, when your daughter is the bride however part of the spotlight shines on her dad. The mother of the bride is also in the spotlight, but she has to be careful not to upstage her daughter, the bride. It is not good for the mother to take attention away from her daughter.
The father however can strut like a proud peacock. It is as if he had something special to do with his daughter becoming the beautiful bride. He gets to be the "ambassador" at the wedding, walking around shaking hands, greeting guests and taking credited for all the good things happenning that day. For most of his life, dad stays in the background
and does the normal daily things a dad is supposed to do. He watches his children grow and provides for them without much fanfare. He is just a dad. On the day of his daughter's wedding, he is transformed into " Father of the Bride" and it is his reward for all he did to help her turn into the sophisticated, beautiful and intelligent woman that she has become. It is a bittersweet time when his daughter gets married. She now becomes
a wife and someone else is responsible for taking care of her, answering her questions, making sure her car gets repaired, fixing things around her house and so on. I will always be there for my daughter, but I know I will no longer be first in her life, as it should be.
So as this wedding day approaches, I am going to enjoy every minute, and I will be
smiling and be the proud peacock named " The Father of the Bride".
The father however can strut like a proud peacock. It is as if he had something special to do with his daughter becoming the beautiful bride. He gets to be the "ambassador" at the wedding, walking around shaking hands, greeting guests and taking credited for all the good things happenning that day. For most of his life, dad stays in the background
and does the normal daily things a dad is supposed to do. He watches his children grow and provides for them without much fanfare. He is just a dad. On the day of his daughter's wedding, he is transformed into " Father of the Bride" and it is his reward for all he did to help her turn into the sophisticated, beautiful and intelligent woman that she has become. It is a bittersweet time when his daughter gets married. She now becomes
a wife and someone else is responsible for taking care of her, answering her questions, making sure her car gets repaired, fixing things around her house and so on. I will always be there for my daughter, but I know I will no longer be first in her life, as it should be.
So as this wedding day approaches, I am going to enjoy every minute, and I will be
smiling and be the proud peacock named " The Father of the Bride".
Friday, December 16, 2011
Good News Channel
If you watch TV or listen to news radio you will find that we are inundated with all kinds of news about the troubling times we live in. As I have aged I have found that I have lived in troubling times all my life. If you look up any year and check old newspapers or video from TV broadcasts you will find bad news everywhere. Times today, really are no different for us than for those who lived in past years. What makes our time seem so troubling is the fact that we have become a global society. With the advent of the internet and the use of the cell phone, we are able to instantly get information from all over the world. We now have twenty four hour news and information channels. Even our local stations start broadcasting at 4:a.m. There was a time when newscast only lasted 1/2 hour per night, and that included national and local. The reason these channels are on so much is because of ratings, and higher ratings mean more advertising money. Because we are the kind of people who like to slow down and look at a car wreck, the news channels fill our screens with as much bad news as they can find. Even a light dusting of snow falling instantly becomes a major blizzard.
With the Christmas season upon us, I think it is time to turn off the TV and radio news channels. We should pull back and look at our own small world. What can we do to make life for the people close to us
happier. Think of all the things we can share with those we love. Look at all we already have. Instead of watching and worrying about all the bad things going on in the outside world, let us look inside our own small world and see what we can do to make it a better place. It is written somewhere that you can't love until you love yourself first. Charity begins at home . If we all take the time to make peace and love within our own families and close friends we can use that as a foundation to make a beter place in the outside world. Then maybe there will be a 24 hour good news channel.
With the Christmas season upon us, I think it is time to turn off the TV and radio news channels. We should pull back and look at our own small world. What can we do to make life for the people close to us
happier. Think of all the things we can share with those we love. Look at all we already have. Instead of watching and worrying about all the bad things going on in the outside world, let us look inside our own small world and see what we can do to make it a better place. It is written somewhere that you can't love until you love yourself first. Charity begins at home . If we all take the time to make peace and love within our own families and close friends we can use that as a foundation to make a beter place in the outside world. Then maybe there will be a 24 hour good news channel.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
" The Old Neighborhood"
Recently I attended a reunion of the neighborhood where I grew up. There were quite a few people there and we all had one thing in common, the little area called 49th St. I often wonder why the neighborhood was called 49th St., most of the people lived on 50th or 51st or Kershaw or Thompson Streets and many other streets. Hardly anyone lived on 49th St. Yet when asked where you came from, the answer was 49th St. The neighborhood consisted mostly of people of Italian and Irish descent. It had two schools and two churches, one for Irish and one for Italians, I often laugh when I think about it because we were all catholic and the schools we attended practiced segregation. You had to be at least half of one nationality to attend school.
