Today is a day of all days!

My Father is 95 years old!

Happy birthday, Dad!

He was born in 1914. World War I was just beginning to fester. His parents, my grandparents, were Italian immigrants. Eventually my Grandfather was able to purchase a 3 story 6 family home. Grandpa’s apartment consisted of 2 bedrooms, a living room and large kitchen. My grandparents raised their 7 children , one of whom was obviously my Father, in that small place.

Dad went through the third year of high school. A major achievment in those days for the offspring of immigrant parents. He then quit school to work. An economic necessity at the time.

He lived through the depression of the 1930s. Met my Mother, fell in love and married, also in the 1930s. And then occurred a major event in his life. He fathered a son! Me! I am moved every time I hear him tell of the excitement of my birth and his having fathered a son.

My Father worked back in those days in a fishing tackle plant. He worked in what was known as the glue room making bamboo fishing rods. Not a very good job. But a job during the depression years.

My parents and I were living in my Grandfather’s house. My parents rented the third floor front apartment. My Grandfather turned out to be a pretty smart guy. When his children became adults and married, they all moved into his 3 story 6 apartment house! Made not only for steady cash flow, but also kept the family together. Family is big in the Italian tradition.

In the summer of 1941, my parents bought a 2 family house in what might be described as a low middle class neighborhood. Utica was a very ethnic community in those days. In fact, it still is. Most cities are.

Anyhow, it was primarily a German/Irish neighborhood. My father was one of the first persons of Italian extraction to move in. It was not easy. An unexpectred discrimination became apparent. It took a few years to work out.

World War II was upon us. My father was turned down for military service. When he was young, he had an infected ear. The doctor tried to clean it out with a scissor. He punctured the eardrum. My father was 4F.

He worked in a defense plant during the war years. Thereafter he became a white collar worker. Something he was very proud of. To go from working with his hands to working with his mind!

It always bothered him that he had not finished high school. So around the time I was about 10, he made arrangements to study at home and took his high school examinations. Passsed them all! That year he donned cap and gown and graduated on stage with the local high school class! A very proud moment in his life! That high school diploma was the equivalent of a college degree, as far as my Father was concerned!

Then my sister Joan was born. My parents had the perfect familly. A son and daughter.

My Father saw his children educated and successful in life. Me as a lawyer and my sister as an international travel agent owning her own business in Tampa.

He also saw his seed multiply. His 2 children produced a combined total of 6 offspring. Those grandchildren produced 14 great grandchildren. And all treat him with love and respect to this day!

Mom is long gone. It has been at least 20 years since she moved on. My father now has a companion/partner/lover he has lived with for the past 10 years. She is good for him and very caring of him. She is also about 30 years younger than Dad. Go, Dad!

He still lives in that same 2 family house he bought back in 1941. Sixty eight years in the same place! The neighborhood continues to be ethnic. Except now it is Bosnian, Russian and Asian. And the homes old and starting to show their age.

There was a time when the house went unlocked and keys were left in the car overnight. Now everything is double locked.

My father talks about selling the house. He is motivated by the economics of running the place. I hope he never does.

His health is generally good. If one reaches 95, their health has to be good!

He is a bit shorter. Osteoporosis. He has a heart valve problem which developed about 2 years ago which has slowed him down. But he still gets out to dinner at least once a week! His mind is terrific. Life is good!

Dad had 6 brothers and sisters. Only one sister is left. Mary. Ninety nine and lives in New York City. It is wild to see the two of them together on the infrequent occasions it is possible.

Enjoy your day, Dad! You have had a good and fruitful life! I am proud of you!

A very nice day yesterday!

It started with golf. I played well. That means better than normal. Still did not score, however.

Tom was the big winner. $34! That is a big day! He had a terrific back nine. I lost $11.

Passover last night! I was invited to the Seder dinner at Donna’s daughter’s home. I am very grateful for the invitation. I had a wonderful time!

Donna’s 3 sons were in for the holiday also. Plus other family members and friends.

The Seder was outside. There were a ton of us!

The men wore kepahs. Hebrew for the little round cap Jewish men wear.

Donna had a box of them which she brought to the Seder every year. However the box got lost in the moving she did this year. The loss was discovered only yesterday afternoon.

No problem. Her 3 young granddaughters made new ones! With the men’s names written boldly on top. Even one for me!

