Kokomo, Indiana

A, shall we say, huge field with chairs which people brought for comfort. A stage from which either speakers, or bands were presented.  Music of the 60's, 70's were heard through the air.  The attendees,many looking like Hippies of that time, could be heard singing, or saying, "Oh, this was a song from that ....."  Fair food was abundant.  Men, baby boomers, now fathers, grandfathers, embraced each other and said, "Welcome home brother".  People like myself, simply said, "Thank you".  These are the Veterans of The Viet Nam War.  They have come to the 29th Reunion in Kokomo, Indiana.  They come with wives, girlfriends, sisters, some with parents!  They come with sorrow, joy, memories, some which just can't be forgotten.  They come with respect for each other, love of their country.  They survived horrific unmentionable incidents, catastrophes.  They returned to the  USA, scorned, hated by the citizenry of this country! 

I participated in the opening ceremony on Friday morning in Howard County, Indiana.  I, along with many, many people helped carry the hugest flag that I have ever seen to be raised.  As I watched it go up, I squinted in the sun and asked my Grandfather, if in fact, I was American after all. (My grandfather, an immigrant from Italy, said that as his boat came into the harbor in NY/NJ, the first thing that the new people to the country saw was the Statue of Liberty.  He said the people cried in relief and joy.  He learned to read, write, speak English.  He wanted to be American.  As a matter of fact, so much so, that in the WWI era, he could have served in either the Italian Army or American, since the two countries were allies.  He chose American.  He was never drafted, but he stood prepared to support, fight AMERICAN) So, Grandpa, there I was.  My father participated in WWII. As did the other "warriors", he received the " WWII Victory Medal".  My host gave me a replica of that medal..a pin, of which I can be proud.

My family's, ultimately my, military history is, shall we say, interesting.  One uncle was a conscientious objecter and was imprisioned during WWII.  Another, refused to carry a weapon, but would support the troops and country in WWII and worked State side to participate. His son, my cousin, refused to go to VietNam, burned his draft card at the time that:

I dated a West Point Cadet for years.  I love the military installation, the officers (many of you may not share enthusiasm for those men), the corps. Try walking in the West Village of Manhattan with a Cadet in Uniform in the late 60's...go ahead!  My father would drive me to West Point for various functions and after he defrosted (hockey game, coldest day of his life, I understand) we would discuss the history, the pagentry, tradition of West Point, the Army, etc.   One Christmas, I gave my Dad, who by the way, during WWII guarded prisoners, a WWII Army helmet!

  I, in college, wore apple seeds, had hair to my waist, "grooved", made love, not war.  I was as much of a "Flower Child" as my family would permit...Actually, not so much. I did that while my cousin Ron (mentioned in my book) was in the Air Force in Cambodia and Viet Nam.

I, now, am the Secretary of the Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 9927.

During the Reunion, in Kokomo, Sammy Davis Jr (no, readers...Caucasian - Medal of Honor awardee) came in by helicopter, to speak.  The assembly was told to back up for the turbulance of the helicopter as he landed.  That made for a bad hair day, but, for once in my life, this was NOT ABOUT ME!  The guest of honor mounted the stage, as the helicopter began to take off.  I crept up to the helicopter in order to get a great picture for my Dad.  I became a human cannon ball! I was blown back into the crowd!  Very strong and gracious veterans, after laughing their you know whats off, picked me up, shook me out, and here I am!  A little battered, but, WOW!

I must say, that I don't understand the "Come on people now, love one another, everybody get together and love one another, right now!" people.  I don't understand those who wore granny glasses, HAIR, and just loved everyone!  I don't want to kill, I don't want my children, grandchildren to kill.  I get that!  I respected my family members decisions, accepted them, loved my cousin, his Dad, my uncle.  But, the peace, love hippies, for lack of another word, contradict the "love" aspect of their message!  When these men came home, though it was not a popular  military action, many of the Love Generation, Hippies shouted, spitted, hated, demonstrated against the individuals.  If the country respected the "hippies" and those who did not serve, why didn't the men who did, at least be treated with some respect?  Hate the sin, not the sinner!  I just never understood the contradiction. Maybe it's me. 