The neighborhood had a whole cast of characters, with fantastic nicknames, there was Slasher, Breezy, Bizza, Ballots, Tony Feathers, Tree Tops, Flutes, Flubby and many more. It was a working class neighborhood, where most of the men were in the
building trades. We did have our neighborhood grocery stores and shoemaker and drug store, so you really didn't have to go to far to get most things that you needed.
Many in the neighborhood were from big families, there were quite a few second, third and fourth cousins. Some were related and even spelled their last name differently.
While at the reunion, we talked about old times and all the different things that went on. Even though we were all of different ages, you knew how the stories would end because someone in your family was there at the time or knew what transpired. There was a sense of one big family growing up in the 49th St. area. No matter where or when you were involved in things, your parents would find out after you were corrected by one of the neighbors. There was no escaping, everyone knew your family.
I have many fond memories of the neighborhood, the Carnival every spring, going in the fire plug in summer, Friday night block party dances, pretzels and water ice, or playing cards while "hangin" on the corner. My most fond memory is coming home from church on Sunday morning and smelling the homemade "gravy" and meatballs or sausage being cooked in the homes.
Eventually as we got older we moved from the neighborhood, but it always has stayed with me. I cherish the memories I have from that time and I have not forgotten them. When someone asked where I am from I tell them "from 49th St. a small close knit neighborhood in West Phila.
The neighborhood had a whole cast of characters, with fantastic nicknames, there was Slasher, Breezy, Bizza, Ballots, Tony Feathers, Tree Tops, Flutes, Flubby and many more. It was a working class neighborhood, where most of the men were in the
building trades. We did have our neighborhood grocery stores and shoemaker and drug store, so you really didn't have to go to far to get most things that you needed.
Many in the neighborhood were from big families, there were quite a few second, third and fourth cousins. Some were related and even spelled their last name differently.
While at the reunion, we talked about old times and all the different things that went on. Even though we were all of different ages, you knew how the stories would end because someone in your family was there at the time or knew what transpired. There was a sense of one big family growing up in the 49th St. area. No matter where or when you were involved in things, your parents would find out after you were corrected by one of the neighbors. There was no escaping, everyone knew your family.
I have many fond memories of the neighborhood, the Carnival every spring, going in the fire plug in summer, Friday night block party dances, pretzels and water ice, or playing cards while "hangin" on the corner. My most fond memory is coming home from church on Sunday morning and smelling the homemade "gravy" and meatballs or sausage being cooked in the homes.
Eventually as we got older we moved from the neighborhood, but it always has stayed with me. I cherish the memories I have from that time and I have not forgotten them. When someone asked where I am from I tell them "from 49th St. a small close knit neighborhood in West Phila.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Shopping Thoughts.
Today, my wife and I took a ride to the Philadelphia Outlets in Limerick Pa. There
are quite few stores with many famous name brands. Everything there is on sale for at least 50% off, some things even more. We saved quite a bit of money. This got me thinking though, these same stores have to pay employees, rent, electric and the usual business expenses. How can they sell the clothes and shoes and other things so inexpensive. They must be making a profit or they coud not stay in business. Why does it cost so much to buy the same articles at a regular store. The products are all made in the same countries overseas, nothing is made here.