We started the Haggadah with the ceremonial readings. Haggadah is Hebrew for a gathering. Donna’s 2 oldest sons led the ceremonial reading. We all participated. I did a small reading.

I learned many interesting and new things last night.

One involved unleavened bread. Jewish people eat unleavened bread during these ceremonial times and on other occasions. The reason therefore is historical.

When Moses got the Pharoh to let his people go, they left Egypt forthwith. No waiting around. They were afraid he would change his mind.

The Jews did not have time to pack everything or even provide for all provisions necessary for their trip. They took flour and water. Forgot the yeast. So the bread they made came out flat.

We sipped wine 4 times during the pre dinner ceremony. Each time we sipped the wine, we were required to recline left. Why left? The left leaning was to represent a relaxing pleasant time. The trip out of Egypt was a hard one. No time for simple pleasures. To sip wine now in a relaxed position was to make up for the hardships of the trip out of Egypt.

The food was outstanding! Donna did most of the cooking. Said it took her 3 days. Turkey and brisket. Vegetables. Tasty! Delicious!

Thank you again Donna for making me a part of your family holiday!

Today is Thursday. Normally bocci. Not tonight, however. Because of the Jewish and Christian holidays, there is no bocci this week.

The weather is fantastic! Those visiting this week, and many are because of the holiday, are in for a treat!

Enjoy!

Key West is Paradise! It has many positive features! Few negatives!

One of its drawbacks is the degree of medical care. Note I said degree and not quality. What is here is good. However, not enough.

About 5 years ago I went into the local hospital with a ruptured appendix on a Sunday night. Six hours later I came out of surgery having lost not only my appendix, but also 25 per cent of my colon. The doctor thought I had cancer and removed a significant portion of my colon. The only problem, and a fortuante one, was that I did not have cancer.

The doctor made the decision I had cancer based on a sight observation. Since it was a Sunday night, the lab was closed and so no test of my colon tissue could be made to verify what turned out to be his erroneous determination.

Yesterday morning I was at the dentist’s office bright and early to deal with the tooth ache of all tooth aches!

I woke yesterday morning with no pain. Surprising!

My dentist, who is a good one by the way, examined me and took x rays. He thinks I might have an abcess. Two teeth away from the new cap. The problem has nothing to do with the new cap. He tells me I need a root canal. No sweat. I have had them before.

Regular dentists do not do root canals. A specialist is required. He is called an endodontist.

My dentist gives me the root canal guy’s telephone number, a prescription for penicillan and a prescription for a pain killer.

I telephone the endodontist. I cannot get an appointment until April 21st. Two weeks away! I tell the voice on the other end of the phone that my problem is today! If the pain returns, and I assume it will, what do I do? The pain is a killer!

She is matter of fact. No sympathy. Tells me her doctor only works in Key West 1 day a week. His practice is in Miami. And further he is on vacation presently up north skiing and will not return for 2 weeks.

OK. I can deal with that. Everyone deserves a vacation!

I telephone my dentist back and explain the problem to his assistant. She says she will get back to me. She does. My dentist suggests a doctor somebody in Key Largo. That is 120 miles away! A 3 hour drive each way on US 1. And no guaranty the root canal would be done that day. My appoint was for an “evaluation.”

That is my point regarding “degree!” We do not have enough of what we need medically and dentally here in Key West!

My dentist believed the abcess had broken on its own during the night and that is why I was pain free when I saw him. But it could return! The penicillan would help kill the infection and so the pain. And if that did not work, I have a full bottle of pain killers!

I have decided to wait the 2 weeks till the ski trip is over.

Crazy weather. It has been warm. Low to high 80s. Then yesterday and today cold! Right now it is 66. The high today will only be 71. That is cold here in Key West, especially when your blood has thinned.

However tomorrow it turns again. Mid 80s the rest of the week. And the lows in the high 70s! Key West weather!

Passover is upon us. My good friend Donna does Seder every year. She makes it a requirement that her family all attend. A tough and respected mother, my Donna. They all come! Children and grandchildren. From every part of the US!

Donna has invited me to join her and her familly for Seder tonight. I am honored!

Golf this morning. I will be wearing a sweat shirt.

I venture no opinion on the quality of my game. Just once, however, I would enjoy a good round. Please, Lord!