My point?  Thank you for the invitation to share this experience.  Thank you Rodney, Dennis, Rick, Brian, Tom, Rose, Sue, Sandy, Vicki. Thank you all of those who survived and attended the Reunion.  Thank you to those who didn't.  Thank God for bringing us together and shame on You for pain is still endured!

Check to be sure that you have everything!

Mondays are "interesting" for us...that would be my daughter and the trio (8,6,4 year olds) and me.  We decided that we would split and alternate activities with the two older children.  From 4-5:30, Todd has tennis.  From 4:45 - 5:45, Tess dances.  So, we agreed that on the first week, Tiff would accompany Todd to the tennis club, I would go to the dance studio with Tess.  Children in their respective outfits, racquet in hand, ballet slippers in bag, we were in gear and would both be on time!  Oh yeah...another year, another merry-go-round...we were riding and doing just fine and dandy!

Tiff and Todd  were in the driveway, climbing into her car as Tess and I ran out of the door to mine!  Suddenly, Tess said, "Hey Meme (that's may-may), what about Tanner?"

The four year old, was peacefully asleep on the couch!  We forgot all about him!  My solution, "Oh, Tiff, aren't you taking both boys with you?"  This brought to mind my son's question when he was growing up, "Mom, where did you learn how to take care of little boys?"

I watched in my rear view mirror as Tiff moved Rip Van Winkle into her car and strapped him in!

We know that as we check out of hotels, leave trains, planes, restaurants, and the like to "check for anything left".  My suggestion - CHECK (the couch, under the bed, etc at home) AND BE SURE THAT YOU HAVE EVERYTHING (and everyone). 

Excuse me, I'm going to sign up for a refresher in Parenting 101.  Maybe Tiffany and I can go on the "family plan"!

Road Trip to Nowhere!

My daughter, three grandchildren and I packed up three black dresses/dress outfits, two casual outfits and one bathing suit, for a night's stay in a hotel, each to go to my best friend's husband's funeral on September 7.  We rolled with GPS, a DVD, a DS whatever from Ohio to pass through Pennsylvania to New Jersey.  We were going to pick up my ex (kids' grandpa and Tiff's dad) to join us. We stopped for the night about three hours from the Pennsylvania-New Jersey border.  After breakfast, a swim, shower, shampoo, we donned our mourning clothes and by 10 am, we headed home.  We were giddy that we might be able to even visit Mom and Dad on the way through.

By 11, we found Route 80 East (road home) closed!  Pennsylvania was declared in a State of Emergency until 9 am, Sunday the 11th because for the first time in forty, yes 40, years, eastern Pennsylvania was flooding.  Rivers were to rise to above 40 feet!  Detour roads were closing as we approached them!  State Troopers couldn't guarantee our safety out of Pennsylvania by southern routes, and definitely couldn't predict that we would be able to return.  My son manned his phone and computer to find a way north, closing as he googled.

 By 3 pm, we were on fumes, uncomfortable, hungry.  One detour led us to a little town.  The streets were empty, the parking lots, abandoned.  A gas station was closed as was a sandwich shop next to it.  A sign advertised "Open for Lunch and Dinner" outside of an inviting railroad themed restaurant.  A man approached us from nowhere as the children tumbled out of the car and said, "Ladies, we're shut down!  We are evacuating! Get back in your vechicle and get yourselves up Route 11 towards Danville!"  Hmmm.  Route 11? Danville?  He might be speaking  Babylonian for all we understood.  So, as we drove through the Twilight Zone, we realized that in fact, Northumberland was closing, big time!  We found one gas station open for brisk business where I managede to wring out $.17 worth of gas!  Another customer told me to try premium and anxious to use liquid gold if I had to, I squeezed the last of the premium fuel, not making me Ms. Popularity in Northumberland!