The only explanation I can think of is greed. The companies all complain they can't make a profit by using American workers, by making things in foreign countries they can hire cheap labor. Why don't they pass the savings on to the consumer at their regular stores. Instead of making 150% profit on goods can't they survive on 125% or even 100%. We keep complaining about deficits, doesn't it make sense to put Americans to work who are going to pay taxes and spend the money here. I understand that business costs are getting higher and higher, and everyone wants the workers to take a pay cut, but these large corporations are getting richer and richer and not giving back. There has to be a happy medium where we all can share in the prosperity of this country. I am not suggesting that these corporations give up their profits, but I would like to see them employ more people from this country so those same people can enjoy all this country has to offer.
are quite few stores with many famous name brands. Everything there is on sale for at least 50% off, some things even more. We saved quite a bit of money. This got me thinking though, these same stores have to pay employees, rent, electric and the usual business expenses. How can they sell the clothes and shoes and other things so inexpensive. They must be making a profit or they coud not stay in business. Why does it cost so much to buy the same articles at a regular store. The products are all made in the same countries overseas, nothing is made here.
The only explanation I can think of is greed. The companies all complain they can't make a profit by using American workers, by making things in foreign countries they can hire cheap labor. Why don't they pass the savings on to the consumer at their regular stores. Instead of making 150% profit on goods can't they survive on 125% or even 100%. We keep complaining about deficits, doesn't it make sense to put Americans to work who are going to pay taxes and spend the money here. I understand that business costs are getting higher and higher, and everyone wants the workers to take a pay cut, but these large corporations are getting richer and richer and not giving back. There has to be a happy medium where we all can share in the prosperity of this country. I am not suggesting that these corporations give up their profits, but I would like to see them employ more people from this country so those same people can enjoy all this country has to offer.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Friends
I read some where that if you have one friend you can count on, you are truly lucky.
Most of us have many people we know and we call them friend, but are they really. People have a tendency to offer to volunteer to help when you have a problem or if you are going through a rough time, it is human nature, to do this.
I have been very fortunate in my lifetime to have made friends with two people who as some would like to say, " I would pick them to go into battle with".
The first person is someone I met in the first grade, and to this day, 54 years later we are still friends. We have been to each others home and shared in the joys of our childrens highs and lows. We talk on the phone and constantly get together to play golf
or go out to dinner. He is the same person today as he was in the first grade. He is very
sociable and dependable and always seems to have a smile on his face. He can be counted on whenever and wherever he is needed.
The other person is someone I met in the Marine Corps. We met in California, in 1970 and we have been friends ever since. He also has shared good times and bad times with me. We toasted the birth of my daughter together and unfortunately we cried together at the death of his son. He lives in Florida, but we never miss a beat when we talk to each other on the phone.
It is said that friends don't have to see each other every day or talk every day. Most of the time that is the case with these two men. I was told by one that he considered me a brother he never had. He really meant it, and when I think about it, I do consider him my brother.
These two men will always have a place in my life, and I will always be there for them as I know they will be there for me.
I am very lucky to have a great wife and a great family, but I am also lucky and thankful for having two people I can call FRIEND.
Most of us have many people we know and we call them friend, but are they really. People have a tendency to offer to volunteer to help when you have a problem or if you are going through a rough time, it is human nature, to do this.
I have been very fortunate in my lifetime to have made friends with two people who as some would like to say, " I would pick them to go into battle with".
The first person is someone I met in the first grade, and to this day, 54 years later we are still friends. We have been to each others home and shared in the joys of our childrens highs and lows. We talk on the phone and constantly get together to play golf
or go out to dinner. He is the same person today as he was in the first grade. He is very
sociable and dependable and always seems to have a smile on his face. He can be counted on whenever and wherever he is needed.
The other person is someone I met in the Marine Corps. We met in California, in 1970 and we have been friends ever since. He also has shared good times and bad times with me. We toasted the birth of my daughter together and unfortunately we cried together at the death of his son. He lives in Florida, but we never miss a beat when we talk to each other on the phone.
It is said that friends don't have to see each other every day or talk every day. Most of the time that is the case with these two men. I was told by one that he considered me a brother he never had. He really meant it, and when I think about it, I do consider him my brother.
These two men will always have a place in my life, and I will always be there for them as I know they will be there for me.
