A LASTING IMPRESSION

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He came to this country as a young man, and in his time, wasted very little of it. He was a hard working man and a family man. His family was very important to him, and don’t pinch pennies on their education. He and his lovely wife Helen denied themselves so they could give their children the best education available, as they saw it. Had he been given a chance along the line, he would have had a remarkable career in whatever he tried. In Ireland he was taught by the Christian Brothers in a humble town called Mullingar, Westmeath Ireland..

His life was simple, after his wife and children, there was his job, he ran the Tom McAn shoe store in Bayshore, employed his kids there after school and during the summers. His free time was spent helping out at the church, St. Mary’s in East Islip, and on Sundays, when he wasn’t working reading the New York Times, doing the crossword puzzle and editing the Sunday Times, then sending in the edits to point out the mistakes the so-called proof readers made.

I am told he was very good with numbers, quick to do the math without pencil or paper and sat in his chair and ruled his world with cranky stubbornness and opinion, coated with love. You couldn’t help but love him, he was an Irishman with a brogue, who also owned an opinion, didn’t like confrontation and want to leave his TV and his Sunday news talk shows.

Jim was the kind of man that made me laugh, he had opinions, moods and was in all of that a gentle soul, gentle enough for me to respect him as a man, a great father and provider, and really an embodiment of the American Dream, coming here to America from Ireland as a young man.

Today would be his birthday: 104, and how can you not go by this day without thinking of him? He wasn’t anyone for fanfare, boasting was not in him, just the goodness he taught his children, and I was lucky enough to see in his daughter and children.

Happy Birthday Jim, Dad and Grandpa!

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http://www.ahrcsuffolk.org/

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http://www.mountaintoptoys.com/

Address: 1231 Taft Hwy, Signal Mountain, TN 37377

Phone:(423) 886-6943

Hours: Open today · 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

BREAKFAST TALK

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Mother Teresa

This past Sunday where TLW (The Little Woman) and I have breakfast at one of our favorite diners, we got to talking about the past, and being left-handed. Now you understand that my wife’s handwriting is difficult to read, she writes like she holds a medical degree. Often if she leaves me a note in the morning, I have to run it over to the pharmacist to interpret it for me. Being she is left handed, I tried to hold it up against a mirror to interpret it once, but all I got was a headache and a dirty mirror!

There is a Facebook page called:

Our Lady Of Lourdes Elementary Alumni Bushwick, NY

https://www.facebook.com/groups/46723876073/10152282805251074/?comment_id=10152283622556074&notif_t=like

The page is a great repository of the old days when I was growing up and Mom made me try to be good by sending me to a Catholic school, run by brothers and nuns, some of which escaped war crimes tribunals by fleeing to Brooklyn from Post-war Nazi Germany. The discipline was harsh, they were strict and intimidating, walking around the classroom asking if perhaps: “ you haf family in Shermany?” to make me comply with their demands. Looking up on the wall and seeing what they did to that kid I decided to try to listen.

THIS is what they did to you, so behave!

One of the things they didn’t like was a lefthander. No, to write left-handed was to sin, it broke the 11^th Commandment: “Thou shall not covet they neighborhood pharmacist.” They wanted to be able to read your homework, not have to resort to going to the pharmacist to read it like a prescription!

I'm the kid behind the kid with the suspenders

In my classroom one day the teacher, Mrs. Walsh, made us write each letter of the alphabet, starting with Caps and then lower case, just as she had it up on the walls over the blackboard, or in today’s vernacular: “Chalkboard”. As we wrote, she would pace the aisles of the room, perusing the many students and when she found one who was left-handed, lean over their desk, take the pencil out of the left  hand and place it in the right hand! This had a two-fold effect. One it made the student crazy, and two it made it possible to read your work, knowing whether or not you knew the lessons well if you broke your left-handed habit.