As we passed "El Rancho" Bar and Grill, we noticed cars, trucks packed to the gills in the crowded parking lot.  Upon our entrance, dressed as we were, there was a hush among the patrons sporting jeans, sweatshirts, ball caps and scarves.  Sizing up the situation, I clearly made eye contact with my audience and declared, "We are on the way to a funeral -that's why we're dressed like this.  The funeral is in New Jersey and we're from Ohio -  that's why were are passing through Pennsylvania.  Route 80 and its detours are closed and closing - that's why we're here!"  With that said, 10-15 of our new best friends made room for us, began talking to us all at once and told us that they were evacuating and "heading out soon". They felt that this was a really serious situation because, even Walmart was closed!  We were invited to join the parade and after lunch, go on, be safe and for God's sake, head west.   Oh, boy!

The party broke up and we drove to the Pennsylvania - Ohio border...whew!  My ex told me that since we were dressed, we should just crash any viewing and funeral along the way.  Hmmm...mourning by proxy?

We hunkered down at a Best Western, went swimming that evening.  In the morning, after breakfast and a swim, we visited Vienna, Ohio's Animal Wagon Safari (fabulous) and one of the top 100 Chinese restaurants in the United States (according to advertisements) before staggering into the portal, from which we left originally at 9 pm.

Note to self requiring revision to packing list:  For next funeral trip from Ohio to New Jersey - forget the black dresses and pack three bathing suits.  Also, Noah, where do I stock up on cubits?

THINGS JUST AREN'T WHAT THEY USED TO BE

When I was a little girl, when my children were little and in school, on our birthdays, we brought cupcakes, or chocolate bars, huge cookies with colorful sprinkles in to share with the entire class.  At the end of the day (or sometimes, snack time) the teacher would let the birthday celebrant distribute the treats and the entire class would sing!  Those were the days!

On the first day of school (ugh, Ohio begins the school year in the summer.  In NJ, we began after Labor Day), Todd (second grade) brought home a notice.  The notice specified that NO FOODS OF ANY SORT could be brought in for birthdays because of allergies: peanuts, peanut butter, red dye, milk, chocolate, sugar, salt, white flour, no fruit, no carbonation, and so the list went on and on and on and on.  How about a saltless saltine cracker, or a roasted turkey and spring water?  The teacher, according to the notice suggested a trinket, or little token of whatever to distribute to make the Birthday Child feel special.

What to do?  I understand the health concerns of the above mentioned banned goodies.  I don't want to sound as ignorant as I am miffed that, "Hey, I'm a grown-up and veteran of a multitude of cookies, candies and cupcakes thank you very much, and I am just fine and dandy!  My children are...interesting, but cupcakes had nothing to do with it!"

So, ah-ha!  I've got it!!!!  Yesterday, the trio as I fondly call the three grandchildren that comprise my entourage and I went to the party store!  I bought curling ribbon to individually "wrap" ...wait for it...
twenty-four...SLIDE WHISTLES!!!!  No peanuts, or assorted by products thereof, no dairy, no red dye, chocolate, no salt, no sugar, no white flour, no fruit,  no carbonation, no nothing!  Just good old fashioned FUN!!!

On Friday, September 2, Todd will be EIGHT YEARS OLD!  Let's make some noise!!!  (Literally)

WHERE ARE MOM AND DAD?