I am very lucky to have a great wife and a great family, but I am also lucky and thankful for having two people I can call FRIEND.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
The "Enemy"
In the fall of 1964 I attended St. Thomas More high school. It was the beginning of my freshman year. High school can be pretty intimidating to someone who was small in size and not use to the world outside of his own small neighborhood. It was the first time I would meet a lot of non-italian people. Where I grew up 99% of the area was Italian, and it was also very very white. I never had any social contact with anyone black. The only blacks I knew, were the laborers on construction jobs that I worked on with my dad. For most of my young life blacks were the "enemy". Everywhere my friends and I would go there was always a chance of confrontation with blacks from the surrounding areas.
During the fall of 64, I had decided to go out for the track team. It was a chance to get involved in a school activity and also I was told that it could help you get a good grade from the science teacher. He happened to be the track coach. I was cursed with the dreaded white man's disease, I couldn't jump very high or run very fast. It was decided that I should try out for distance running. It was during this time that I met John Allen. John was a senior and he was black. For some reason he did his best to help me
and teach me all I needed to learn about running in a track meet. He befriended me and
for the first time I looked at a black person as a person and not one of the "enemy".
John was a very good athlete, and excelled not only in track but basketball also. I remember him always taking the time just to say hi, whenever he saw me in the hallways or the cafeteria. Seniors were usually to busy to talk to freshman. John was just different from anyone I had known. He , for lack of better words, made an impression on me.
This weekend is Memorial Day. It is a day we honor those who gave their all for their country, during the many wars it has fought. I think of John Allen especially on Memorial Day. He lost his life in Viet Nam. Like all the others, it is a tragedy that he had to die at such a young age. His life was short but I guess its purpose was served when he befriended a small freshman in 1964. He helped change the way one person looked at another. He helped that one person to open his eyes and look at a person, not an "enemy".
During the fall of 64, I had decided to go out for the track team. It was a chance to get involved in a school activity and also I was told that it could help you get a good grade from the science teacher. He happened to be the track coach. I was cursed with the dreaded white man's disease, I couldn't jump very high or run very fast. It was decided that I should try out for distance running. It was during this time that I met John Allen. John was a senior and he was black. For some reason he did his best to help me
and teach me all I needed to learn about running in a track meet. He befriended me and
for the first time I looked at a black person as a person and not one of the "enemy".
John was a very good athlete, and excelled not only in track but basketball also. I remember him always taking the time just to say hi, whenever he saw me in the hallways or the cafeteria. Seniors were usually to busy to talk to freshman. John was just different from anyone I had known. He , for lack of better words, made an impression on me.
This weekend is Memorial Day. It is a day we honor those who gave their all for their country, during the many wars it has fought. I think of John Allen especially on Memorial Day. He lost his life in Viet Nam. Like all the others, it is a tragedy that he had to die at such a young age. His life was short but I guess its purpose was served when he befriended a small freshman in 1964. He helped change the way one person looked at another. He helped that one person to open his eyes and look at a person, not an "enemy".
Friday, May 6, 2011
Drive-In Movies
It was the summer of 1965 my sister Mary Rose was pregnant with her soon to be born son. One night while sitting around my brother-in-law Tom, said lets go to the drive in movie. My sister asked me if I wanted to go and without hesitation I said yes. What are we going to see? I asked. Frank Sinatra in Von Ryan's Express, Tom said. I was excited. I had never been to a drive in before and to see Sinatra in a movie, well you could imagine how I felt.
The drive in movie theatres are gone today, but oh what memories they bring. How many times did we fill the car with as many people as possible, some hiding in the trunk, so we didn't have to pay more than a certain amount. They were the place to go with your date every weekend, so you could "make-out". All kinds of people would be there, you always found someone you knew. Funny things always happened there too;
I remember one of my wife's girlfriends forgetting to remove the speaker from the car window as her boyfriend drove away; good thing windows were less expensive in those days. Parents use to bring their kids in their pajamas, and just let them sleep in the car as they watched the movie. I remember doing that with my daughter, but when my son was old enough the drive in disappeared.
That night my sister and brother-in-law took me was something I have never forgotten. It was a tradition my wife and I carried on before and after we got married. We went almost every Friday night when the weather was nice. We would go get hoagies and chips and drinks and picnic in our car . We even went when it rained. We didn't watch the movie as much though.
