This Is How You Make It To 80

After finding the debris left by the pack rats, I was reminded of all the work my stepfather did on our property to get rid of the majority of the prickly pear cactus, which is one of their main food sources and also where like like to hide and build their nests.

At 80 years old he was out in the yard almost daily, using a giant machete to cut down the prickly pear cactus and then hauling the pieces to the garbage can. He cleared almost a half-acre of cactus.

This photo was taken on one of his "work" days.  80 years old and pushing a wheelchair around an acre of property.  I don't even like to walk to the mailbox!  I might have to put this photo on my refrigerator to inspire me to do what it takes to get to 80!  

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2024: A Spectacular Spiral To The Sky
2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: See You On The Flip Side
2018: Let Your Love Light The Sky
2017: Step One, Neutralize
2016: Penetrating Gaze
2015: Worst Trucking Day Ever
2014: Books Are So Much More Interesting Than Guns
2013: Contemplating Broccoli Cheddar
2012: I’m Totally Contemplating Thievery
2011: Some People Are Just Fucking Nuts
2010: 7am In Beantown
2009: Eddie Taking A Moment To Enjoy Nature Friday
2008: Pull Up A Chair
2007: Brad Blows
2006: Expressly American
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005! 

A Day Like No Other

Me and my sister-in-law, the beautiful bride.  

Ed and I have been organizing our storage sheds, office filing cabinets, boxes of old photos, and photo albums.  I've come across a lot of old photos, some you've seen posted here, and I'm getting a real kick out of it.  Today's post contains photos from my brother's wedding back in July 1993.

In this one, my step-father, my sister-in-law, my brother, my mother, and me!

My brother and I.  We were so young!  I was 25, he was 24.  

Look at the wedding party!  Wow.  The few wedding tasks I'm doing for my own upcoming wedding makes me realize a) I have no desire to have a big wedding, and b) I couldn't pull together seven close girlfriends if my life depended on it.  I guess that's one of the big things about getting married when you're young, you're mostly still friends with people you went to high school or college with.  Today, I can count my closest friends on one hand.  I kinda like it that way. 

I'm glad I didn't get lost on the ends of the photo - they obviously lined everyone up from smallest to tallest, outward in.  I was wearing tiny heels and I was still the tallest girl. I loved my dress, but those sleeves!  Ooof!  

And here, next to my cousins, it's clear I'm the Amazon in the family.  I don't know where my height came from (I'm 5' 8" tall) because no woman in my family has passed the 5' 4" mark and most of the men were short, too.  The tallest man was my dad at 5' 10".  I guess I got the extra boost from him.

In this photo, my sister-in-law's brother, my sister-in-law, my brother, and me.

What a great day we all had!  It was the first wedding among our generation, and it really was a spectacular event.  Now, my brother and his wife have three teenage boys.  Boy, how time flies!

Held at The Thayer Hotel at West Point in New York, on the bank of the Hudson River, the view was outstanding.  The website says it perfectly: "With our majestic hilltop location, soaring Gothic architecture and breathtaking views of the Hudson River, the celebrated venues and stirring military traditions of the United States Military Academy will provide a wedding setting like no other."



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2016: I Could Be This Guy
2015: Thinking Place
2014: The Fruits Of My Internet Surfing Labor
2013: They Never Talk About These In The Brochure
2012: A Day On The Giant Sleeping Frog
2011: Off The Board And In The Air
2010: Evening Fruits And Vegetables
2009: He Parks Like A Girl
2008: Out Cattin’ On Halloween
2007: The Bridges And A Cowboy
2006: What Happens When Time Falls Into The Wrong Hands
2005: Me

Vive Le Frank!

Frank in Paris, France - August 1944

Today would have been my stepfather Frank's 94th birthday. He passed away in October 2011.

In honor of his birthday and in support of the people of France after yesterday's terror attacks on its capital city, I am posting this photo of him in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, during World War II.

Vive le Frank and Vive la France!



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2014: Dangling Consonant 
2013: The Best Sound Is Sometimes No Sound At All
2012: There's No Mistaking He Was The Guy In Charge
2011: The Final Curtain
2010: Happy Birthday From Agerola!
2009: You’ve Gotta Be A Good Fighter To Make It 88 Rounds
2008: Eddie Working In Paradise Friday
2007: 86 Going On 8
2006: A Fine Cargo Of Experiences And Memories
2005: 84

Remembering A Veteran

My step-father Frank took this photo during World War II.  On the back of the photo he wrote, "An LST unloading at Green Beach on D-Day.  Notice how calm things look."

Green Beach was a section of Omaha Beach on the coast of Normandy, France where the troops landed on D-Day - June 6, 1944.

USS LST 49 is a Landing Ship Tank created during World War II to carry vehicles, cargo, and troops landing directly on the shore.

