My Quest

It is quite well known amongst my close friends and family that I am a diabetic. Oh I don't advertise it but when I deny myself eating a large beautiful piece of pie, people look and usually understand. Do I weaken once in a while? Oh yes! But in general, having seen some with amputated feet or legs, it is sufficient for me to resist. However when it comes to chocolate it is very trying to curb my temptation. I have done some traveling in my business days, most to the Orient where acquiring chocolate is a problem. Japan, forget it. Those guys would insist I eat sweetened grasshoppers when they are "in season". Ugh! I remembered Korea was the next country I was to visit and I figured maybe there? Well, I was right. In the basement of the hotel I stayed at was a kind of a Army PX store and it had fun sized Milky Ways. Oh I forgot to tell I am also cheap. When I would bring candy home to Louise, she would always take the good stuff knowing I didn't care as long as mine was chocolate. Before I get back to Korea I must admit that there were days when I would get desperate enough to eat Bakers cooking chocolate and think it was wonderful. Now you must admit that is pretty bad, but, I needed a "fix". 

So, returning to Korea, the basement store and the Milky Ways, they were available in the States for about $2.49 but those bandits wanted $3.95 for a bag and I just wouldn't permit my cheapness to pay that inflated price-never mind they had to fly it in from the U.S. and there were transportation costs involved. Don't confuse me with the facts The price was exorbitant and I just bore up with the strain of temptation. But now we head for Hong Kong and I was on the shuttle boat from Hong Kong Island to Kowloon and decided that I would visit a market place at the head of the incoming boat dock. Lo and behold! What did I see? A big sign saying "See's Candies" Eureka! I'm saved. I went in and must admit I went overboard but can you blame me? Two countries I had visited with no success, but I might have guessed the Brits, who at that time still owned that piece of China, liked their chocolate too.

So, I vowed never to be caught in that situation again and began to set my thoughts in motion and think I have a solution. Its a bit weird but it works. I have used Chocolate syrup in milk. I have used powdered Slim Fast in water as advised and that is now my solution. I carry Hershey's Chocolate syrup with me in my travels. If I stay in a hotel,- no problem. I call down for some ice and proceed to mix up a glass full of ice and water--in a home, there is always a bathroom handy and I can live without the ice. My mixture takes care of my cravings. So there you have it. I have solved the unsolvable. My quest is successful and I am sufficiently fulfilled. Lets hear it for Hershey's syrup. Don't leave home without it!!

My Flag

I have a nice sized flag hanging from my second story balcony that requires occasional unfurling. So I keep an old fishing rod handy to take care of its wrapping around the staff. I am so pleased and proud of "Old Glory" that I almost salute it each time I come home after parking my car. As I look around my apartment complex, I see an occasional flag but, some how, I always wish that I would see more of them. Why is it that there are so few that want to show their love of country and the flag? With all the unrest that is plaguing our country at this time doesn't it make sense that more would indicate to the world, their love of country and want every one to know it? There was a time when this country was almost over run with those leaving Europe for a country that was advertising freedom and opportunity. We were a melting pot then with the Poles, the Micks. the Jews and so many more ethic groups that believed there would be a better way. Today we are being over run with the Muslim, the Latin and probably others of which I am unfamiliar. Are we still a melting pot? No! Today there are too many trying to divide us from each other. A flag would be a wonderful way to separate us from those who do not have the same love of country as do I. I can't help but think of Louise and am constantly beating myself up, figuratively, that I didn't tell her of my love for her as I put my arms around her. She's gone and I can never get her back, at least in this life. Do you see the anology I am inserting? Is it possible that there will come a day when we will be thinking "Oh how I wish for the time when we were able to put up a christmas tree, a cross, a flag, to once again be able to put our arms around a country we love" Where are our liberties going? This is not the vision of our founders! A pernicious erosion is gradually eating up many of the reasons those on the Mayflower were risking their lives to come to this country. I believe we are risking our freedoms, hoping to weather the storm and not sink the ship of liberty we have loved for these many,many decades. If we truly have concerns about this, would it violate our principles to let a flag indicate our love of county and what it stands for? The discord that is reverberating throughout our land is frightening and surely will lead to problems we have never had to witness. Maybe its time for all of us to really believe in the Pledge of Allegiance and maybe to show a flag to prove it!! God Bless America!!