Drive in movie theatres are gone now but their memories are with us forever, and when my grandkids get a little older I will pass on the stories about all the good times their mom-mom and poppy had there.
The drive in movie theatres are gone today, but oh what memories they bring. How many times did we fill the car with as many people as possible, some hiding in the trunk, so we didn't have to pay more than a certain amount. They were the place to go with your date every weekend, so you could "make-out". All kinds of people would be there, you always found someone you knew. Funny things always happened there too;
I remember one of my wife's girlfriends forgetting to remove the speaker from the car window as her boyfriend drove away; good thing windows were less expensive in those days. Parents use to bring their kids in their pajamas, and just let them sleep in the car as they watched the movie. I remember doing that with my daughter, but when my son was old enough the drive in disappeared.
That night my sister and brother-in-law took me was something I have never forgotten. It was a tradition my wife and I carried on before and after we got married. We went almost every Friday night when the weather was nice. We would go get hoagies and chips and drinks and picnic in our car . We even went when it rained. We didn't watch the movie as much though.
Drive in movie theatres are gone now but their memories are with us forever, and when my grandkids get a little older I will pass on the stories about all the good times their mom-mom and poppy had there.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Our Lady of Angels
Today marked the closing of a small but beautiful church in West Philadelphia, Our Lady of Angels. The church has been a part of the archdiocese for 100 years. It was the center of a neighborhood where I was born and raised. What fond memories come to mind just by mentioning its name. I remember receiving my first holy communion, then confirmation, and all of the May processions. When asked where I grew up, I say proudly, Our Lady of Angels parish. I quess it has something to do with growing up Catholic. I never minded going to church there, it was never a chore, it was what we did as a good catholic. It seemed like everything revolved around that small church and school. I played all three sports at that school and tried my best every time out because I wanted to show "OLA" was the best of all the rest. I remember Fr. Lazzaro, before we would go out on the basketball court, instilling in us all that we were representing not only our school but our church also." Don't embarrass yourselves and especially don't embarrass your parish " he would say.
I didn't attend the final Mass today, but I didn't have to. I just close my eyes and see Mother Mary Elizabeth and her clicker telling us when to kneel and to stand. I see Father Carbo and his rotund body and double chin, raising the chalice up to heaven. I see Father Lazzaro saying the Mass, so quickly, it seemed like you didn't have time to bless yourself.
What makes a person think of a church as part of their life? I guess it is the love that she provided in the lessons that were taught. There was always a solemnity every time I went inside. It was always peaceful and serene and I knew that God was there to listen.
Our Lady of Angels might be closed now, but it's spirit will live on forever in the hearts and minds of all those who were fortunate enough to be able to attend Mass there.
I didn't attend the final Mass today, but I didn't have to. I just close my eyes and see Mother Mary Elizabeth and her clicker telling us when to kneel and to stand. I see Father Carbo and his rotund body and double chin, raising the chalice up to heaven. I see Father Lazzaro saying the Mass, so quickly, it seemed like you didn't have time to bless yourself.
What makes a person think of a church as part of their life? I guess it is the love that she provided in the lessons that were taught. There was always a solemnity every time I went inside. It was always peaceful and serene and I knew that God was there to listen.
Our Lady of Angels might be closed now, but it's spirit will live on forever in the hearts and minds of all those who were fortunate enough to be able to attend Mass there.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Mirrors for Sale
Last night the wife and I went out to dinner at the local Carrabbas restaurant. I don't consider it a fancy place but I enjoy going there and I have to say I have had some very good meals there.
When I go out to most places I enjoy getting dressed and looking presentable. I cannot believe the way people go out nowadays. It is as if they don't have mirrors in their houses. One "gentleman " came in with cut off shorts and a t-shirt. I can't believe his wife sat with him. I know my wife would not let me leave the house looking like that.
I know dressing casual is comfortable and most casual clothes are stylish, but
some people take it too far. You don't have to wear a suit and a tie to go to dinner, but can't you save the hoodie sweatshirt and boondockers for working in the yard. My wife's mother told her "to look nice when she went out because you never know who you might meet." It is a shame that message has not been passed on to more people.