Frank never talked about the war. He didn't want to be called a hero. He was modest. Sometimes I thought I could see memories flashing in his eyes.  I wanted to know more but if you asked him specifics, he'd deftly change the subject.

World War II definitely had an impact on him.

Let's remember those who served, but if you're going to thank them for that service, think about why you're doing it.  


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2014: Freebie Time!
2013: Reaping The Harvest
2012: It Doesn't Take Much To Keep A Marine Happy
2011: It’s Not Just Time On A Digital Clock Display Anymore
2010: Roman Glow
2009: Let There Be A Lesson In The Words Of Mark Twin, Who Seems To Have A Handle On Who Is The Real Patrio
2008: Sometimes The Nights Just Fly By
2007: Who Thought Putting These Two Words Together Was A Good Idea?
2006: We Would All Go Down Together
2005: Missing Me?

There's No Mistaking He Was The Guy In Charge

Last year, in October, my step-father Frank passed away. Today he would have been 91. I am posting this photo of him taken at Masten Lake in New York, sometime in the seventies. 

I didn't know Frank when this photo was taken, as it was a few years before my mother and he got married, but this was exactly how he looked when I did meet him (minus the 70s era bathing suit).  He was a man who commanded attention (look at that "king of the beach" stance), and he was never without that damn whistle around his neck when we were at the beach (he also doubled as the life guard).  This photo is courtesy of my cousin Maria and I'm posting it today in memory of him - he was a unique man and was loved very much by all of us.

We miss you, Franchi!


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2011: The Final Curtain
2010: Happy Birthday From Agerola!
2009: You’ve Gotta Be A Good Fighter To Make It 88 Rounds
2008: Eddie Working In Paradise Friday
2007: 86 Going On 8
2006: A Fine Cargo Of Experiences And Memories
2005: 84

This One Time, At Summer Camp...

Ed and were talking this week about kids who go to summer camp - I asked him if he'd ever been - he has, I haven't. But I always wanted to go.

The following pictures are from the "Images of America" book series; this one is on the Town of Mamakating and was written by Monika A. Roosa. I'm including these photos because they're of the beach my family owned on Masten Lake in the Catskill Mountain area of New York, where I spent most of my teen years. There were several summer camps in the area and a few of them used our beach as access to the lake to teach kids how to waterski, etc. I used to look at these kids and think, "How cool are they that they get to spend the whole summer at camp??" They were usually city kids - Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens - and they'd come up to the country to spend the summer in the sticks.

A lot of them were rich kids, who were usually the only ones fortunate enough to be sent to camp for the entire summer. Whereas my mother would be the one writing my name inside my clothing with black magic marker, these kids were the type to have woven labels with their full names on them, sewn into everything they owned. This wasn't a camp for poor kids.
At the time I didn't give it much thought, but now I realize there were some benefits to sending kids to camp. And for those who went year after year, they'd build lifelong friendships with people that continued throughout their lives; some campers even came back as adults to be counselors themselves. Another plus, the kids got to get out of the broiling hot city for the summer. Lake water is much more fun than the city pool.

I suppose as much as I wanted to go to camp, I didn't really need to. I already had what these kids were trying to experience. I lived in the country. I had access to a beach and a lake, I waterskied at will, my brother and I would take the jon boat out to row over to the "cove" area where the water was covered in lilypads and where we were convinced the best fish hid out, and we spent every day of our summer on the sand and in the water. We lived camp every day, not just for a few weeks. Camp Lakota was located across the lake, and had been there since the 1920s. Sometimes we'd attempt to swim from our side of the lake to theirs, but we'd get halfway out into the lake and realize just how far it really was. We'd have to lay on our backs and float for a while to get the energy to swim back. Or holler to someone on the beach to get the boat and come get us.

Camp Na-Sho-Pa was the camp that used our beach area. They'd show up in vans, all the kids would pile out, and they'd congregate in one corner of the beach area, at a dock that was in the same place as the one you see in the foreground of the photo above. They'd bring their ski boats and load up the kids at the dock, taking them out in shifts to teach them to waterski.

While they did that, my girl cousins and I would ogle the cute camp counselors. I'll never forget Danny - cute, long foppish hair, golden tan - he looked like what we imagined a "California Boy" would look like. Even though none of us had ever been west of Pennsylvania, let alone to California to see boys of any kind.

In the second photo, you'll see the building we called the casino - it wasn't a casino in the way we use the word now, as there was no gambling going on there. In some cases, these type of casino buildings did have some gambling, but this definition I found online more defines the way we used the word: "The term "casino" is of Italian origin, the root word being "casa" (house) and originally meant a small country villa, summerhouse or pavilion. The word changed to refer to a building built for pleasure, usually on the grounds of a larger Italian villa or palazzo. Such buildings were used to host civic town functions – including dancing, music listening, and gambling."