I had no family in Shermany

Depending on the phase of the moon, the temperature in Highland Park and the mood of the teacher, you could be subjected to corporal punishment for not complying with the edict to convert to right handed Christianity, so help me God. Where they got a corporal on leave from the army beats me, or would have given him the chance to do so. My suspicion is that the corporal was an old friend came from the Wehrmacht.

Being a gifted child I was already right-handed. Thank God for that, because they would have still been paying the price for converting me today. Although TLW has survived being left-handed, back handed and a pretty good forehand, she never went through the trials and tribulations of my left-handed classmates.  That would have been akin to correcting Mother Teresa, and who in the whole Catholic Church, including the last five popes would want to take that on?

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http://www.ahrcsuffolk.org/

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http://www.mountaintoptoys.com/

Address: 1231 Taft Hwy, Signal Mountain, TN 37377

Phone:(423) 886-6943

Hours: Open today · 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

SOMETIMES IT IS SOOO GOOD!

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In my lifetime I have experienced many events, some good and some bad. It is something we all share as humans, and something we should all appreciate in each of us.

Having lost a child and having to deal with a child with special needs, I have along with my wife suffered great heartache. We were on the leading edge of pain, often feeling like lepers in our families as we dealt with our problems through the years. Others looked at us like they were sympathetic, but that it was our problem, and they could go home to their normal families. Often it made my wife and I feel isolated and odd, alone in our own family. We envied them, but didn’t wish it on them, because to do so would have harmed other innocent children.

But something strange happened: it made us strong, as a couple and as parents. We had to deal with it all, by ourselves, and we didn’t mind, it was our children, we love them very much.

Suddenly the world has turned upside down. We are the proud grandparents of a beautiful little granddaughter, who has brought us nothing but great joy. Every morning we look for her beautiful face, sweet smile and joyous eyes as a reward for all the pain and suffering we have had. She has come into our lives and shook out all the sadness, all the pain and all the loneliness that pervaded our lives. We almost feel guilty, enjoying a child and hoping we don’t have to pay for it.

Every time #1 Son Anthony sends us a picture of his beautiful daughter, our whole day is made, our step is jauntier and our attitude merrier. Why, because it is a picture of La Principessa, my beautiful grandchild.  Maybe in our eyes we are prejudice, unable to see a flaw, but to us she is the most beautiful and perfect child in the world.

Every Sunday we look forward to Face Time with Darby Shea. She suddenly appears and no matter what the weather conditions, it suddenly becomes sunny, spring-like and happiness prevails. She looks into the screen with her wise eyes and beautiful smile, and we can’t help but go crazy in love. She is truly a gift from God, one that is invading our consciousness every moment of the day.

Hopefully, another day will dawn where we must board a plane to Burbank and see that lovely little creature, and I will have more days of glorious joy.
 

http://www.ahrcsuffolk.org/

http://www.mountaintoptoys.com/

Address: 1231 Taft Hwy, Signal Mountain, TN 37377

Phone:(423) 886-6943

Hours: Open today · 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

SEPTEMBER 9TH

It’s always a special day since 1991. Before that time it was special and filled with laughter, but today, after 23 years it is a quiet and sad special day. When he left us, he had a smile on his lips, and a mischievous way about him that said: “I made your life what it is.” He always made me laugh, even when he gave me the hardest of tasks, even when he said NO to me, or didn’t have the success that I needed to get on with my life.

The greatest gift he gave me was his sense of humor, it was always there, I was loyal to him, very loyal, to the point that someone once insulted him and I was ready to fight! But he was a peaceful man, big hearted and caring, he did so much for people that a good portion of his life was about others.

He was my dad, worked 5 to 6 days a week, hard, and expected me to have that kind of constitution. He was impressed by education, something he had very little of, considering the circumstances, he did OK for himself, and I got his education, and he was proud.

He was a constant source of fun and amusement, always finding trouble without looking for it, was a master at teasing my mother and lived to tell about it. Once as a young teenager, laying in front of the big Magnavox TV caught in a very scary movie, my world shut off as I focused at the screen, my breath held, he reached out over my head and said: “BOO!” Scared the living life right out of me. I laughed so hard my sides hurt.

