Unceremonious

Unceremonious! That is how I would describe my final day on a part-time job I held for almost a decade. It happened this past Wednesday, May 14th. The first five years I worked only once a week for a few hours. After I retired from my real job, as an elementary school teacher for 36 years, my work week would vary from three to as many as fifteen hours. The work was enjoyable with the opportunity to meet with and to help people. In addition to this interaction certain tasks would involve balancing funds and completing paper work. I must say that I met some wonderful people along the way. Will I miss anyone? Not really!!! So there you have it a few reflections on a second job and how I chose to leave it.

Castle Island - A Tradition Continues...

April 20, 2008

Gwendolyn Lillian, named after her great-grandmothers, is a force of nature. Gwen is a bright, charming, loving, and full of fun two year old. It was my distinct pleasure to spend some time with her this weekend. Our destination was South Boston specifically Castle Island. Whether walking around watching the airplanes come and go from Logan, enjoying the sailboats on the water, or just riding those swings you know it’s an exciting time. Then to top it off you must have an ice cream at Sullivan’s.

My memories, at a young age, of the same kind of fun day at Castle Island are vivid. Later in life as a fourth-grade teacher for years I would take my class on a field trip to the John F. Kennedy Library/Museum and follow it up with a picnic lunch at you guessed it – Castle Island! I’m certain that Gwen’s first experience at the Island was just one of many more to come.

Forty-Nine Dollars and Ninety-Six Cents ($49.96)

April 5, 2008

I try to write from emotion and or respond to events. Well yesterday provided such a forum. I was cents shy of $50.00 to fill my gas tank. That most certainly got my attention. I am required to use the 91 or above grade of gasoline. How convenient that the grade goes from 89 to 93 with a $.10 or more increase thrown in. Now my automobile gets 26 mpg and has a 16 gallon tank. I use a gas station whose charge averages $.10 a gallon less than the other local stations. It’s not a name brand but performance is great nonetheless.

After filling-up as I was getting back in my car another customer in disbelief, as we all are, was muttering words to the effect that the people must do something, this must stop. My sentiments exactly - can’t help wondering what the summer will bring. Is the dreaded $4.00 a gallon just around the corner!?!

Boston Red Sox - Looking for 3 Titles in 5 Years

March 27, 2008

Now that the baseball season has officially opened with a split decision in Japan, what now!?! Will my beloved Red Sox regroup and get their internal clock adjusted? Time will tell but the party line is NO EXCUSES.

It was clear to me that spring training was very much in evidence in both games the Sox and A’s played. The pitching was spotty given Dice-K’s slow start and Paps shaky relief in the opening game. It was thrilling to see a rookie, Brandon Moss, with a 9th inning game tying homer. That extra inning victory was a great and exciting way to begin the season.

Kudos to Jacoby for a great catch robbing the hitter of extra bases. Manny is off to a roaring good start and could have a monster year (let’s hope). Rich Hardin and the A’s pen (those ex-Sox) were the story of game two with Jon Lester having an uneven performance. Yes, we have a long, long way to go and I, for one, plan to enjoy the ride. GO SOX!!!

One South Florida Experience

March 20, 2008

It was my good fortune to visit a dear friend in Jupiter, Florida. Despite the fact that it was but a week, was it ever jam packed. I now ‘get it’ having long wondered exactly what the attraction to Florida was for so many. I think it can be summed up in a few words: sun, sand, surf and of course a legendary friendliness. Now I’m a new convert to the winter South Florida experience.

I’ve long gone on family vacations to the Orlando/Disney area and that was about what I knew of Florida. My eyes are now opened. Folks in the Sunshine State are fond of saying that it adds ten years to your life span, perhaps due to good old vitamin D in the form of sunlight. Another notable was the obvious camaraderie of the people I met as well as the religious faith which has so many at daily Mass - Lent or not!

That week in March included the finest seafood, a reunion with my first principal in Milton, a casino trip to Pompano, an Irish Festival in West Palm, an Irish Revue with Tony Kenney and most significantly on March 17th a St. Patty’s Day party to rival all others.

So there you have it my little oasis retreat enjoyed in a bit of sun-trenched paradise.

Virtual Waiting Room

March 8, 2008

Here I am in the Boston Red Sox virtual waiting room pining for an opportunity, by invitation only, to buy Right Field Roof Deck seats. One hour and 10 minutes has passed much like those long waits in the doctor’s office. Two games are now sold-out and most have only standing room remaining. Since I don’t know how many games have been made available for sale, I’m not sure how serious the rapidly diminishing seat situation is. But I must confess as a die-hard Sox fan I’ll wait out the situation and hope for the best. What if everything is sold out when I get in there? I refuse to entertain the thought that I am wasting my time.

I can’t help thinking about when my obsession, for it is that, with the Red Sox began. My father was a fan, especially of Ted Williams, so I came by this love naturally. From the time I was about six years old and went to my first game at Fenway, I was hooked. Later my favorite player was Jackie Jensen just to be different from all the Williams devotees. I remember the Wednesday Ladies Days and the $.50 bleacher seats. I do love the bleachers. Although my worst bleacher memory is of the Sox in 1978 being swept by the Yankees late in the season. Thereby blowing a huge lead. You know the rest, a one game Boston-New York playoff and Yaz pops to third for the final out. Sad to say these days, even for a lot more money you can not get bleacher seats. So, here I wait hoping for success some 90 minutes later and counting…

PS Alas, after a wait of 2 hours and 15 minutes I was only able to get standing room 'seats'!

A Friend

March 4, 2008

There is no friend like an old friend – trite maybe, true definitely! Today I was reunited with a long time dear friend. A friend I had not seen for some time, who did not answer my many telephone calls and about whom I was very concerned. You see in a period of less than three years she had lost her soul-mate, her husband of 36 years and the love of her life. In addition she had battled breast cancer and had buried her mother. How much can one little heart endure? So when life’s burdens weight you down, sometimes you just don’t have the energy or the desire to connect with others.

But, the human spirit is nothing if not resilient and in time one begins to reach out again. I was the happy recipient of a phone call yesterday and that led to a get together today. We shared some sadness, many laughs and an all around good time. I am thankful for a friendship renewed.