Since there weren't any villas in the neighborhood, our casino was used more in the pavilion sense, with music, dancing, and food. The caption under the Masten Lake Casino photo in the book read, "Many dances with live bands were held there in the 1920s and 1930s. The casino also contained a jukebox, a bowling machine, pinball machines, Ping-Pong tables, and a piano. Sunbathers were able to rent 100 percent wool Jansen bathing suits, and nearly 70 lockers were available so that they could safely store their belongings. Candy, ice cream, soda, and hot dogs were available for the swimmers as well."

We ran a concession stand from the casino for years, selling hot dogs and sodas and candy. The interior wasn't open to the public but the dance floor was still intact, there was an old jukebox standing in a corner, and the changing rooms were still in the back, outfitted with benches, hooks for your bathing suits, and curtains for privacy. Year-round, we used a lot of the space inside for storage for our restaurant - overflow tables and chairs, kitchen equipment, extra china, and coffee cups and cutlery to name a few. It was a great time in my life, being at the lake and working the concession stand. I felt like I was at camp every day.

Eventually, the building was condemned and in such disrepair that it had to be torn down. That was a sad time for me, as if my memories were being bulldozed, but intellectually I know that's not so. I will carry those memories forever, as they are some of the best of my life.

I guess I didn't need camp to have a great summer, as being camped out at Masten Lake, surrounded by my family and friends (and cute boys!) turned out to be more than enough.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2011: Into The Wild
2010: It Was Clear The Moment You Opened Your Mouth
2009: Eddie Captures A Sunset Friday
2008: Pelicans Enjoying Their Rule Of The Lake
2007: Bigfoot
2006: There Is A Reason People Try To Repress Certain Childhood Memories
2005: Painted Ladies

My Early Version Of Google

I was home recently looking through some papers that belonged to my step-father Frank, who passed away in October 2011. I found a list. Boy, doesn't that sound like something out of a spy movie? I found a list...

Well, this isn't that exciting. I just found a list of terms with numbers next to them, written on the backs of yellowed depost slips from a bank in our old town that isn't even in business anymore. Frank was a collector of bits of information like this. He always wrote on scraps of papers, backs of envelopes, deposit slips pilfered from the bank. The capitals of every state, frequently used crossword puzzle words, obscure facts. I think doing this kept his mind very sharp, all the way to the end. He always had the answers, especially if it were some obscure fact. He just knew things. He was the search engine we all used prior to Google!

Here are the items from the list I found. Some of them, like the High Society 400 and the Lines of Quatrain, I'd never even heard of. Others are things it seems we've always just known.

Football Team: 11
In American football, there can only be 11 players from each team on the field at one time.

Dinner at: 8
Dinner At Eight is a 1933 film that can technically be called a romantic comedy. It is a study of people during the Great Depression. The movie addresses topics that include wealthy people dealing with the loss of money and prestige; relationships between men and women involving power, blind love, selfishness, and unselfishness; and relationships between the wealthy and those who work for them.

The R’s: 3
The three Rs (as in the letter R) are the foundations of a basic skills orientated education program within schools: reading, 'riting and rithmetic

Golf course holes: 18
The very confusing Scottish history of why courses have 18 holes can be read here.

Bluebeard’s Wives: 7
The story of a violent nobleman in the habit of murdering his wives.

Supreme Court: 9
The Court currently has six male and three female justices. One justice is African American, one is Latino, and two are Italian-Americans; six justices are Roman Catholics, and three are Jewish. The average age is 66 years, 3 months, and every current justice has an Ivy League background.

Sense: 6
ESP is commonly referred to as the sixth sense. The other five are sight, hearing, taste, touch and smell.

Great Lakes: 5
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada–United States border which connect to the Atlantic Ocean through the Saint Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes Waterway. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth comprising 21% of the world's surface fresh water.

Tones in Octave 8
In a traditional MAJOR SCALE (a.k.a. Ionian), there are seven different letter names (and usually an eighth note is added with the same letter name, an octave higher than the first). If you start on C, the major scale is C, D, E, F, G, A, B (and C for the eighth note). You can start on any note, but you will get different letters. Wow - way more information than I needed. I'm confused. More here.

The Muses: 9
The Nine Muses of the Greek Mythology were deities that gave artists, philosophers and individuals the necessary inspiration for creation - they were: Clio, Euterpe, Thalia, Melpomeni, Terpsichore, Erato, Polymnia, Ourania and Calliope.

Zodiac Signs: 12
Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio and Sagittarius. See what’s in the stars for you.

Hexagon Sides: 6
Holy shit - all I knew about was the six-sided one. I should have taken geometry.