Once when he was smoking he needed to add fluid to his lighter, and somehow dropped everything on the floor, and suddenly I could hear stomping upstairs, like a dance and the curiosity of knowing he was up there, got me to investigate. He had dropped the lighter and the fluid on my mom’s new living room rug, the rug was on fire and Dad was stomping out the flames. Dear old Dad!

Once we went crabbing off a pier in Patchogue, and Dad had his technique. As the sun was setting we stood at the edge of the pier, a net attached to a long pole, and a flashlight to attract the crabs, and as the crab followed the light to the net, we had crabs, a simple operation that Dad understood. Then suddenly, a large crab surfaced and Dad got real excited, leaning over the edge in his excitement. Suddenly he saw the crab and started going: “OOH, OOH, OOH!” and leaned too far, right into the drink!

Dad loved a good salad after dinner, he made sure we all had some and then ate the rest of the salad bowl, his favorite part of his dinner. It had to be the last thing we ate, that salad.

Today is his birthday, his first birthday spent with Mom together once again since June 12, 1991, the day he passed. I wonder what that will be like, maybe they will have a quiet salad together, then Dad will take the remote and as Mom falls asleep, will change the channels, maybe he will watch the Mets, after all, the way they are playing, they may be dead already.

I WONDER WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED?

After the excitement of the new grandchild I have, the lovely and precious La Principessa (Darby Shea), I got to thinking about my lineage and the fact that people came over here from the “other side” as they used to say. Yes, Grandpa Joe and Grandma Frances along with Grandpa Vito all came from the other side.

But what would have happened if they left it up to me to cross the ‘Pond” as they say today? Would there even be a family here? I am not a good traveler. In fact I hate to travel. If I have to go on a plane, I get crossed almost immediately. It used to be worse, with the shoes and belt, but now I don’t have to do that anymore! Apparently I travel so often now that it is not an issue, I’m harmless, not a terrorist. That plus the fact that I am no longer a 4^th grader has made the world safer in the eyes of the Homeland Security.

Now I can find trouble just by standing there, or anywhere and sometimes go out of my way in getting into trouble. Of course there are secrets out there that the world at large keeps from me and that is where it all begins. For instance, in Newark Airport, there is no tram to take to the plane, but there is one from the plane to the area where the hotel shuttle will pick us up. We were told to go to P4 to get the shuttle back to the hotel. I look for P4, see signs that say P4 and ask an airport guide where is P4? He’s pointing at a tram, how the hell should I know it’s a tram: you have to tell me.

To complicate matters sometimes I don’t hear too well. Give a crowded room, a PA system that mumbles and the need to pee: this is not a good mix. I never pass up a free toilet if I can help it, because as sure as I just went, put on the seat belt waiting to take off, I have to go! I wonder if it is psychological because it is a long flight?

I look good!

Assuming it is 1910, and I’m standing on the pier in Genoa, waiting to get aboard the Madonna which is waiting to go to America. I like thousands of other Italians, I want to have a better life and I don’t seem to be doing well in sunny Italy, so the boat. I’m going to miss my pasta, eggplant Parmesan and meatballs with sausages, and don’t forget the pesto and that leggy babe down at the Caffe’ Roma.

Apprehension reigns supremely as I stand there. I’ll miss my family, hometown and that leggy babe down at the Caffe’ Roma. I’m going to a place where they don’t speak Italian, and will my education as a poet be recognized? Here is a sample of my work:

Mamma Mia

Datza big boat!

I go to sea a

I hope it can float!

So you see there is all that talent going overseas, and a waste of talent, no?

Then I have to spend some time on the boat: fortunately I’ll be able to find the dining room, with this Italian nose. But once I go through customs, if I find it and they don’t send me to P4 I'll have to find TLW (The Little Woman), and how will I propose when she doesn’t speak Italian, or isn’t even born yet?