Matthew

Many times the words have been uttered that the only time families gather are at funerals and weddings. It is certainly true in this instance and we will smile and laugh at humorous memories. It is our way to show our love and respect for another family member that has passed into the final stage of life. May he find happiness there with the pain gone and his former family members and friends there to greet him. Farewell young Matthew. You will be missed. Your outgoing personality, your infectious humor and all those trademarks that made you what you have meant to us. Farewell.

LAST MAN STANDING

I know this title is reminescent of a gangster movie or some other media but in this case it really takes on a serious meaning for me. Because I am IT! Yes, the last of my peer group has passed on and I want to tell you of the several men that were classified as my best friends. Oh I have had many good friends through the years and they date back to high school days. But my best friends were special and memorable and as I now sit and think of them I can't help but shed a tear and remember what they meant to me, for they all meant a lot. My first best friend was uniquely called Moon. I don't know why and never asked when I should have. We were cheerleaders but more than that, we hung out together for several years until he went into the Air Force and a few months later, I went into the Navy. Yeah you guessed it, there was a war on and most of the guys I knew were enlisting or were being drafted. The funny thing about Ernie (Moon) was that although we kept in touch for 60 years, we rarely saw each other. He had stayed in the military while I had opted out but I still thought of him as my best friend.

I had chosen to be a retailer and had a pretty good career going when I met Jim. He arrived at the store in which I was working and was hired as a housewares buyer. He was a tall, good humored guy and we struck it off at once. We traveled together, partied together and our wives became very good friends--which incidentally is the only way you can have a best friend. The wives have to like each other and fortunately they did. As the years passed, Jim and I were separated, each of us following our own chosen paths but somehow we continued to see each other in New York, New Jersey or Pennsylvania. We managed to continue our friendship all over the country.

Bud and John were Navy buddies. Somehow, inspite of the Navy moving us around, we managed to get into the same group and managed to maintain our friendship through most of the time we were flying together. John and I were navigator/copilots in the same plane. Bud was in the same group but a different aircraft. However Bud and I, along with our wives had lived in the same home at one of the bases and had developed a wonderful relationship amongst the four of us. Didn't I tell you the wives also had to become friends? Those two friendships lasted over 60 years also with Bud passing about 3 years ago and John more recently. And now I have saved two friends until the end of this writing. One was Moynsie who was the first to go. He and I had known each other in High School but only casually. The real friendship began when we met at a bus stop in front of the University of Buffalo. For some reason everything clicked and we began a friendship-along with our spouses that lasted for years. Moynsie was the first to die and I was in Japan when my secretary called and told me she had bad news. Moynsie had passed away at 56 and I remember leaning against a wall with tears running down my cheeks. He was the one I had spent the most time with and whom I had come to love the most. I tear up now recalling how much laughter we got and gave each other.

But I now come to the last to go. Dick and I had met at the department store at which we were both employed. He was a basement buyer at the time and we found out we had both been at the same high school although Dick was a couple of years younger. But we hit it off and it built into a great relationship. We were both buyers. We golfed together, often traveled together and even when I left to go to Wisconsin we would meet in N.Y. The thing that bonded us, was the yearly store party and we found that he and I would write the script, plan the events to take place on the stage of a nearby hotel and work things so the party was a complete success for several years. We had a blast entertaining all the other employees.

Well, there you have it. A record of my closest, best friends. I have much to remember about them all. They brought joy into my life and helped to make my years part of the wonder that has been mine. As I think of them and what they meant to me, I can't help but recognize that it is friendships that make our lives what they are. What kind of a life would it be if we didn't have those relationships that go beyond our love of family- that enriches the tapestry into which is embroidered those many friendships. I am so grateful for the fulness that my life has been and for the men that have made it so. It is my hope that yours will be the equal.

Always Leave Them Laughing

It seems like a long time ago and as I think of it, it is. But for some reason a friend and I were talking about our wives, children and pregnancies. Yeah, I know that seems strange for a couple of old birds like us to be talking about that subject. Football, maybe, baseball definitely, but a subject like pregnancies--hardly. However, we were and I remembered one of mine, --- make that Louises'; actually I remember all of them but this one was special. It was like this: I was in L.A. and was having dinner with our west coast salesmen and his wife when I remarked, "If you will excuse me I had better call home before it is too late" and I headed for a phone. Of course it was not a cell phone in those days, thus I had to leave the table and head for the nearest pay phone. I rang and Louise answered and as we talked, she asked if I was going to ask what the Dr had said. Of course the typical male I replied "Oh, that's right, what did he say." With that, a sudden gush of tears followed and her trembling voice said "I'm pregnant!" Knowing she may have wanted something else, I couldn't help myself and I almost shouted "Honey, that's wonderful", and I truly believed it was. I calmed her down but continued laughing. I have often wondered if she was emotional for fear that I would be upset or because she didn't want another child. I really think it was her concern about me but I was delighted and excited at the thought of another child and she became very accepting of what the next 8 months would bring. She would be 41 by the time the baby was to come. We mentioned it once, without concern, and never spoke of it again. Our Chris was born, peed all over the Dr.twice and I left the room laughing and have laughed many times since then recalling how happy I was at the news and how quickly Louise became happy too. His brothers and sisters think he was spoiled but its probable that the youngest of the family always catches that flack. He was just great kid and was the catalyst that completed our family.