The Fates: 3
The three Greek Goddesses of Destiny and Fate. Otherwise known as the Moirae, these timeless old hags weave the threads of destiny that control your life. They are: CLOTHO who spins the Thread of Life, LACHESIS who allots the length of the yarn, and ATROPOS who does the snip (the final one).
Known Planets: 9
Well, until the whole hullabaloo about Pluto, there were nine planets. Now, there are officially eight. Whatever.

Bill of Rights: 10
The first ten amendments of the U.S. Constitution is known as the Bill of Rights. I'm not so sure about Number 8 - there are plenty of people that should have cruel and unusual punishments inflicted upon them.

Pentagon Sides: 5
A plane figure with five angles and five sides. The word pentagon is derived from the Greek words for five (pente) and angle (gonia). In the United States, most people are familiar with the five-sided building we call The Pentagon, after its shape.

The Little Peppers: 5
The Five Little Peppers book series was created by Margaret Sidney from 1881 to 1916. It covers the lives of the five children of Mamsie and the late Mister Pepper who are born into poverty in a rural "little brown house." The series begins with the Peppers in their native state and develops with their rescue by a wealthy gentleman who takes an interest in the family.

Wilson's Points: 14
The Fourteen Points was a speech given by United States President Woodrow Wilson to a joint session of Congress on January 8, 1918. The address was intended to assure the country that the Great War was being fought for postwar peace in Europe.

The Seas: 7
Many believe that "the seven seas" is simply an idiom that refers to sailing many or all of the oceans of the world. The term is believed to have been popularized by Rudyard Kipling who published an anthology of poetry titled The Seven Seas in 1896.

Apocalypse Horseman: 4
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are described in the last book of the New Testament of the Bible, called the Book of Revelation of Jesus Christ to Saint John the Evangelist at 6:1-8. The chapter tells of a "book/scroll" in God's right hand that is sealed with seven seals". The Lamb of God/Lion of Judah (Jesus Christ) opens the first four of the seven seals, which summons forth four beings that ride out on white, red, black, and pale horses. Although some interpretations differ, the four riders are commonly[clarification needed] seen as symbolizing Conquest,[1] War,[2] Famine[3] and Death, respectively.

Degrees in a Circle: 360
There are 360 degrees in a circle, no matter how big or small the circle is. A degree of arc is a measuremtn of plane angle, representing 1/360 of a full rotation.

Octogenarian: 80
Technically, not just eighty. An octogenarian is a person from eighty to eighty-nine years old. My step-father was an octogenarian.

Pecks in a bushel: 4
A US bushel is a measure of dry volume and equals approximately 35 litres, or 8 dry gallons. An Imperial bushel equals approximately 36 litres, or 8 Imperial gallons. A peck is also a measure of dry volume and equals 8 dry quarts in both the US and Imperial systems. There are 4 pecks in a bushel. But the only way that I've ever know it was by the song my grandmother always sang to us: "I love you, a bushel and a peck! A bushel and a peck, and a hug around the neck! A hug around the neck, and a barrel and a heap. A barrel and a heap, and I'm talkin' in my sleep. About you."

Baker’s Dozen: 13
A baker's dozen, also known as a long dozen, is a grouping of thirteen.

Faces of Janus: 2
In ancient Roman religion and mythology, Janus is the god of beginnings and transitions, thence also of gates, doors, doorways, endings and time. He is usually a two-faced god since he looks to the future and the past. The concepts of January and janitor are both based on aspects of Janus.

Men on Dead Man’s Chest: 15
Fifteen men on the dead man’s chest, Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum! Drink and the devil had done for the rest, Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!

Books of the Bible: 66
The Bible contains 66 books, divided among the Old and New Testaments. There are 39 books in the Old Testament. There are 27 books in the New Testament.

Blackbirds in a pie: 24
Who doesn't know this nursery rhyme? "Sing a song of sixpence, a pocket full of rye. Four and twenty blackbirds, baked in a pie. When the pie was opened, the birds began to sing; Wasn't that a dainty dish, to set before the king?"

Disciples: 12
Jesus had twelve apostles, also known as disciples.

Gentlemen of Verona: 2
The Two Gentlemen of Verona is a comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1590 or 1591. It is considered by some to be Shakespeare's first play.

Knights of the Round Table: 12
It doesn't seem as if anyone knows how many knights King Arthur really had, but let's keep the legend intact and just go with twelve.

Alphabet Letters: 26
There are eight letters in alphabet. Gotcha! Go on, take a minute....it'll come to you. Ha! OK, there are 26 letters in the English alphabet, the one most of us English speakers are used to. For other alphabet information, check this out.

Dots in colon: 2
The colon (:) is a punctuation mark consisting of two equally sized dots centered ont he same vertical line. It informs the reader that what follows the mark proves, explains, or lists elements of what preceded the mark.

Piano Keys: 88
Almost every modern piano has 36 black keys and 52 white keys, for a total of 88. Some older pianos have only 85 keys. The rest of the information might only be of interest to pianists. Heh-heh. She said "pianist".