A lousy evening last night!

A painful one!

I had the tooth ache of all tooth aches! Throbbing! Pulsating! Even my ear hurt!

I think it has to do with the new cap I got a few weeks ago. Either that or I have a giant abcess.

Thank you, Dr. Lou!

Two aspirins did not help. Two Aleve an hour later did not help. I went downstairs and poured myself an 8 ounce glass of Beefeater gin. With no ice! Screw the triglycirides!

That did it! About an hour later I could have been hit in the head with a sledge hammer and would have felt no pain! Slept well. And no pain this morning! Though I do have a large lump below the tooth.

I see the dentist at 8:30 this morning. Help me, doctor!

My tooth ache makes everything else that occurred yesterday seem unimportant.

The basketball game was good last night! However Michigan State must have felt as I did! Hurting!

Congratulations to North Carolina! A fine basketball team! A destructive machine as they ran all over Michigan State. Especially in the first half.

Check in tomorrow to find out what caused a very bad time for me last night.

A good Sunday yesterday!

I stayed in bed late watching Meet the Press. Then it was off to the Pier House for lunch/brunch.
I bought the Sunday papers on the way in.

The weather is glorious here in Key West. I sat at a table at the Beach Bar. This gave me the opportunity to enjoy the weather and view. The view, of course, consisted of the beach and the bikini clad beauties thereon.

I had had a craving for ham and eggs all week. So ham and eggs it was!

Last night it was dinner at the Yacht Club with Lisa and the family. Corey’s mom Karen is in for the week and she was with us also.

Robert and Ally have become good dinner companions. I remember when we first took them out to dinner. What a disaster! But they have learned.

I told Robert to bring his deck of cards. The grandkids are into card playing. Crazy 8s the game is called.

After dinner the 3 of us headed to an adjoining room to play. I do not know Crazy 8s. Robert 4 and Ally 3 were to teach me. Ally did most of the teaching. “You shuffle first.” I shuffled. “Now give us each 5 cards.” I did. “Put the deck in the middle of the table.” I did. “Turn a card over.” I did again as directed.

A real pro, this child Ally!

However that was the end of the lesson. No one explained to me how to actually play the game. I was picking up and throwing down wrong while they both gleefully destroyed me 2 games in a row!

The other night at the Chart Room Marty had a bag of pretzels. The long ones. He had brought them from home with him.

The pretzels got us to talking about days of old. A thing older people are prone to do. Nothing wrong with it. We have a lifetime of experiences to draw on!

It reminded me of my days at Rockaway Beach in New York City.

My mother’s side of the family lived in New York. We were always visiting.

One summer the family took a place for 2 weeks in Far Rockaway.

You have to understand, rich we were not! So a “place” was quite rudimentary and basic. Even simpler than that!

We rented in a building about a block from the beach. It was a long 2 story wood structure. Rented rooms only. About a dozen to each floor.

My mother rented a room on the second floor. It was a simple small bedroom containing a double bed, dresser and small desk. No air conditioning, of course. Too soon. And only a shade on the one window. No curtains. No closet.

My aunt had a similar room.

My mother and I slept in one. My aunt in the other. My father would visit us on the weekends. My uncle and 2 cousins would visit my aunt on the weekends. And everyone slept in these 2 rooms.

The bathrooms were at the end of the hall on each floor. One for men and one for women. They consisted of a toilet and small sink. And the bathrooms were nothing more than small closets. No showers or bathtubs.

Sundays were big! We were an Italian family so pasta was the meal of the day! Except we called it macaroni back then!

My mother and aunt would boil water on a small hot stove, which they had brought with them, in one of the bedrooms. They would make the sauce from scratch. The pasta was generally rigatoni or ziti. Ziti today are popularly known as penne. Mozzarella would be melted on top of the macaroni when it was done.

And then we would all sit in that small room and enjoy Sunday dinner!

The pretzels now come into play.

There was a typical New York candy store nearby. New York City candy stores sold ice cream, soda, newspapers, cigarettes and, yes, pretzels. The long one’s like Marty brought to the Chart Room. They cost a penny a piece in those days. I used to buy one a day.

Rockaway and the candy store was where I was introduced to chocolate egg creams. Two cents. Oh, so good!

