Friday, August 31, 2018

Concern About My Safety

Concern About My Safety
April 16, 2013

The bombing at the Boston Marathon, on this day, was yet another reoccurring, horrific event in our country. I posted this email on my Facebook wall on this day:

An email I got from one of my Chinese students about an hour after the Boston story broke: " I don’t know your hometown, I want sure you arenot boston. It will be great. Liam"

There is something wrong with our country when the people of China are worried about our safety.

Thursday, August 30, 2018

A Letter From My Dad

Philadelphia, PA

Christmas Night, 1997

I left my gifts with my parents and I went to Europe to visit with my sister. We had plans to meet my parents in London in a few days. But that didn't matter to my father. A thank you note had to get out ASAP.

12/25/97

Dear Bridget,

Thank you for the CDs, the shirt and the pajamas. I like Lawrence Welk and his show better when you can see the performers. I think I like music I can understand and is either patriotic or sickening sweet. I was looking for a shirt like you gave me. I intend also to take the PJ’s to London. I hope to see you there.

Last night, Christmas Evening, we had the Jim Kelly family, except Teresa who is in Alabama, Cindy & Brian and the Anderkos. On the previous Sunday Kathy & Jim & the family visited us. Tonight, Tricia and Bill & your movie friends came over and we opened up their gifts and your gifts.

I am sure you are looking forward to 1998 with optimistic anticipation. You will so a great job and your many supporters will be vindicated.

Thanks for all your help with Jackie.

Lots of love,

Dad

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Wednesday, August 29, 2018

New Jersey

NEW JERSEY

The Garden State

I grew up in Philly so I went to NJ regular, whether it was on my way to NYC or the beach or to see family and friends. There are some spots that speak to me more than others:

Long Beach Island- my home away from home. My family had a home on this island for 30 years.
French Fried Lobster at Howard's Restaurant on Long Beach Blvd, where I worked during the summer of 1974.
The Discount Liquor Store on Route 70 near Cherry Hill has a huge selection of beers.
The Camden Waterfront is a great place to watch a concert. I saw Joni Mitchell there.
I drive to the Hampton Train Station and leave my car there and he'd in to Manhattan. It is such an easy way to travel.
The Ben Franklin Bridge when I head south, I am headed to Long Beach Island and so damn happy. When I am head north, I am heading home and finished with the bulk of the difficulty traffic.
Kayaking on the Delaware River.
Horseshoe crabs and monarch butterflies would migrate through our yard on the bay each year. the craps showed up on Memorial Day and the butterflies showed up on Labor Day.
Cape May is always a great place to visit.
The egrets, herons and gulls capture my attention. I love their sounds.
My parents meet in West Creek.
The Mayo Halfway House was a bar where my grandfather stopped on his journey from Philadelphia to West Creek. The trip made his thirsty.
I worked at the Crust and Crumb in Bay Village. We sold thousands of Elephant ear, a flaky friend pastry with brown sugar and cinnamon.
Campmor camping store is in Paramus and I always stop there on my way through there. They have great buys.
White Castle has limited itself to the North Jersey area. What a shame. There is nothing like those greedy little hamburger sliders. And the onion rings were equally delicious.
I love driving through the Pine Barrens.
Cape May Brewery has a few great beers.
The Sculpture Garden is a pleasant way to spend the day.
The Statute of Liberty- I love to see her in the distance. It gives me chills.
Padre Pio Sanctuary- if you need a miracle, this seems to be the place.

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

High School Chemistry

Chemistry Class
Lower Merion High School
Lower Merion, PA
Six long weeks during the summer of 1971

I didn't take Chemistry during the school year because I didn't want to push myself academically that much. But one of my classmates told me that I would never get in to any college without having taken a chemistry class.

So I asked my parents if I could go to summer school for this course. This request annoyed my parents as they had just paid a hefty tuition fee for my 11th grade, private education. And there was still a 12th grade tuition bill waiting to be paid. So I had to pay to take this course.

I took the course at a nearby public school. I really struggled, academically and socially. I wasn't up fro the rigor of the class. And I had never been in a public school so that intimidated me. I got a C and that was a gift. Mr. Harkins, an Irishman, gave another Irishman an unearned grade. I think I probably earned a D at best.

And years later, when I looked at my transcript, I discovered this course never made it on my transcript.

Monday, August 27, 2018

Waiting for Customers

Ganges River

Varanasi, India

July 2015

They sit all day, waiting for that one opportunity where they can make enough to eat today. One customer is the difference between being hungry or being temporarily satisfied.