To Mr Anonymous

For several months an unidentified person, male or female, has chosen to criticize various parts of my blogs. I do not pretend to be a grade A student of English and this particular person served to have me go back and re-read those blogs on which had commented. He or she has never revealed his identity(note, I will now refer to this party as a "he") but in my going back he was correct in criticizing my work. While his criticisms were generally not of my grammar, my sentence structure or things of that nature, his comments were more sarcastic and the fact that he remained in a shadow was annoying. I'm not sure why he bothers and if he is supposedly giving constructive criticism, it is difficult to see it as such. As I started out saying, in going back to re-read my work, I deserved to be subjected to some sarcasm. Why I never audited myself is hard to explain, although some of it is a result of my lack of computer skill, it is now too late to worry about. I did what I did and now can suffer rightful criticisms.

However to now respond to this person that chooses not to come forward, I would really like to know who you are and as of now you are forgiven for any irritations I may have had of you. I receive comments from a couple of people I have never met but when they speak of one of my blogs, I send an e mail expressing my thanks for their interest in my work. For you who may continue to remain hidden, my blogs are a result of a continuing history of a Father who likes to write about his past or present life. I will still write an occasional blog when I am inspired to do so and this one is a challenge to you to reveal who you are so that I may find another friend who likes to comment on what I have to say. If you choose not to admit who Mr Anonymous is, at least make your comments so I can read them. Your last contribution was in French and as you have pointed out, my English is the problem.

The Exams

They were somewhat challenging but certainly interesting and I strangely enjoyed it for over two hours. It's rather strange that at this age I am still taking examinations. Well, it was actually only one test but it had to do with my mental acuity. Let me go back and explain. For some reason the VA decided I should be tested for my ability to demonstrate my ability to reason and determine at what stage was my dimensia. how was my memory or what had I forgotten etc. So I arrived at the office of a PHD and she was delightful. First off, I saw a plaque on her wall indicating she had attended the Un. of Buffalo-my old Alma Mater.That started up a lively conversation of where she lived and where I lived, both of which were well known areas to both of us. Later I realized our enthusiastic conversation was because she was sizing me up. But then the tests began. I did explain before we started that years ago I had gone through a battery of tests with another PHD and he left a bad taste in my mouth because his report stated nothing definitive about me. It was all qualified with could, should, might and so forth and I accused him of being gutless in a report that showed nothing of what or who I was. Dr Brown assured me I would have a specific report before I left her office and I felt placated with that assurance. She took out a sheet of paper and marked it with a middle mark and other marks on each side, which I found out later, indicated the middle mark being average and the marks on the right side were for above average and the ones on the left were below average. There were several forms of tests, math, cultural i.e. "who wrote Faust or who was leader of the French army during the 1800s". Several other tests for the purpose of determining the state of my memory. There were too many to go into but they all were ,as I said before, challenging but interesting. Dr Brown (Christina) was very social, so much so that I asked if I could take her to lunch one day soon. She replied not for two years. When I looked at her questioningly, she said "You are my patient and there has to be a 2 year period before further socializing could take place." Shucks, just my luck! Well, to sum up, all her marks were above the average line, some even high average, and two or three notations were"superior". She kept encouraging me when I faltered at one or another point and I did very poorly on one test which asked me to take some blocks and with the method they were colored, arrange them to look like pictures she showed me. As I tried to do so I said "This isn't my strength". and she replied "That's obvious." Oh well, one engineering failure isn't too bad for my age. She was very pointed in saying the tests had a limit for those up to the age of 85 and I was doing very well. So that sums up an unforgettable experience and as I departed, I remarked,"I'll look forward to calling you in two years". She smiled and said to me "Don't forget". I thought as I left, "I wonder what she meant by that"?