There was a show on the Bravo channel called "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy". I have to admit I enjoyed watching it. It showed how a man should buy clothes that made him look good and feel comfortable wearing. Even if it was a pair of jeans and a button down shirt, they made the guy look good.
I admit as I have gotten older, dressing up is not a top priority for me everyday but I do like to get dressed up and look good when I go out somewhere, especially with my wife. Maybe it is from the years I worked in a clothing store, but I always enjoy seeing a man or a woman dressed up and looking sharp. I think I might start a business selling mirrors, because if you look around, there are quite a few people who don't own one, if they did they would not leave the house dressed the way they do.
When I go out to most places I enjoy getting dressed and looking presentable. I cannot believe the way people go out nowadays. It is as if they don't have mirrors in their houses. One "gentleman " came in with cut off shorts and a t-shirt. I can't believe his wife sat with him. I know my wife would not let me leave the house looking like that.
I know dressing casual is comfortable and most casual clothes are stylish, but
some people take it too far. You don't have to wear a suit and a tie to go to dinner, but can't you save the hoodie sweatshirt and boondockers for working in the yard. My wife's mother told her "to look nice when she went out because you never know who you might meet." It is a shame that message has not been passed on to more people.
There was a show on the Bravo channel called "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy". I have to admit I enjoyed watching it. It showed how a man should buy clothes that made him look good and feel comfortable wearing. Even if it was a pair of jeans and a button down shirt, they made the guy look good.
I admit as I have gotten older, dressing up is not a top priority for me everyday but I do like to get dressed up and look good when I go out somewhere, especially with my wife. Maybe it is from the years I worked in a clothing store, but I always enjoy seeing a man or a woman dressed up and looking sharp. I think I might start a business selling mirrors, because if you look around, there are quite a few people who don't own one, if they did they would not leave the house dressed the way they do.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Priceless Image
My earliest recollections of my sister, Mary Rose, were walking home from grade school. She was in eighth grade and I in first. I started school a little early, for my age because my Mom had been sick and school officials thought it would be easier on her, if she had one less child to take care of. I guess that is the reason I became close to Mary Rose, she more or less helped raise me. She did so many things for me that my mom was unable to do.
Mary Rose was pretty and she was very smart, I never remember her getting upset when I would ask for homework help. She always knew how to explain things so I could understand. One of my best memories of her, was the summer of 1961. After dinner she would always have to do the dishes. Today, I know that was very unfair to her. Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris were going for Babe Ruth's homerun record, she would start talking baseball with me and before you know it I was helping her, I told you she was smart. That summer we talked quite a bit about baseball and I was surprised that she knew such things. I still see her smile when I close my eyes and think of that time.
Mary Rose married when she was 21. I had mixed emotions, I was happy for her but a little sad for me. I thought maybe I might not get to see her as often, but as our family found out through the years, she was the glue that kept us together. As I got older she was always there to give advice and to lend a helping hand whenever it was needed. When I married, she welcomed my wife into the family and never made her feel otherwise.
Mary Rose died of breast cancer when she was just 56 years old. She didn't live a long life, but I believe she lived a full life. The way she fought the disease was heroic. She struggled valiantly for over ten years. She was an example to all, to try and live life to the fullest. She gave herself unselfishly to her family and friends.
I think of Mary Rose everyday. I miss her very much. She truly was a good person, it is probably why she died so young. God must have had needed her to lend a hand in heaven's kitchen. We all have images of loved ones we have lost.
We picture them a certain way. I close my eyes, and see Mary Rose washing the dishes and her smiling at me as we talk about Mantle and Maris. It is an image that is priceless.
Mary Rose was pretty and she was very smart, I never remember her getting upset when I would ask for homework help. She always knew how to explain things so I could understand. One of my best memories of her, was the summer of 1961. After dinner she would always have to do the dishes. Today, I know that was very unfair to her. Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris were going for Babe Ruth's homerun record, she would start talking baseball with me and before you know it I was helping her, I told you she was smart. That summer we talked quite a bit about baseball and I was surprised that she knew such things. I still see her smile when I close my eyes and think of that time.