A chocolate egg cream was egg in name only! It contained no eggs! A glass was given a shot of chocolate syrup. About a 1/2 inch. And then a bit of milk. Another 1/2 inch. Then seltzer water to fill the glass! Stirred and served. Tasted like a chocolate ice cream soda without ice cream!

I had not thought of a chocolate egg cream for many a year till Marty and I started chatting about Rockaway and pretzels. Turns out Marty had similar experiences at Manhattan Beach. Manhattan Beach is across the water from Rockaway. Marty grew up in Manhattan Beach. Except that his drink was a black and white. A chocolate ice cream soda with chocolate ice cream.

The next time I experienced a chocolate egg cream was about 35 years later when my oldest daughter Beth was getting married.

It was our first wedding. My wife had spent a year planning it. It was the week before the wedding. Tensions were running high in the house. I tend to be a bit anal and was no help. I was going crazy with the seating list for the dinner. Seating for such an event is a hard thing to do! You want evey one to have a good time. You must be sure not to seat 2 long time enemies at the same table. And so on.

Beth and my wife decided I was too much of a hindrance. They said go! Leave for a week and come back in time for the rehearsal dinner!

I was that bad!

So I went!

I decided to fly down to Naples. A new Ritz Carlton had just opened. It was reputed to have the finest art collection in its lobby. Since I was both painter and collector at the time, I decided to visit to the new Ritz Carlton.

The art exhibit sucked! I had better in my home!

However, the hotel itself was just beautiful!

Off the beach area in the basement of the building, the Ritz had an old time candy and soda store. The long counter with stool thing.

I visited. And guess what they were selling?

Chocolate egg creams!

I spent the week drinking them! The same taste and flavor. The same size. In fact, everything was the same except for the cost. Now $7! Thirty five years earlier in Far Rockaway, 2 cents!

And you have been subjected to all this because Marty brought long pretzel sticks to the Chart Room!

Be good to some one today!

March Madness!

It’s upon us!

Love it!

I wanted to watch the games last night with other basketball nuts. And have something to eat at the same time. I decided upon Jack Flats on Duval.

The first game was at 6. I got there at 6. No room at the bar! No room anywhere! Jack Flats has a huge bar and huge screens. The whole world knew it and got there early. Except for me!

So I hopped in my car and drove up to Hogfish on Stock Island. Got a seat in front of a small screen TV. Something is better than nothing, however. I watched the first game and had a hogfish sandwich. The only trouble was they had a wild hillbilly band in and the backgrounnd noise was atrocious. Plus, I seemed to be the only one interested in the game!

Between games I hurried home to the peace and comfort of my bedroom and bed. And started watching the second game from there! The only problem is I fell asleep almost immediately and missed the North Carolina/Villanova game!

Michigan State was outstanding in the first game beating Connecticut. Michigan State is on a run! They seem to be peaking at a perfect time! I was especially impressed with their defense. It kept Connecticut on its heels the whole game!

I had to look on the internet this morning to see that North Carolina destroyed Villanova. Too bad! I thought Villanova might go all the way.

Monday night’s championship game is going to be wild! I assume North Carolina will be favored. They do have the best team at this stage. However, you never know. If the Michigan State tide keeps swelling, it just could overwhelm North Carolina.

It is Sunday! Not sure yet what I will do. Definitely will see the grandkids. They now play cards. Crazy 8s. I do not know how to play the game. Robert and Ally are going to teach me. Exciting!

Have a good day!

I received an interesting piece of mail yesterday.

It was obviously an advertisement. I rarely open such pieces. However the envelope intrigued me and so I did.

It was from a major hotel chain. Advised I had won a 3 day/2 night stay free at any one of its hotels in the United States. Not a big deal in and of itself. The next paragraph had a dark gray circle that had to be scrapped. Three additional awards were available. The best was two free round trip airline tickets to any major city in the United States.

I scrapped. Something I never do! I won the two free airline tickets! Wow!

So I telephoned the number listed to advise I wanted to take advantage of the stay and that I had additionally won the 2 airline tickets.

A charming lady answered. I sensed young. Age not important, however.

I gave her my name and address. She congratulated me. Then she told me I had to answer some qualifying questions. I countered, ” What is this qualifying stuff? My letter said I had won the stay and airline tickets.” She was adamant. “No. You have to qualify.” I should have known at this point that something was amiss!