Cabinet Members: 12
Now this one is wrong, according to my research, but it was probably right when Frank wrote it. The information I found is: "With the creation of the Department of Transportation in 1966, the Cabinet consisted of 12 members. This figure was reduced to 11 when the Post Office Department became an independent agency in 1970 but, with the establishment in 1977 of a Department of Energy, became 12 again. Creation of the Department of Education in 1980 raised the number to 13. Creation of the Department of Veterans' Affairs in 1989 raised the number to 14. The establishment of the Department of Homeland Security in 2002 brought the number to 15."

Freezing point of water: 32
Water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit (or 0 degree Celsius, if you're into that kind of thing). Don't we all know this one?

Teeth in a human adult: 32
Among permanent teeth, 16 are found in the maxilla and 16 in the mandible, for a total of 32.

Bits in a half dollar: 4
In the U.S., the bit as a designation for money dates from the colonial period, when the most common unit of currency used was the Spanish dollar, also known as "piece of eight", which was worth 8 Spanish silver reales. One eighth of a dollar or one silver real was one "bit".

Lines of quatrain: 4
A quatrain is a stanza, or a complete poem, consisting of four lines of verse.

Lives of cat: 9
It's a common myth that cats have nine lives. The myth is attributed to the natural suppleness and swiftness cats exhibit to escape life-threatening situations.

High Society: 400
At the height of the Gilded Age, the "Four Hundred" represented the epitome of New York Society during the last quarter of the 19th Century.

Basketball Team: 5
Only five players from each team are on the court at any one time - one center, two forwards and two guards.



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1 YEAR AGO: Food With Integrity That Fuels Creativity
2 YEARS AGO: If Only It Were Dollars Instead Of Miles
3 YEARS AGO: The Last Bit Of Winter
4 YEARS AGO: Eddie Fr-eye-day
5 YEARS AGO: Authorized Personnel
6 YEARS AGO: Stolen Zillow

Men At Work

Yesterday I used this photo on my tribute post to my step-father; he's the one in the middle. When my mother read the post and saw the picture, she said "Look at him in those light colored shoes and black pants. What was he thinking?"

"Well, that was the style. Look at how they're all dressed." I said.

"They look so gay." she said. "I wonder if they were down-under men?"

"You mean you wonder if they were on the down-low, or if they were from Australia?"

"What??" she said confused, in her uh-oh-I-must-have-said-the-wrong-thing-when-I-actually-meant-something-else voice.

"Mom. I'm pretty sure they were not on the down-low. First, they're not black. Second, everyone dressed like that back then."

Leave it to my mother to question the unmistakable virility of the man she'd spent the last thirty-one years with. I blame Law & Order.

Before that, she never even knew Australia existed.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1 YEAR AGO: Everyone Is NOT A Winner
2 YEARS AGO: Text Me
3 YEARS AGO: Going The Way Of Astatine*
4 YEARS AGO: Picture Perfect Pilot
5 YEARS AGO: Not Falling For Winter Yet
6 YEARS AGO: I Miss You Already

The Final Curtain

I've written several times in the past about Frank, my step-father for more than 31 years. Since I just became a teenager when I met him, he didn’t have a lot to do with my formative years, but he still made an impact on me.Having been single for more than ten years when he met my mother, his house was the epitome of a bachelor pad when we first moved in; scattered about were playing cards and poker chips, Playboy magazines in the attic (dating back to the early sixties), a cozy wood stove (de rigueur in the Catskill Mountains) and a VCR player (we had never seen one before!). This was just the beginning of the cool things Frank would introduce me to.

He owned a restaurant, a popular one, famous even. Once called the steak house to the stars. It’s the place I got my first job, or series of jobs I should say. I started out as the water girl, serving water to customers as they settled in to read the menu. Then I became the dessert girl, making desserts for those same people. That job was a lot harder than you’d think it would be; it’s uncanny how a dining room full of people suddenly all have dessert at the same time. I worked like a madwoman in that position.

From there, I graduated to bussing tables. It was a hard job, but I was good at it. I could fill an oval tray so strategically with glasses, plates and silverware from a party of eight, and lift it into the air with one swift move. I was a workhorse. I had so much strength, that I often carried the heaviest trays out of the kitchen when food needed to be served, and picked up the trays going back to the kitchen after they were full. I never leaned a tray on my shoulder, and I could weave through the tables like a gazelle. It was a skill I was extremely proud of.Then I wanted to work in the kitchen, something my mother wasn’t too keen on because there were guys in there (duh!). And those guys used what could be called “kitchen language”, which apparently wasn’t suitable for a teenage girl to hear. But, since I grew up with a mother who used “kitchen language”, it wouldn’t be anything I hadn’t heard before and I certainly didn’t see myself repeating it. I hadn’t up to then, so why would I start?