Hurricane Irene hit the East Coast of this country of ours.  It was amazing according to The Weather Channel. My children, grandchildren and I live 580 miles from the action, so we only know what was reported by media and my sister (on coast).   My 80+ year old parents live right where Irene was to sing and dance!  I spoke to my parents on my way to Mass...11- ish and they swore that they were going to stay in, watch television (unless power went out), have a little greens and beans with fresh crusty Italian bread.  I phoned at around 1...answering machine. Hmmm.  At 2, answering machine.  The winds were picking up, flooding where there has never been a drop of water before, trees uprouting! At 3 my sister phoned and asked where they were.  I couldn't see them from my vantage point I assured her, but I finally thought of something that I hadn't before.  (And I'm a college graduate?)...Little Sister, "I'll call their CELL PHONE.  The possible glitch here is that it just may not be turned ON! "  So, I called Mom and Dad's Cell Phone.  Loudly and very clearly, my mother answered, or rather sang as if in a glee club.  Make that she answered with glee.  "HELLO!" "Mom, what's going on?  Where are you two? I keep getting your machine!  The weather reporters keep saying people should be at home, to not venture out unnecessarily.  What's going on?"  Giggling, she responded, "Oh, John next door came over to see how we were doing.  Carol (a cousin) called and asked if we needed anything. I guess everyone wants to check on the old people. Bill (my father's friend since birth, I swear) called and said, "Hey, I'm sick of sitting home with Fran (wife), meet us at McDonald's.  I'll call the gang!"  Now, my parents are the most cautious people in the entire universe!  My dad has never, ever gotten a ticket, never been an accident, pays all bills early, and is a recycle freak (self proclaimed).  He kicks the tires of his car, has the oil changed every full moon or so.  Until 4:45, "the gang" hung out at McDonalds!  The sentiment of the crowd was that if the weather girl could stand on a boardwalk and broadcast in the storm in her slicker and not blow away, or be hit with any miscellaneous bath house, why couldn't they jump into their solid American cars (Dad has a pristine Impala) and do wheelies all the way to Mickie D's for free coffee!  Are these the people, you think, that snuck out at midnight and took their Dad's cars when they were teenagers?  I know that my father has told me that when his parents would visit his grandmother's grave, he'd take off in Grandpa's car and laugh as my Grandfather tried chasing him around the cemetary roads ... at 13 years old!  What was I saying about CAUTIOUS? 

May all of us occasionally throw fate to the wind and have fun regardless of our chronological ages!  May we all find joy in storms and sunshine!

You, Mom and Dad are my idols!

Celebrate Ourselves...Each and Every One!

I find, as I travel, whether throughout the country, or within a social network that people are fabulous!  Each of us, are unique, interesting, rich in experience!  I love the metro slickers, the retro anyones!  I love Kentucky and the local color there!   Of course, I love New York.  I love the charm of South Carolina, the leisure of Florida or Arizona, the glitter of Las Vegas and plastic of L.A. People are so, not to sound corny, nice!  I have learned that people are eager to share themselves and  invite me in! I have found that people gravitate towards people, want to be accepted, respected, appreciated and loved!  I want to feel, touch, explore as many backgrounds, histories, ethniticities, traditions, lives as I can! 

I love you, alll of my family and old friends.  I thank you, all of the new ones that I have met and am meeting along the way now.  I feel as if we all journey together, somehow!  Come on now, grouchie man in Church...smile!

Thank you Mom and Dad for my genes.  Thank you Tiff, Nick, Todd, Tess, Tanner for your support!  Thank you Steve for your patience (it's not easy being divorced from me!) Feel better Sheriff, save that dance Dewey and Rodney, there's Kokomo!

So...GET OUT THERE AND LIVE!!!   As, in the Broadway show, MAME, Auntie Mame said, "Life's a banquet and most sons of bitches are starving!" 

The Jellystone Ministry

With a name like "Jellystone Ministry", one would question the validity of a Sunday morning worship service in a Pavilion. Ah, you religious snobs, how wrong you would be to question the minister, his wife and musician/ pastor Jerry!  The trio circulated among all those present, as they arrived, introducing themselves and thanking each individual, young and old, retaining names, for attending.  Hymns that have nurtured souls for ages, including those from my days at St. Paul's, were led with reverence as if the Lord held a conductor's baton.  The sermon was delivered from the depths of the soul, bypassing all things, directly into the souls of the assembly.  "Achy Breaky Heart" melody enhanced with the lyrics of the heavens instead had the congregation singing the chorus and clapping! Children and Adults alike were fascinated when,with a violin bow, a saw, yes, a saw wood saw, was played and the song, "In The Garden" was heard!  I believe that those who worshipped came away with the Lord deep in their hearts/souls with a greater appreciation for Him and those who presented the service to them!

Compliments to the Ministry of Jellystone Park and to the Park administrators for their sensitivity to the soul and faith of their guests!