On Getting Old -- 50

St. Matthew chose a perfect day for their Fun Fest. The sun shone beautifully with a nice cooling breeze. Rosemary and I headed to the nursing center about 10:45 AM. Upon entering Mom's room we noticed her abscence. We went to the front lawn where tents were set up. We wandered around unable to find Mom.

Gladys, one of Mom's nurses, led us to where she sat. A tiny tear filled Mom's eye and her voice quavered slightly. "I didn't think anyone was coming to visit me today," she said. Her spirits brightened, when she saw us.

The rest of the afternoon we spent talking, eating hot dogs and ice cream. We listened to the combo play music along with the singer. Mom stayed out for almost two hours before she tired.

Before going back to the room she wanted to see the animals at the small, fenced-in petting area. "Not too close," she warned. Her eyes opened like saucers as she watched the children feed the llama, goats, donkey, pig, and ducks.

A full day for her and she enjoyed every minute. We helped her into bed and kissed her good-bye.

Most delicious candy today -- seeing her brighten up.

Ciao

On Getting Old -- 49

Once a year the Avenues for Independence, a local organization that aids retarded people, hold a fund raising outing at Arlington Park Race Track. We usually invite a friend to join us for the afternoon. This day our friend, Shirley, joined us.

This past Saturday was a glorious day. The weather was perfect. We arrived at the track early to scan the program. We were surprised to find a table reserved for us. After placing bets for the first race we lined up at the buffet table for some food. Spread out before us were bowls of salads, bruschetta, hot plates of chicken, turkey, pasta mashed potatoes and grilled vegetables.

Since I never tasted a turkey dish I didn’t like, I piled my plate with thick slices of roasted turkey with mashed potatoes slathered with gravy. Needless to say the food was terrific.

All afternoon we talked and bet the horses. Every race found us looking out the huge windows cheering our horses to victory. However, only Rosemary found her way back to the betting windows to collect. In the picture showing the horses crossing the finish line, my horse is yet to make it into the scene. For all I know he may still be running.

Today’s candy had some specials tastes. We helped a worthy cause, while at the same time we enjoyed good food and the company of friends. I’m amazed at the fact that so much candy involves good friends and good food.

This trek to 70 isn’t too bad.
Ciao

On Getting Old -- 48

Mom went into St. Matthew’s Center for Care a few months ago. Prior to her move, the family downsized her belongings from a one bedroom apartment at the Heritage to a studio apartment. Now we were faced with another downsizing. Literally all her belongings had to be disposed.

For a couple of months Rosemary and I lived with all her things in our family room and garage. A woman’s history of nearly 80 years was strewn throughout our house. We rummaged through photographs and clothes, pots and pans, bric-a-brac and jewelry. What a sad series of events.

A decision to conduct a garage sale was made, and we began to sort, label and tag items. Knowing Mom was at the nursing facility made the task all the more difficult.

The eventful day came. All the things were lined up in the garage and driveway. People arrived early and began to sort through everything. My heart twisted as I watched these strangers pawing over my Mother’s stuff, even though I knew we had to do what we did.

Of course, those people who bought and sold items were the first to arrive. But throughout the two days we witnessed people in need pick out those items too expensive for them to buy in the big box stores. And so it went.

Where is today’s candy going to come from, I wondered.

During the lulls we met with people who had stories to tell. The elderly, Polish man sat and talked about his captivity in a POW camp during WWII. He fought with a resistance unit in Poland before his capture. A man hobbled along the tables and then discussed his heart surgery and knee replacement with us. A young lady with her mother was off to college in New York and needed things for her apartment. A retired gentleman who scoured neighborhood sales for old time radios and cameras for his hobby.

So it went from story to story. By the end of the weekend I felt much happier knowing that many of Mom’s things helped people less fortunate than we. At the same time I was able to amass some monies to help defray a little of Mom’s expenses.

I discovered my candy time and again over the course of those two days.
Ciao

On Getting Old -- 47

During dinner with our friends, Barb and Norb, we were asked to stop at their home during the coming week. Norb is a sculptor who works predominately in wood. He is fantastic. [I don’t really tell him that. It goes to his head, and I’m sure you will keep my little secret.] His home and the outside of his home is strewn with carvings, many of which are gargoyle-type works – both large and small. The place is a fantasy world of carvings.

A week ago Tuesday Rosemary and I paid a visit to our friends. Norb ushered us to his basement lair. He told us to look around. We were invited to take any of his works on display. We couldn’t believe our ears. When it came to his carvings, they were all his babies.

Rosemary and I were like kids in a candy store. Norb went upstairs and left us to our choosing. We selected a whimsical little bird, two busts of some Western dudes, an old man with a club, and a one legged monster with one eye and arm.

Norb informed us that the one legged monster is a fachan – a mythical creature from the Western highlands of Scotland. This fairie has a nasty disposition who is very jealous of the gift of flight and hates all other living things. I guess if you have only one eye, one arm and one leg, you'd be nasty too. This carving has taken a place of prominence among my collections.

In discussing Norb’s generosity he informed us that since he was going into the hospital this coming week for open heart surgery, he wanted to find good homes for his babies in case anything went wrong.

We tried to assure him that his type of surgery is commonplace today. Furthermore, the world is not yet ready to let go of such a kind and loving person as he.