So that summer, I started working in the kitchen. I didn’t do any of the actual cooking, but I did help with prep; peeling potatoes by the bagful (50 pound bags!), peeling hundreds of pounds of onions causing me to smell like them for days, deveining shrimp, unwrapping sticks of butter and cutting them into perfectly even pats to arrange in small monkey dishes. I also washed dishes. Yes, I was a dishwasher! After filling those positions, I became a waitress. And I was good. People loved me and I made great money. Oh, those were the days. There were other things I considered fun in the restaurant that were mundane tasks to others. One of those things was grocery shopping. On weekend nights, which happened to be when the bulk of the dinners had been served, as things were winding down for the night, Frank would always have someone accompany him to the grocery store. Not too many people liked to do this, but I always rallied for it to be me. I always thought I got lucky when I was picked to go; it took me a while to realize it was because no one else wanted to. I didn't care, I loved it.

So around ten-thirty, we'd make our way up to Shop-Rite. We’d walk around with two carts, filling them to the brim. When we got to the check-out and unloaded 15 gallons of milk, 30 half-gallons of ice cream, 40 pounds of butter, 37 bottles of A-1 sauce, dozens of rolls of paper towels and more, the girl would always ask if we were having a party. I’d giggle and flippantly say “I wish”, acting like this was a regular shop for us.

Frank is the person who taught me how to shop; how to save money, how to decipher which was the better bargain (twenty years before they started putting the “per unit” price tags on the shelves), and how the store brand ice cream tasted better than name brand (people would NEVER believe us when we told them it was Shop-Rite chocolate ice cream).

He also taught me how to water-ski, took me to my first Broadway play, took me on my first airplane trip, let me drive for the first time (before I got my license), was the first person I drove cross-country with, gave my friends summer jobs at his restaurant, helped me buy my first car, listened to and implemented my ideas for restaurant operations, and always, always, introduced me as his daughter.Today would have been his 90th birthday. I say “would have” because last month he died. And I’m sad. I was with him every day for the last three weeks of his life, and he died at home. Actually, it was Ed who found him. Just an hour after my mother gave him his medicine, Ed went in to check on him and he wasn’t breathing. We knew it was coming, as we watched him decline, but there was still that moment where you think you didn’t get to say your last “last” goodbye.

The thing that comforts me the most is that he knew how much I loved him. And I know how much he loved me. He may have been a curmudgeon at times, and I didn’t always like when he had to act the parent, but we had a connection. After my father died and Frank read the obituary I wrote for him, he asked me to write his. I did, and he read it during the time I was home with him. He loved it and gave it his stamp of approval. This is it:


Frank A. Porpora, Catskill Mountain Restaurateur
and World War II Soldier, Dies at age 89
Tucson, AZ


Frank A. Porpora, a native New Yorker and 30-year

Frank pictured with Ingrid Bergman, when his

platoon was assigned to her escort detail

during a WWII visit.

resident of Arizona, died on Wednesday, October 26, 2011, at his home in Tucson. He was 89 years old. Born in the Bronx, NY on November 14, 1921, to Antonio Porpora and Rosaria Catacchio Porpora, immigrants from Agerola and Barletta, Italy, he was the oldest of their five sons. Frank’s early life was seasoned by World War II, but his defining principle – loyalty and generosity to family, friends and country – took him around the world; he was even photographed with Ingrid Bergman in Germany when his troop was assigned to escort her during a wartime visit. After the war, he returned to the beauty of the Catskill Mountains where his true legacy began.

Frank was best known for his position at the helm of the iconic Dodge Inn Steak House in Rock Hill, NY. The restaurant, originally a boarding house, had been in the family since the early 1920’s. Originally run by his Uncle Charlie, the Dodge Inn was eventually handed over to Frank when he returned from serving his country in World War II. The Dodge Inn became a favorite dining spot not only for locals, but for celebrities who entertained in the Catskills; among them were Milton Berle, Don Rickles, Red Buttons, Lee J. Cobb, Frankie Lane, Pat Cooper, Sid Caesar, Alan King, Perry Como, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, boxers Rocky Marciano, Rocky Graziano and Michael Spinks, Tony Bennett, Buddy Hacket and singer Billy Eckstein.

“Big Frank” as he was known in the restaurant, wasn’t just a war veteran and successful business owner, he was also a father, a loyal friend and a much loved family member. He was a man of unbendable perseverance, he was reliable, had a deep-rooted belief in old world values, and could be trusted to hold a secret for life. He provided many people with their first jobs, and created a family atmosphere among the employees of the Dodge Inn. He was revered and feared, often simultaneously. He had a tough exterior but to those who really knew him, he also had a marshmallow heart.