Nope, I’ll leave it to my grandparents.

http://www.ahrcsuffolk.org/

www.mountaintoptoys.com/

Address: 1231 Taft Hwy, Signal Mountain, TN 37377

Phone:(423) 886-6943

Hours: Open today · 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

 

GODPARENTS

Many years ago, before the birth of the nation, before George Washington even, my mother had me baptized. She figured it wise to start the process early, to get me on the right side of all that is good and pure. She gave it her best, and no one will criticize her for her gallant efforts for such a losing cause. But Mom was smart, she got two people involved to reflect some of the blame if I went astray, so she hired after a lot of haggling and money a set of godparents.

Now my Godparents who were terrific, happened to be relatives, people who knew me and to keep peace in the family finally through a third party agreed to be my Godparents. They were my Aunt Mary and my Uncle Johnny. Nice people who could speak Italian, she could cook and he was an excellent mechanic. Aunt Mary was my Grandmother’s niece and Uncle Johnny was her husband. He was cool and I remember one Easter Sunday when I was about five: going to my grandmother’s house for dinner. There at the long kitchen table sat Uncle Johnny, with a trick tie, grabbing me and sitting me on his lap, he began to amuse me with the tie.

And so we come to my beautiful granddaughter, La Principessa (Darby Shea) and he baptism and the subject of this blogue, her Godparents.

Larissa, La Principessa and TLC

There is a lovely lady by the name of Larissa, Larissa is beautiful, very smart and a wonderful example for what I would hope La Principessa will become. She is a gifted conversationalist, and feels like family, what more can you ask for? Larissa happens to be TLC (The Lovely Courtney)’s best friend, and that speaks volumes for both gals! She was the bridesmaid and attended TLC’s graduation, cheering her best friend on all the way. What a lovely gal.

The Holland Family

Then there is Patrick, a fellow I know from the early 90’s worked with me as a cub writer and he and I worked on a project together for his first job. It was a great experience and I laughed most of the time because he made me laugh. A very kind individual, he has been supportive of #1 Son (Anthony) since #1 Son's internship where they met and good friend and from what I see on the pages of Facebook, one great Dad, a guy who has two beautiful daughters and a lovely wife. The owner of a toy store you may want to check out if you need a gift for a child that is different and can be ordered on the Internet.  www.mountaintoptoys.com/

http://www.ahrcsuffolk.org/

http://www.mountaintoptoys.com/

Address: 1231 Taft Hwy, Signal Mountain, TN 37377

Phone:(423) 886-6943

Hours: Open today · 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

 

A CUP OF WATER

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Many years ago there was a priest who gave a sermon on doing the Christian thing. He described a little boy on a three-wheeler bicycle riding around in the heat. He looked tired and hot and a passing neighbor who saw the child was moved enough to get the child a glass of water which the child consumed gratefully. It was more than an act of kindness.

La Principessa

As we prepared for our visit to Burbank to see my beautiful Granddaughter, TLW (The Little Woman) was selecting a baptismal dress for La Principessa, and had two. Both were hand made and beautiful, by two beautiful people for our kids in the past. My sister-in-law Maureen made one of what appeared to be lace and one that was crocheted by my mother. Mom’s dress was a little warmer than Maureen’s. TLW told TLC (The Lovely Courtney) my beautiful daughter-in-law that she could decide on which one to use since the weather was warm in Burbank in the summer.

TLW asked me if I would be upset that Maureen’s dress was used if it was too warm, rather than Mom’s. My feeling was it would be so beautiful if she did wear her great grandmother’s dress, but I understood if she didn’t since it was so warm in Burbank. After all, the baby’s comfort was far more important than my emotions, and besides the dress from Maureen was made by family too and was beautiful, not store bought.

Aunt Maureen (In the wedding dress)

Having lost my mom just a few months ago, I felt down and sad that she wasn’t here to see or for me to tell her about the Christening. So many times I would think, wait until Mom sees the pictures, or wait until Mom hears about this or that, then the reality that she was no longer here on Earth. Sadness was gripping me and I was in mourning, but didn’t realize fully how much so I was.