The first question was, “Are you married or living in a relationship with someone?” I responded, “I am married and not living in a relationship with someone.” I then volunteered that I did not live with my wife, that she lived in upstate New York and I in Key West. She said, “You do not qualify.” ” Why”, I asked. She said, “Because you do not live with your wife.”

We discussed the issue for a moment. She finally saw my point of view that it was better to be married and living apaprt than living in sin in an unmarried relationship. All bullshit, of course.

She insisted however that there were further questions and I still had to qualify. Shoot, I said.

Her next question was, “Are you between 35 and 72 years of age?” “No”, I said, ” I am 73.” Her immediate response was, “You do not qualify!” “Age discrimination”, I said. She could sense I was a bit unhappy. Not because I was not getting the free trip. I could care less. But the stupidity and insult of the whole thing was too much! Especially from a large and respected hotel chain!

Now she was stumbling for words. “Don’t blame me. They told me I had to ask these questions! You have to qualify!”

End of telephone conversation. I said good bye and hung up. And surprisingly, I actually felt sorry for the young lady!

My haircut yesterday morning went well with Lori. Always does.

Afterwards I went to the Coffee House on Duval for a coffee and to read the papers.

I have noticed the past couple of weeks a very decided increase in business at the Coffee House. I attribute it to the recession. It’s cheaper to have coffee and a bagel there than breakfast or lunch at a restaurant.

Last night started at the Chart Room. People. Noise. Good company.

I hooked up with Marty. He wanted to eat at La Marquesa. I rarely eat there so it would be a treat.

We ate at the bar. Seated next to Marty was an attractive lady. Mid 50s. Obviously a tourist.

We started chatting.

Turns out she is from Indiana. Every one I meet lately seems to be from Indiana.

Her name is Mary. She is a physiotherapist. Owns her own business which has 3 locations. She also owns a time share in Key West which brings her here once a year.

An intelligent and interesting woman!

The conversation got around to politics and the role of government. Mary is from the far right! Far far! Her heroes, and she proudly pronounces them as such, are Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity. She is not a fan of Obama. And that is an understatement! She fears a socialistic government and fears we are heading that way for the long term.

I enjoyed our conversation with Mary. Though I disagree with her. I am basically a moderate with a left leaning. She tilts the boat! Mary was a woman of conviction, saw her thoughts clearly and knew how to enunciate them. She should run for Congress!

After dinner, I stopped at the Keys Piano Bar for a nightcap. Bobby Nesbitt was there. He had earlier sung for cocktail hour.

We talked about Terri White. I told him I had spoken with Donna and Terri earlier in the day. They were driving that truck/u haul back and were somewhere around Richmond, Virginia. They had copies of the reviews with them. Terri said all the reviews were good. The show was a hit. Backers were already in line and she anticipatged a full Broadway opening for November. Terri also received very laudatory comments for her part.

Bobby had seen the reviews. He was duly impressed by it all. I was impressed that he was impressed! This Finian’s Wake revival is a big thing for the show and for Terri! She had to leave New York to be rediscovered! Amazing!

To put this all in perspective, things got tough for Terri in New York City last year. She could not get a job. She spent a month sleeping nights on a park bench in Central Park.

Go, Terri, go! We are all proud of you! We are all happy for you!

Jill wrote to me yesterday. A blog reader. She and her family are coming to Key West in a week. On a Sunday. She asked about Sunday traffic. Jill, Sunday is the best day to drive US 1. There is little to no traffic on a Sunday morning. Enjoy the drive! The scenery is absolutely outstanding! Ocean on both sides as far as the eye can see! Though be aware the speed limit is genrally low and it will take 4 hours to make the 150 mile trip. It’s all part of the experience! And forget about ferry service Miami to Key West. None exists.

Today is Saturday. What will I do? I don’t know. Isn’t that nice?

Good morning world!

The weather here in Key West is spectacular! Sun all over the place!

I had to see the doctor again yesterday. The aging body requires constant attention. The human body is like a car. Needs tune ups! Keeps the parts functioning properly! Keeps us functioning properly!

I did a body scan. I have a bad case of osteporosis. I will be a hunched over old man, if I make it that long!

So I am now on Bovina. One tablet a month. Supposed to stop the problem and actually improve the situation after about a year.

It’s in the blood. My soon to be 95 year old father has lost 6-7 inches over the years. His 98 year old sister in New York City has lost more.