He was trustworthy, hardworking, passionate about his business, and generous; he often gave silently, never looking for recognition for his actions. He was not only generous in deed, he was also generous with his time, teaching friends and family members how to snow ski at local resorts and how to waterski on Masten Lake, where he owned beachfront property which housed an old-fashioned “casino”. He even took all the kids in the family to one of the biggest waterparks in the tri-state area, joining them on the log flumes and rope swings. He was fearless.

Frank was certainly one of a kind and will be missed by many. He will be remembered for his larger than life presence, his colorful language, his creating a landmark restaurant in an area that dominated a bygone era, his love of Frank Sinatra, his helping others by dispensing with his money, time and always, always large amounts of food, his tireless work to provide for his families, his stubbornness, and his oft hidden gentle spirit.

And now, the end is near, and so I face the final curtain.
My friend, I'll say it clear, I'll state my case, of which I'm certain.
I've lived a life that's full. I've traveled each and every highway.
And more, much more than this,
I did in my way.
~ Frank Sinatra, My Way

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1 YEAR AGO: Happy Birthday From Agerola!
2 YEARS AGO: You Gotta Be A Good Fighter To Make It 88 Rounds
3 YEARS AGO: Eddie Working In Paradise Friday
4 YEARS AGO: 86 Going On 8
5 YEARS AGO: A Fine Cargo Of Experiences And Memories
6 YEARS AGO: 84

Tango Hotel Alpha November Kilo Sierra, Charlie Company!

While home with my step-father this week and going through some old pictures with him, I found this Soldier's Handbook from when we was in the war. Used as the Basic Field Manual, this book was issued by the "War Department", which is now known as the Department of Defense. The book is pretty interesting, although it doesn't look very read; the spine on it is barely cracked. But to still have it? Kinda cool.


In the foreword of the book, it states "Making good as a soldier is no different from making good in civil life. The rule is the same and that is - know your own job and be ready to step into the job of the man ahead of you. Promotion is going to be very rapid in this Army. Be ready for it."

It goes on to say, "If you will make a part of yourself the following characteristics of the good soldier, you will be doing your part in upholding the glorious reputation of the Army of the United States." Those five things are; Be obedient. Be loyal. Be determined. Be alert. Be a member of the team.

The table of contents contains chapters covering things soldier's will need to know; responsibilities of group life, relations with civilians, care of clothing, safety precautions, packing individual equipment on a horse, carrying the automatic rifle, camps and bivouacs, first aid, etc.

There are illustrations on how to display your equipment...

How to put on your gasmask (this cockeyed way is wrong)...


This one, with the eye pieces level, is the correct way. You want to make sure you get this right.

They even illustrate the proper way to hide behind a rock...

In the back of the book is a chapter on Pay And Allowances. The first paragraphs states, "When you first enter the military service, your rate of pay will be $21.00 per month. This pay is in addition to the food, clothing, medical, and dental attention whic the government provides you without charge. After a period of 4 months, however, and provided you have not demonstrated inefficiency or other unfitness, your pay will be raised to $30.00 per month."

Wow, a whole $9.00 raise. Woo hoo! These soldiers, young boys really, went to war and put themselves in harm's way for twenty-one dollars a month. You couldn't get me to get out of bed for twenty-one dollars a month, let alone go fight someone; possibly resulting in my death.

The following will be best understood by people who are familiar with military ranks, or grades. These are the various grades, with their rates of montly pay as authorized by Congress in the act of September 16, 1940:

First grade - Master sergeant: $126.00
Second grade - First sergeant and technical sergeant: $84.00
Third grade - Staff sergeant: $72.00
Fourth grade - Sergeant: $60.00
Fifth grade - Corporal: $54.00
Sixth grade - Private, 1st class: $36.00
Seventh grade - Private with over 4 months' service: $30.00
Private with less than 4 months service as described above: $21.00
If you were a specialist, depending on your class ranking, you can get an additional $3-$30.00 per month.

Frank never really told very many stories about his time in World War II, but in the last two weeks, he was talking a little bit more about it. Mostly what he couldn't understand, was why God let the little children die. He wondered why God didn't turn the dropping bombs into food, since that's what the people needed. It's certainly a question I can't answer, but it is one that I agree with.

He always said the horrors of war should never have to be experienced by anyone, especially the young boys they send to fight but specifically by the innocent people who get caught in the battles. He lost a lot of friends in the war. And he remembers everyone in his battalion.

So for that, I'd like thank Company C of the 759th Military Police Battalion for their service.

You are remembered by many.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1 YEAR AGO: It Always Pays To Take The Full Coverage Insurance Option On Your Rental Vehicle
2 YEARS AGO: It’s Here! It’s Here!
3 YEARS AGO: U.S. Route 287
4 YEARS AGO: Room 328
5 YEARS AGO: This Could Be The Day You Have A Date With Destiny
6 YEARS AGO: Go See It

A Warrior Waging A Noble Fight, Fueled By Chocolate Ice Cream

I took this picture of Eddie at the $50,000 Silver Dollar gift shop in Haugan, Montana. Ed has a face for hats and can transform his look in a matter of seconds. He's a chameleon and every I.D. he has looks different. If you were to find his wallet, you'd think he was on the lam, using multiple identities.