Being dressed

TLC, Larissa, a great gal and wonderful friend of TLC who was the godmother of La Principessa (Darby Shea) and I went in one car to the church as the others went before us to Mass. TLC took both dresses and would decide once we were at the church. In the back of the church was a dressing room where we took the baby.

AH!

I didn’t want to look but knew I had to take pictures of them dressing the baby, and the haunt of my mother’s face was in my way. The thought was that it would have been a wonderful connection for Mom to have her hand-made dress put on Darby. As I looked through the lens, something seemed strange, there in the hands of TLC was Mom’s dress! Courtney was doing something very special for her daughter, making the connection for me, my mother to my grandchild! Even as I write this, tears seem to well up in me and I had to walk away for a moment to collect myself.

Larissa, La Principessa and TLC

As the movie says in it’s title: La Vita E’ Bella, Life Is Beautiful, and Courtney, TLC made it possible. Thank you Courtney, you don’t know how special you really became by that glass of water.

http://www.ahrcsuffolk.org/

BUENOS DIOS, LADS!

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La Principessa!

If you spend too much time in an airport, things start to happen to your ability to make sense out of anything.

On our way to Burbank, California to see La Principessa, TLW (The Little Woman) and me had a three-hour layover at Fan Francisco airport. Since it was so early a flight out of Newark to San Francisco we decided not to eat breakfast until we reached west coast.

There are just so many things you can do to occupy your time for three hours in any airport, no matter how big it is. San Francisco IS a big airport, and there is only one more thing to do there. After you eat, buy a newspaper and look around some of the stores that sell all that junk, you can still search for Tony Bennett’s heart. But give up the ghost: I looked everywhere.

The man is NOT heartless!

Having flown for six hours, we got off the plane and were hungry for our breakfast, but all the places were like Mac Donald’s and we wanted something a little more comfortable, with a waitress or waiter and tables. Shuffling from one section to another we come across a place called Buena Vista, a somewhat fancy looking place that had everything required to make me happy. Sitting down, the waitress gets our coffee order and gives us the menu, which I peruse with great interest. After all, Buena Vista evokes images of tacos and burritos and enchiladas. There amongst the clutter of offerings is a breakfast enchilada, complete with eggs, green pepper and sour cream with cheese and onions, enough of everything to kill you in Espanol!

As I read the back of the menu there is a little history about the place.

THE IRISH COFFEE STORY

The historic venture started on the night of November the 10th in 1952. Jack Koeppler, then-owner of the Buena Vista, challenged international travel writer Stanton Delaplane to help re-create a highly touted "Irish Coffee" served at Shannon Airport in Ireland. Intrigued, Stan Accepted Jack’s invitation, and the pair began to experiment immediately.

Throughout the night the two of them stirred and sipped judiciously and eventually acknowledged two recurring problems. The taste was "not quite right," and the cream would not float. Stan’s hopes sank like the cream, but Jack was undaunted. The restaurateur pursued the elusive elixir with religious fervor, even making a pilgrimage overseas to Shannon Airport.

Upon Jack’s return, the experimentation continued. Finally, the perfect-tasting Irish whiskey was selected. Then the problem of the bottom-bent cream was taken to San Francisco’s mayor, a prominent dairy owner. It was discovered that when the cream was aged for 48 hours and frothed to a precise consistency, it would float as delicately as a swan on the surface of Jack’s and Stan’s special nectar.

Success was theirs! With the recipe now mastered, a sparkling clear, six-ounce, heat-treated goblet was chosen as a suitable chalice.

Soon the fame of the Buena Vista’s Irish Coffee spread throughout the land. Today, it’s still the same delicious mixture, and it’s still the same clamorous, cosmopolitan Buena Vista. Both…delightful experiences.

That story is from their website verbatim. Well the story, although interesting, shattered my Mexican experience! Dios Mios!

I will tell you this, the food was delicious, the potatoes were incredible as was the coffee and the place was clean! Ole lads!

http://www.ahrcsuffolk.org/

IT TAKES JUST A LITTLE ENCOURAGEMENT!