Bocci last night was again a disaster! We lost all 3 games! It has been weeks since we have won even one game. Beginning to become discouraging!

We only made a battle of the last game, losing 16-13. The first 2 games were total destruction!

I wish the season would end! We need a new beginning!

Sex is prevelant on the golf course!

When I was playing golf a few days ago, I ran into a first.

Ducks are all over the golf course. I have always seen adult ducks. Never baby ducks. Wednesday I saw a mother duck and 10 little ducks walking behind her. Just like the mother hen and her chickies. Baby ducks look just like chickies. Maybe they were chickies, transplanted. Who knows!

Anyhow, nature moves on. The ducks are propagating. They will continue to flourish and together with the iguanas will some day rule the golf course.

The word is in! Terri’s Broadway show Finian’s Rainbow was a success! The reviews lauded it. Including the New York Times.

Now we shall see whether backers come forward to throw it into a full time long run production!

Donna and Terri called yesterday and left a voice mail. They start their return trip today driving a truck back to Key West. The two of them! God help us!

Life is good! I have a haircut scheduled this morning. With Lori!

Enjoy your day!

It is humid this morning. Not bad. It rests on your skin. A good feeling! Especially after the unusually cold winter we had here in Key West.

I slept late. So the sun is up, bright yellow, the water blue and the palm trees green. The colors are dramatic! The sun brings them out.

Golf yesterday!

My usuual disaster!

However…..I had 2 pars! Made for a big day for me!

I did get tired from a lack of sleep the night before. The fault of my loud tourist neighbors! The back nine was like digging ditches!

So after golf I came home and climbed in bed! Took a 3 hour nap!

Last night I started out at Aqua with Bobby Nesbitt. Always good!

Then to La Trattoria for what I thought would be dinner alone at the bar. I was happily mistaken!

It was Beecha’s night off. She was at the bar enjoying. She moved over to sit next to me. She said, “I want to sit next to you, Louis.” Made my night!

Later on Marty came in for dinner. Beecha was gone. So I had coffee with Marty while he ate. No disrespect to Marty, but he was a poor substituite for Beecha!

Then home to bed for a good night’s sleep! Before 9!

Business is obviously down. Restaurants and bars are not crowded. The boats are not going out every day. The hotels/motels less than full.

Not as it should be. The season is not yet over. But this recession affects every thing and every one. People either do not have money or if they have it, are afraid to spend the money. Properly so! Which leaves a tourist community such as Key West suffering a bit.

All are participating one way or another in this recesson. It touches us all.

Tonight bocci! The team that was so good last season, our team, continues to wallow in last place. We have not won even 1 game in weeks. But we are undaunted! We shall survive! And we shall return! Next season!

It’s 2 in the morning and I am awake!

There are some tourists staying next door and they are whooping it up big time outside by their pool. Music and yelling and that sort of thing. It’s like trying to sleep on Duval outside Sloppy Joe’s at this time of night!

Yesterday I lunched with an old friend. One I had not seen in about 7 years.

Her name is Ann.

I first met Ann back in the early 1960s when she was a young reporter for the Utica Observor Dispatch. Then she moved on. Boston and Delaware. Married. At some point ended up an interior decorator in Delaware.

We lost touch. And then ran into each other about 7 years ago when she and her husband retired to Big Pine. A small world!

She was visiting my Key West home and her decorating nature came out. She told me I needed an oriental rug in the living room. And that is where my oriental came from! And also the huge wood coffee table that sits on it!

Then we lost contact again. Big Pine is only 30 miles away, but for some 3,000.

Last week Ann discovered this blog. She sent me an e mail advising of her monumental discovery! The result was lunch yesterday.

It is good to cross paths again with an old friend. Especially one of 50 years ago!

We had long pleasant lunch on the deck at the Pier House.

Yankee Jack came into the conversation. Turns out she is good friends with Yankee and Katey.

Then to Lisa’s. Still home. She seemed a bit better. This walking pneumonia takes a long time to kick. I spent a couple of hours with Lisa.

Last night I was tired and decided to spend a quiet evening at home. And, of course, get a good night’s sleep! Which I am obviously not getting!

Golf today. About 7 hours away.

At least I will have a good excuse for playing poorly. I did not get enough sleep!