Mary Rose married when she was 21. I had mixed emotions, I was happy for her but a little sad for me. I thought maybe I might not get to see her as often, but as our family found out through the years, she was the glue that kept us together. As I got older she was always there to give advice and to lend a helping hand whenever it was needed. When I married, she welcomed my wife into the family and never made her feel otherwise.
Mary Rose died of breast cancer when she was just 56 years old. She didn't live a long life, but I believe she lived a full life. The way she fought the disease was heroic. She struggled valiantly for over ten years. She was an example to all, to try and live life to the fullest. She gave herself unselfishly to her family and friends.
I think of Mary Rose everyday. I miss her very much. She truly was a good person, it is probably why she died so young. God must have had needed her to lend a hand in heaven's kitchen. We all have images of loved ones we have lost.
We picture them a certain way. I close my eyes, and see Mary Rose washing the dishes and her smiling at me as we talk about Mantle and Maris. It is an image that is priceless.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Birthday
Sunday, February 4, 1951. Harry Truman was president, American forces were fighting communism in Korea. A woman had a very large cyst removed from her ovaries, an operation that had never been done before. Also on this day, I was born. It is going to be sixty years. I have seen so many wonderful changes in technology, science, politics,and the world in general. Of course I have seen so many terrible things happen in this world also.
I don't remember much as a child, going to school, comes to mind. I really don't remember before then. My childhood was pretty normal, not too much
drama, only when my Mom would get sick, I can remember being scared, especially when she would cough up blood. We were told she had lung problems.
Fortunately she lived a long life.
I always enjoyed going to school, and I made quite a few friends, whom I still
associate with today, in person and on Facebook. I grew up in a small close knit
neighborhood, where everyone knew everyone. Talk about " It Takes a Village".
That is what it was like, other parents were correcting you when you did make a mistake, and they had your parent's blessing.
Before I knew it I was graduating high school and I had to decide my future.
I went to college for a spell but It was not what I expected. Part of it was me, because I was making good money as a bricklayer, and the other part was college itself. It seemed I was spending money on things I had already learned in high school. There didn't seem to be a challenge, maybe I didn't give it enough time.
The most important decision I made was to marry. I married young and have been blessed with a wonderful wife and two great children. That it seems is the
description for the meaning of my life. Everything I have done, my family has been at the center. I have tried to be a good husband and a very good father.
Time has gone by so quickly and I hope I live as long as my Mom did. There are still things I would like to do and I hope to be able to do them. I still will put my family first, because that is what makes me happy. I have two grandsons, right now and I want to teach them how to make it in this world and show them the importance of family.
I hope to enjoy this birthday and for the first time in my life I am not going to work on that day. It is a little gift I will give myself. Some of us don't like to celebrate their birthday, but I do. It is time to reflect on where we are in life and
if necessary make some adjustments. Even though I am getting old, I know there is still a lot of life to be lived and as long as I have good health, I hope to live it.
I don't remember much as a child, going to school, comes to mind. I really don't remember before then. My childhood was pretty normal, not too much
drama, only when my Mom would get sick, I can remember being scared, especially when she would cough up blood. We were told she had lung problems.
Fortunately she lived a long life.
I always enjoyed going to school, and I made quite a few friends, whom I still
associate with today, in person and on Facebook. I grew up in a small close knit
neighborhood, where everyone knew everyone. Talk about " It Takes a Village".
That is what it was like, other parents were correcting you when you did make a mistake, and they had your parent's blessing.
Before I knew it I was graduating high school and I had to decide my future.
I went to college for a spell but It was not what I expected. Part of it was me, because I was making good money as a bricklayer, and the other part was college itself. It seemed I was spending money on things I had already learned in high school. There didn't seem to be a challenge, maybe I didn't give it enough time.
The most important decision I made was to marry. I married young and have been blessed with a wonderful wife and two great children. That it seems is the
description for the meaning of my life. Everything I have done, my family has been at the center. I have tried to be a good husband and a very good father.
Time has gone by so quickly and I hope I live as long as my Mom did. There are still things I would like to do and I hope to be able to do them. I still will put my family first, because that is what makes me happy. I have two grandsons, right now and I want to teach them how to make it in this world and show them the importance of family.