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Yes, there are words in this world we all like to hear. Words that make our day, lift our spirits and make us jump for joy. Usually these words are unexpected, unsolicited and sometimes down right unfathomable, words for the ages so to speak, or in my case, words for the aged!

Recently I got a message on Facebook from someone who has no reason to be nice to me, will gain nothing from me but a huge thanks and who I should send money or at least a cheese cake for saying what she did.

“Your birthday poem to your cousin cracked me up LOL. Too funny! I think Darby looks a little like you.”

Yes, that is what she wrote, something I suspected but was afraid to mention for obvious reasons, but I guess you can’t hide from the truth. Now this person who happens to be beautiful herself, with high moral standards and EXTREMELY truthful laid it out for all of us.

Being a modest and humble man myself, I would never mention the fact that La Principessa, my beautiful and gorgeous granddaughter Darby Shea looks like me. Of course not, that will go unsaid by everyone, but deep in their hearts they know, they feel it, they can’t deny it, La Principessa looks like her Grandpa Joe: God bless you Donna Jordan Reynolds, and God bless America!

http://www.ahrcsuffolk.org/

THE WORLD SERIOUS!

It’s that time of the year again, when we start to gather ourselves for the coming onslaught of fall, the change of weather and the Holiday season. And if you are a fan of baseball and football, one is ending and another is beginning a season.

Back in the day, after spending the summer on the concrete and playing with abandon, the summer nights came quicker. They snuck up to the point that we had very little time to play in the light of day or even the gloom of sunset, and it was our warning that soon the evenings would be spent in an apartment, doing homework or studying for the next day, it was the advent of school!

Once more around the block!

Many a sad child would skate one more time around the block, punch one more ball or smack a Spaulding as it bounced your way, while you waited for it with an old broom handle ready to send it 2 sewers. Sadness prevailed.

That first day back from summer vacation marked itself differently from the last day of school, just weeks before, when we felt that there was a life time of summer days in front of us to enjoy and play with our friends. What were landmarks on the route to our education became part of the scenic spots for fun, mischief and sources of amusement. In September, once again the landmarks pointed to business!

One of the things I remember most was the new shoes we got for the new school year. We were poor but Mom made sure we were always dressed properly with polished shoes and that when we returned home from school, we took off the fancy and suited up into play clothes. She made sure we had a good breakfast, were clean and neat and on time for the morning bell. As I walked to school that first day in September, the new shoes would eat into my ankles as I walked, making my feet hurt a little and the pain although temporary and minor, reminded me that the fun was over, this was work and suddenly, carefree days would be swapped for accountability, responsibility and work!

I can picture that first day in the classroom, as Mrs. Walsh would stand in front of the classroom, with her sensible shoes and modest dress, well coiffed hair and red old lips and explain the rules, hand out the list of books and what they would costs. In Catholic schools, you purchased your books as you did your education and discipline. Yes it was a tough place to catch a break.

Scanning the classroom for the first time, looking at the two Presidents, Washington and Lincoln, the green and white cards that sat over the chalk boards, showing the proper way to form a letter in the alphabet, and finally your eyes resting on the front and center of the classroom, the crucifix of Jesus on the cross, told you the new reality was here. I would then hear the echoes of summer, the imaginary taste of ice cream and mellow roles, the egg cream and the sound of the bouncing rubber ball.

IT’S ALL IN HOW YOU LOOK AT IT.

As you may know, #1 Son, Anthony works for a popular TV show called the Big Bang Theory. As a writer he along with his fellow writers create the lines for what is one of the greatest hits of all time. It is my belief that it will be rated along with Lucy and the Honeymooners as a show that will always be replayed and enjoyed for generations to come.

As evidence of how good a show it is, it gets nominated every year for an Emmy and has already won one for it’s writing as has the show won many singular Emmy’s (see Jim Parson) for performances and other things.