Rosemary and I were honored to be the adoptive parents of Norb’s babies. What a wonderful piece of candy from a wonderful friend.
Ciao

On Getting Old -- 46

Our adventure today takes us to uptown Chicago. Rosemary and I boarded the bus behind the Penny’s Department store in Golf Mill. Sponsored by the Maine Township we join the other seniors of the Maine Streamers at 10:30 AM for the first leg of our journey – lunch at the Ann Sather restaurant, famous for their gooey Cinnamon buns and their entrée of Swedish meatballs.

Traffic into the city is horrendous. Road work all around slows us interminably. But a phone call [Thank heaven for cell phones. However did we manage when we had to use the smoke signals called party lines?] from our leader assured us prompt attention from the waiter staff after we arrived.

We sat down and were joined by two nice lady Maine Streamers. Our order was taken immediately giving us time to savor the Cinnamon buns shouting at us from the bread basket. A lunch of Swedish meatballs for Rosemary and turkey for me [I can never get enough turkey – my favorite food.] was placed before us post-haste.

The meal exceeded expectations -- flavorful and plenty. The huge meatballs served over a bed of noodles were made with some special seasoning. The turkey, moist and juicy, was [I never tasted turkey I didn’t like] served with dressing alongside smashed potatoes, and all slathered in gravy.

The proficient service put us back on schedule for the next leg of the journey – the Apollo Theatre and “The Million Dollar Quartet”. The tiny theatre provided unobstructed viewing from anywhere in the facility.

We knew we were in for a rousing afternoon when the disembodied voice from the loud speaker ended its pre-performance announcements regarding cell phones, picture taking, etc. with …if you want to unwrap your candy during the show, don’t worry. It won’t be heard over the music.

The play opened with four young men at microphones and backlit, while the narrator, Sam Phillips [played by Brian McCaskill, told the back story and introduced the cast – Carl Perkins[Rob Lyons], Johnny Cash[Lance Guest], Jerry Lee Lewis[Levi Kreis], and Elvis Presley[Eddie Clendening].

The story takes place one afternoon at the Sun Record studio in Memphis in 1956. This day most unexpectedly the four stars, the innovators of Rock and Roll, met at the studio for an impromptu jam session.

The music [the music our group grew up with] was loud, exciting and memorable. The show opened with “Blue Suede Shoes”. We heard “That’s All Right” and “Brown Eyed Handsome Man” and “Sixteen Tons” and “Great Balls of Fire” and on and on.

The four actors were exceedingly talented. The energetic piano playing of Jerry Lee, the fierce guitar playing of Carl Perkins, the dulcet tones of Johnny Cash, and the leg shaking antics of Elvis got the audience cheering and applauding all afternoon.

To say the least we were all transported back to a most lively time in our life, when the aches and pains of aging did not exist.

Once again eating played a prominent role in the daily candy. Once again the candy was multi-layered – food, pleasant conversation, and a trip down memory lane.
Ciao

On Getting Old -- 45

A few weeks ago Rosemary instructed me to install a new humming bird feeder in our backyard. Although a little dubious about this adventure I followed her directions. The feeder was placed outside our kitchen window.

Rosemary, ever confident of the attraction of the birds to our feeder, thought she saw a humming bird a week ago at the feeder. She hurried out to replace the sugar water with the hopes of seeing the little beauty again – if in fact she saw it the first time.

A little skeptical of her sighting, I humored her. Then one morning while having breakfast, she shouted out, “Look! He’s back.”

Sure enough the tiny bugger was flitting around our feeder. What a feeling of joy and elation that bird brought to our morning meal. Unfortunately we have yet to see him again, but I shall never doubt my wife’s claims again.

A googling informed us that most likely our visitor was a Ruby throated humming bird.

One of God’s unique creatures provided me with a most pleasurable piece of candy today.

Ciao

On Getting Old -- 44

Some days the path of life is strewn with boulders. After completing my workout – usually do about two miles on the cross trainer and some weight training – I came home to bad news. Rosemary told me that Dennis a friend from high school called about the passing of one of the guys we went to school with.

I called Dennis immediately. He told me that a fellow basketball player, Phil Skilnik, from Gordon Tech. passed away.

About a year ago I met up with Phil at a GT outing at Arlington Park. Before that day I’d not seen Phil in almost fifty years. We chatted about old times. Phil was such a nice guy.

Phil became the president of Gordon Tech. H.S. and had great plans for the future of the school. He wanted to get the alumni more involved. I spoke with Phil a few weeks ago at the annual GT golf outing. He looked terrific.

All the more reason I was so floored when I heard of his demise. Phil came down to breakfast on Friday morning complaining that he wasn’t feeling well. A little while later he dropped dead of a heart attack. Phil was 69 years old.

Rosemary and I paid our respects at his wake and returned home. While reading my emails I discovered my cousin, Bob, was diagnosed with lung cancer. He is just a few months older than I. Another shock for the day.

The day’s events made me think more about the fate we all must face. Our mortality comes to the forefront of our mind. These occurrences do not make finding the daily candy easy.

The candy today comes from the past – from the memories of the good times we shared with our fellow travelers through life – the sight of Phil soaring high to gather a rebound in a basketball game; the day I stood alongside my cousin Bob when he was married.

Today’s candy is not so sweet.

Ciao