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My Back Pages: November, 1963 :  Fifty years ago, my friends and I spent the evening as we always did. It was Thursday, November 21, 1963 and after dinner, we would all go ...

 Fifty years ago, my friends and I spent the evening as we always did. It was Thursday, November 21, 1963 and after dinner, we would all go to the Boys Club to spend the evening playing pool, trying to shoot hoops, or watching TV in the TV room. We were, as usual, lost in our own little teenaged worlds.... telling stories.. some of them true, thinking that we were kings of the world. Safe and secure, never thinking anything could change it. Not thinking about tomorrow, or next week, or next year.  As we left the club on the cold November night, we made plans to meet the next day. Freddy, Sammy and I would cut school and hang out, waiting for Donnie, George, and Bobby to get out, so that we could all hang out at San Filis  Pizza parlor. Little did we know that the events of the next four days would change our lives and  turn our whole world on it's ear.  The 22nd dawned bright and cold. My mother shook me awake to make sure that I had breakfast and got out the door on time. "

My Back Pages: Thanksgiving.. : Changes After 27 years of hosting Thanksgiving Dinner at our home, with yours truly doing most of the cooking, our kitchen will be cold,...

Changes After 27 years of hosting Thanksgiving Dinner at our home, with yours truly doing most of the cooking, our kitchen will be cold, and our house silent (as silent as a house with four bickering dogs can be!). We will be going to Paulette and Scott's house for the family gathering. Sadly, the deteriorating condition of my hands due to arthritis will not allow me to do all of what is required to make a successful dinner. Oh, I will contribute a few things: stuffed mushrooms and my wife's requested green bean casserole; but no home made sweet potato casserole or my loved mashed red potatoes, or freshly made cranberry sauce. Paulette will make the stuffing from my recipe, and will brine the turkey. We are bringing our silverware and have already sent our Thanksgiving service settings. We have been requested to be there by 11:00 AM (We always ate in the late afternoon), and we will be there. It's a proud moment, to see our children hosting the family tradition. Next ye

My Back Pages: Veteran's Day Weekend, Marine Corps Birthday, and ... :   Here we are at Veteran's Day Weekend, 2013. As I sit here and reflect on the years that have passed, I wonder what lies ahead for us a...

Today, we sent our dear friend, Dan Viola, off in style. Claudia brought his ashes back from the west coast to be spread in his town. We all miss Dan so very much. Claudia said that he didn't think that people loved him; well, today showed that they did. He had many friends, from all walks of life. He was a sweet and gentle man who was well loved by the community in which he lived and served for so many years  He was my friend. That says enough. This is a man who I would hug and kiss on his cheek without any embarrassment.  I spent many nights sitting and talking to him, long after the bar was closed, and the doors locked. He respected and loved me, and I will always love and respect him. This was a man of the people. This was a man of his community, who was loved and respected by all who ever came in contact with him. I love you, Dan Viola, and I will miss you until the day that I join you.  Claudia, my dear friend. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to honor him and to sho

Here we are at Veteran's Day Weekend, 2013. As I sit here and reflect on the years that have passed, I wonder what lies ahead for us all? We, who have served our countriy did it with the hope that we would see an end to war.. and end to the killing over scraps of land and ideologies. We served because we though that it was the right thing to do. I did it because I felt, and still feel, that it is the cost of living in a free society. The cost of being able to cast my vote for who would represent me in this process called democracy. The cost for having my voice heard, along with others who think as I do, in a country that is supposed to be the symbol of what a country that allows all people to participate in the political process, is supposed to be. It is a great thing to feel that way. I must admit, I am a bit of an idealist. I believe in letting the results of elections speak for themselves. My guy (or lady) didn't win that time? Oh, well.. I have to go with the results and

My Back Pages . FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2013 Veteran's Day Weekend, Marine Corps Birthday, and One Fading Marine   Here we are at Veteran's Day Weekend, 2013. As I sit here and reflect on the years that have passed, I wonder what lies ahead for us all? We, who have served our countriy did it with the hope that we would see an end to war.. and end to the killing over scraps of land and  ideologies. We served because we though that it was the right thing to do. I did it because I felt, and still feel, that it is the cost of living in a free society. The cost of being able to cast my vote for who would represent me in this process called democracy. The cost for having my voice heard, along with others who think as I do, in a country that is supposed to be the symbol of what

  Here we are at Veteran's Day Weekend, 2013. As I sit here and reflect on the years that have passed, I wonder what lies ahead for us all? We, who have served our countriy did it with the hope that we would see an end to war.. and end to the killing over scraps of land and  ideologies. We served because we though that it was the right thing to do. I did it because I felt, and still feel, that it is the cost of living in a free society. The cost of being able to cast my vote for who would represent me in this process called democracy. The cost for having my voice heard, along with others who think as I do, in a country that is supposed to be the symbol of what a country that allows all people to participate in the political process, is supposed to be. It is a great thing to feel that way. I must admit, I am a bit of an idealist. I believe in letting the results of elections speak for themselves. My guy (or lady) didn't win that time? Oh, well.. I have to go with the results and

My Back Pages: Veteran's Day Thoughts: Wives and Lovers and My Au... : It’s been a tough month for me and my family. Birthday’s, Anniversaries, the death of a beloved family member. So many different emotions...

It’s been a tough month for me and my family. Birthday’s, Anniversaries, the death of a beloved family member. So many different emotions, from high to low. Difficult times. It’s easier to deal with straight emotional lows, than to be pulled from one to the other on almost a daily basis. It tests ones strength and character.   I have been wanting to write another of my essays on whatever I could focus on out of all this, but it has just been impossible. I’ve wanted to honor my Aunt Mary, and my wife, but found myself jumping back and forth and blurring the lines. Now, we have Veteran’s Day, the Marine Corps Birthday (Which is very important to me) and Thanksgiving, all upon us in a rush. I won’t even mention Election Day, because I am sick to death of politics and politicians, and I just need a rest from stupid, self centered people for a while. I may get back into it again, at a later date; but for now, I barely watch anything political and my TV and radio are silent for most of