Now if you or I go to see an Emmy award presentation, you and I would be looking for the stars of TV, the people we see on the screen in our living rooms. Not so with my son! No, he looks for the writers and creators of the shows, the people who are basically behind the scenes but their work, through good acting shines through.

In my opinion, good comedy writing depends on the characters that are developed and consistency with the character’s personality. It is like music and dancing, the dance is created after the music is written and gets interpreted by the gracefulness and talent of the dancer’s portrayal of the music.

At the last Emmy Awards, #1 Son along with TLC (The Lovely Courtney) parent’s of La Principessa met with Vince Gilligan the genius behind Breaking Bad, a show that has me sucked in so bad I have recorded all the shows to be able to watch them after all the hoopla I heard. It is very compelling, so much so that you want to sometimes turn away but can’t.

La Principessa!

Recently I emailed #1 Son about how much I enjoy the show, and he emailed me back with this:

“Oh, I'm glad you like it! I was hesitant to recommend it to you because it does get very dark and violent, but it's a really fascinating look at humanity -- and the dangers of drugs, greed, etc.  I think Bryan Cranston (Walter White) is truly incredible in it. And all the other actors are great, too.  I am a huge fan of the creator and head writer of the show, Vince Gilligan. In fact, Courtney and I sought him out after the Emmy's last night and spoke to him for over 10 minutes. He was extremely gracious and humble and just a genuinely sweet guy. I have heard nothing but good things about him, and he confirmed it all when he spent half the conversation telling me what a big fan of Big Bang Theory he is.  I'm attaching the picture of me and Courtney with him.”

TLC (Courtney Hyde) Vince Gilligan and #1 Son (Anthony)

I think Mr. Gilligan has done the world of insulated America a real service, showing you what happens in that world of drugs, and why it happens. But it also shows how ordinary people can become abducted to the drug culture for reasons beyond their control, good people otherwise who face the demons of the abduction. It tells of horrific things and events that must happen daily to these otherwise decent people. I guess we have to start evaluating the truths, not judge the victims but learn and perhaps in someway help fight the demons and free those abducted.

Thank you Mr. Gilligan for showing me the truth, maybe I will learn something that is important and worthwhile.

SEPTEMBER 1ST, AGAIN!

If there is one date more than any other that makes a statement to me, it is September 1^st. let’s face it, we think the year is still new until we get to the first. All of a sudden, we are facing Labor Day, the end of summer and the beginning of autumn: which means the holidays are coming and so is the New Year.

Some of us love the summer, a chance to dress down somewhat, wear floppy sandals and shorts with t-shirts and get away with looking grubby. Me, I have a whole wardrobe for grubby that I maintain faithfully throughout the year.

Once Labor Day comes and goes, the Fall season becomes a hotbed of activity, what with going back to school, work, Halloween and Thanksgiving, the anticipation of Christmas and Chanukah the New Year looms large. As far as Halloween costumes go, I can always dip into my wardrobe and have a costume, fully accessorized and look like I stepped out of central casting. But let’s not overlook the World Series and the beginning of Football, Hockey and Basketball!

Might be Main Street in East Hampton!

Another thing about the date is that it has a huge bearing on Long Island. The city folk, who tend to clog the highways and byways of Eastern Long Island, return to their nests in the urban concrete jungle, leaving the roads and restaurants, stores and beaches to the people who pay for them, the residents and taxpayers, as they city dwellers all leave, at the same time, during the rush hour of the first Tuesday after Labor Day!  It is one more time for old time sake and I’ll see you in May.

When I was a kid in high school, this was New Years Day for me, the day I made my resolutions for the coming school year. It was new clothes and a vow NOT to draw in the margins of my notebooks, so I wouldn’t have to re-write the notebooks before I handed them in.

In 1923, my boyhood hero, Rocky Marciano was born on this date, not that that has anything to do with the cost of onions, or September for that matter.

So Dear Reader, get ready for the New Year, I see some places have already decorated for Christmas, or maybe they still haven’t had a chance to take them down from last year.