I hope to enjoy this birthday and for the first time in my life I am not going to work on that day. It is a little gift I will give myself. Some of us don't like to celebrate their birthday, but I do. It is time to reflect on where we are in life and
if necessary make some adjustments. Even though I am getting old, I know there is still a lot of life to be lived and as long as I have good health, I hope to live it.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
An Unexpected Christmas Gift
It was a Tuesday night and I sat down to watch one of my favorite television programs at the time, M.A.S.H. My wife was in the kitchen making Christmas cookies getting ready for the holiday. She was in the final weeks of her pregnancy and we were anticipating a new arrival after the New Year. It had been cold and I was working in construction at the time, so work was very slow.
I enjoyed relaxing at night in a warm room after working in the cold all day.
Shortly after nine, I heard my wife say oh, no. I rushed into the kitchen to find that her water broke. We both were excited and nervous, because we knew what was happening. We called the doctor and he asked if she was in any pain, she had none. We were told to wait until she had contractions before going to the hospital. In the meantime, we were to take it easy and arrive at the hospital at eight in the morning, if she didn't have any contractions. We proceeded to get the suitcase ready for the trip, and decided to go to bed for the night. I never slept, every few minutes my wife thought she was having contractions and I would have to time them. We had no clue what we were doing, it was like being in a comedy, only we were the stars. She never seemed to be in much pain, so we waited till morning came and off to the hospital we went.
It took almost seven hours of inducing labor but around four o' clock in the afternoon, we had the most beautiful little girl. I couldn't believe my eyes, she was so small, with the darkest hair. When I saw her I was in awe. I knew from that moment she would be the most precious gift I could ever have received.
What is it about a baby girl? She makes a father feel like a king. He walks the hospital floor strutting like a peacock. His daughter is the most beautiful in the nursery.
December 22, 1976. the day my daughter was born. I remember thinking how rich a man I was. I had a beautiful wife, who loved me, and now I had a daughter whom I would give love and receive love. It seemed like just yesterday she was born, but can it be thirty four years. Where did the time go. She has gone from a baby girl to a little girl, from an awkward teen, to a young lady, from a lady to a mature woman. All these stages, and with each stage a proud father standing there and admiring. Sometimes, I wonder if she knows the joy
she has brought in my life. How proud I am of all her accomplishments. She truly has made me feel rich beyond my imagination. She is one of my greatest achievements in life. I am proud to be known as her Dad.
I enjoyed relaxing at night in a warm room after working in the cold all day.
Shortly after nine, I heard my wife say oh, no. I rushed into the kitchen to find that her water broke. We both were excited and nervous, because we knew what was happening. We called the doctor and he asked if she was in any pain, she had none. We were told to wait until she had contractions before going to the hospital. In the meantime, we were to take it easy and arrive at the hospital at eight in the morning, if she didn't have any contractions. We proceeded to get the suitcase ready for the trip, and decided to go to bed for the night. I never slept, every few minutes my wife thought she was having contractions and I would have to time them. We had no clue what we were doing, it was like being in a comedy, only we were the stars. She never seemed to be in much pain, so we waited till morning came and off to the hospital we went.
It took almost seven hours of inducing labor but around four o' clock in the afternoon, we had the most beautiful little girl. I couldn't believe my eyes, she was so small, with the darkest hair. When I saw her I was in awe. I knew from that moment she would be the most precious gift I could ever have received.
What is it about a baby girl? She makes a father feel like a king. He walks the hospital floor strutting like a peacock. His daughter is the most beautiful in the nursery.
December 22, 1976. the day my daughter was born. I remember thinking how rich a man I was. I had a beautiful wife, who loved me, and now I had a daughter whom I would give love and receive love. It seemed like just yesterday she was born, but can it be thirty four years. Where did the time go. She has gone from a baby girl to a little girl, from an awkward teen, to a young lady, from a lady to a mature woman. All these stages, and with each stage a proud father standing there and admiring. Sometimes, I wonder if she knows the joy
she has brought in my life. How proud I am of all her accomplishments. She truly has made me feel rich beyond my imagination. She is one of my greatest achievements in life. I am proud to be known as her Dad.
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