Seeing him in this helmet made me think that "warrior" is the perfect word for my stepfather. He's been home since his two-day stint in the hospital and has been essentially bedridden. He wants to get up, but he's really weak and it isn't really suggested by the nurses. He has such incredible will, though. He's a fighter. And very determined.

Each night, we put him to bed, tuck him in, give him his meds (and a sleeping pill as recommended by the nurses) and bid him goodnight. Two mornings in a row now, we've been awakened at five in the morning with him halfway out of the bed. He pulled the oxygen tube from his nose, unbuttoned his pajama top, threw back the covers, and pulled his legs over the side of the bed, determined to get out. This morning, one foot was firmly planted on the floor, and the other had just the toes touching. It must have taken him quite some time to get to that point since he doesn't move very fast, to begin with. What the hell?? I keep asking him where he thinks he's going and he says he's "bored" just lying there in bed.

He's physically declining, but his mind is extremely active and he's talking a lot. Ed said to him, "Frank, I've known you for almost eight years now and this is the most I've ever heard you talk." Frank laughed heartily at that.

Every morning, when Frank wakes up, he asks for Ed (slowly and deliberately forming the words...Where. Is. Edoardo?). Freakin' Ed, man. Everyone asks for Ed - my nephews, my parents, my friends. WTF?? My mother and I are the ones feeding Frank, giving him his meds, making sure he's drinking enough fluids, adjusting his blankets, listening to his stories, playing music for him, etc. and the only person he's asking for is Ed! Sonofabitch!

It's really amazing though, to watch how he fights to "get back to normal", as he keeps saying. But what is normal at almost ninety years old? He was doing seven miles on the treadmill just a few years ago. Daily. I haven't walked seven miles total in the last year. I think he expects to still be doing that, but it's just not going to happen. He's extremely lucid and his memory is outstanding; we looked at a video slideshow recently that had photos in it that were over sixty years old and he was able to identify everyone in them.

When he's groggy, he sees family members who have already passed; his mother, his sister-in-law Anita (at a buffet, no less!), and his three brothers. Some things I've read say seeing dead people is a sign that the person is dying. Could be, but I don't completely believe it. Right now I'm listening to him have a lengthy conversation with my mother. His voice is strong and he's talking about when we went to Las Vegas in the early eighties.  We stayed at The Dunes and ate at Sultan's Table, the fanciest restaurant in the hotel. We even pulled out the photo of the four of us from that night. It seemed to support his memory.

There were a few minutes of silence before he spoke again.

He took a deep breath and slowly said, "Where's my ice cream? I asked for it more than twenty minutes ago."


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

1 YEAR AGO: Ragazzo dell’Ombrello
2 YEARS AGO: Eddie It’s Not Even Halloween Yet Friday
3 YEARS AGO: Not So Different, Are We?
4 YEARS AGO: Quite Uneducated If You Ask Me
5 YEARS AGO: Sometimes Identity Theft Can SAVE You Money
6 YEARS AGO: Mina In Fifty Years

I May Be Old, But I'm Not That Old

We are home right now because my step-father isn't doing too well. He recently came out of the hospital and has taken to bed at home. The other day when my nephews were visiting, my brother was telling them about all of the things their Papa had seen and been through in his life.

"Papa's almost ninety years old. Do you know how much he's seen in his life?" he said.

The boys were listening with rapt attention.

"He was in World War Two, storming the beaches in the Normandy Invasion, traveling through Germany, Italy and South Africa with the troops in his platoon..." my brother said.

"Did he drive a tank??" they asked.

"Yep. And not only that, he had to learn how to pitch a tent, he ate food called C-Rations and he slept in a sleeping bag."

"In the woods??" said the middle one.

"Yep. He's seen so much! He watched the first man land on the moon, he was around when there were silent movies, he saw President Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., and Senator Robert Kennedy get assassinated; and he watched it all on a black and white TV."

It was then that the youngest one said, "Was he there when President Lincoln was killed too?"

My brother just laughed and said, "No, that was way before Papa was born."

"Oh." said my nephew.

He's only eight years old, but I think it might be time to break out the visual "timeline-of-events" chart.


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1 YEAR AGO: Today’s The Day!!
2 YEARS AGO: Ed Getting Jiggy Among The Sunflowers
3 YEARS AGO: The Bridge To Everywhere
4 YEARS AGO: Scared Into Anorexia
5 YEARS AGO: A Good Hot Cup Is Desperately Needed
6 YEARS AGO: Am I The Only One Who Noticed This??