On Getting Old -- 57

The first of October found us with our friend, Sally, on our way to the initial play of the season at the Goodman Theater. Sally, unable to drive downtown these days, has been going to the theater with us for the past couple of years. She appreciates us taking her and loves the theater as much as we do.

This day we are going to see “Animal Crackers”. The attendant parks our car and we stop at the Corner Bakery for a light repast. We are looking forward to the play which was originally done in 1928.

“Animal Crackers” was a loosely written play to highlight the antics of the Marx Brothers. The curtain opens to a lavish, art deco set that is the home of Mrs. Rittenhouse.

A party is planned for Captain Jeffrey Spaulding, the Groucho character, played by Joey Slotnick. Before too long enter Emanuel Ravelli and the Professor, the Chico and Harpo characters, played by Jonathon Brody and Molly Brennan.

We are transported to another time through the magic of theater. The gags are a little naïve and corny but perfect for the time. Not great theater but a true glimpse of life in 1928.

A wonderful and entertaining evening – a truly enjoyable piece of candy.

Ciao

On Getting Old -- 56

Our neighbors up the block organized a block party for this day. We moved into our home in 1982 and have never had a block party. So we were looking forward to the event.

At 10:30 AM the street was barricaded with traffic horses at both ends of our block. The kids had the entire street to themselves unimpeded by cars.

As dusk descended, the neighbors congregated in front of the hosts’ house. Music blared from loudspeakers. Tables were aligned and stacked with food – crackers with salmon, hummus, “pigs-in-a-blanket”, polish sausage, potato chips, fudge, cupcakes, on and on. Grills emitted smoke scented of hot dogs and hamburgers.

People gathered in groups and talked, moved to new groups and talked more. A couple moved onto the block the same year we did, and for twenty-seven years we never saw them. New acquaintances were made and old ones reinforced.

The children ran and played and ate during the entire evening – more children than our first year at this residence.

As we toted our table and chairs back home, I was amazed that I had never before noticed all the candy around us.

Ciao

On Getting Old -- 55

I’ve been remiss in my postings, but I hope to catch up. You see I’m in the home stretch. The bridge is in sight. On Friday 23Oct I begin the cross to the other side -- my birthday. I will have achieved the big “seven oh”.

The journey and the search for candy has been most interesting. The idea to look for the daily candy has helped me along this psychological trip to old age.

I made a point of talking to people along the way regarding my trek. More than once a conversation turned out to be my candy for the day.

A few of weeks ago I went to the Nessett Center in Des Plaines for my biannual blood test. The time was early morning, 7:30 AM. After being shown to the small room by the young nurse, Mickie, I sat down in the chair and lowered the padded arm support.

I was the first patient of the day for the young nurse. Her smile was infectious. As she prepared the syringe and vials to take my blood samples, we talked of my journey and hunt for candy. She told me not to worry about the big “seven-oh”. After all 70 is only a number.

“But such a big number, when it comes to age,” I said.

She told me about raising her son on her own and the difficulties she faced in today’s world. Her faith in God helped her through the tough times, and she always tried to keep her smile beaming. Keep smiling she told me.

What a treasure to find my candy so early in the day and from one so relatively young.

Ciao

On Getting Old -- 54

Aunt Jennie visited Mom at St. Matthew’s about five weeks ago. She mentioned how well Mom was doing, since she left the hospital.

My Aunt lives in Wisconsin just past the Illinois state line. Mom lived in the same community and was a close friend with my Aunt.

A few weeks ago my cousin, Maryann, called to tell me Aunt Jennie went into the hospital. Before I had the opportunity to visit her, she passed. Another small portion excised from my life.

These little pitfalls are strewn along the path we travel. Only when faced with them do we stop to think about the happy times we experienced along the way.

Our families did not have much, but we shared what we did have. We vacationed together in Fox Lake. I remember my Aunt Jennie removing a large sliver from the bottom of my foot that I got from running on the olden wooden pier.

I remember first seeing a television set in a home at my Aunt’s place. The screen was not much bigger than my hand, and it had a huge magnifying glass in front of it.

I remember spending a night with my cousins at their home on the Southside chasing fireflies in the evening.

I remember graduating from eighth grade and sitting next to my Godparents, Aunt Jennie and Uncle Tony.

Maryann and Geri gave me the honor to do the first reading at Aunt Jennie’s funeral mass. We shall remember you always, dear Godmother.

The candy today is a little salty from the tears but no less tasty.

Ciao

On Getting Old -- 53

Rosemary and I opened a letter from our grandson. Our daughter, Yvonne, had written a little note that Calvin was doing well in school and had a surprise for us.

Well, we opened the folded paper and our candy for the day jumped out at us. Calvin wrote us a note all by himself.

“Happy Grandparent’s Day! Love Calvin”

Our little four year old is starting to write. We were so proud and happy. The note took a prominent place on our bulletin board.

The children grow up so quickly these days. I don’t remember starting to write until I was in first grade – about six years old. Come to think of it, I don’t remember anything from 66 years ago. It’s getting to the point where I don’t remember what I had for lunch.

Anyway, the candy was delicious.

Ciao

On Getting OLd -- 52

Today’s candy comes from coincidence. Yesterday I listened to an old time radio program called, Chandu, the Magician. This program was a serial of a magician who was trained in the Orient and had special powers. The episode I listened to dealt with Chandu and his cohorts at the Mena House in Giza. How cool, I thought. Rosemary and I stayed there on our tour of Egypt.

That morning at work Krystyna, the owner of the company, mentioned they were going on a cruise and would be stopping in Egypt. They were going to take a side trip to Cairo and wanted to know where we stayed. I told her of the Mena in Giza, which is just outside of Cairo.

Later that evening a friend, Amy, sent me an email asking about our trip to Egypt. She happened to be going with the same tour group – OAT, Overseas Adventure Travels – as we traveled with. Naturally I mentioned the Mena House, since it had been on my mind.

The memories flooded back. After arriving in Egypt on our tour we were taken by van straight to Giza and the Mena House—our first experience in Egypt, and what an experience. The Mena House was once a palace and is located next to the Great Pyramids. From anywhere in the compound one could see the pyramids – a spectacular sight.

The hotel was something out of the Arabian Nights. Beautiful entrance ways from room-to-room like huge carved key holes, appoints of flowers and artifacts lined every wall, and magnificent dining areas.

In the morning we stepped outside and gazed at the great pyramid. At night the pyramids were lit up and looked ethereal. We did not want to leave the hotel, but we knew greater sights awaited us.

What delicious candy today. A serendipitous occurrence that lead to some wonderful memories.

Ciao

On Getting Ols -- 51

I received an email the other day from my Aunt Doris. She informed me that my cousin, Bobby, was diagnosed with cancer. Bobby and I have not been very close over the years. Usually we met at weddings and lately at funerals.

At the first opportunity I called him. He was at dinner and could not talk very long, but long enough to tell me they—the ominous ‘they’—discovered cancer on his lung. He indicated the cancer was of the large cell type, which is slow growing.

A week later I called him. He was in good spirits. His doctor scheduled him for more tests to determine if the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes or brain. We chatted for quite awhile reminiscing about the old days. We vacationed together. I was the best man at his wedding and was the godfather to his first child. The time passed and I promised to call him about his condition.

Two weeks ago we talked and he was really up. The tests indicated that the cancer had not spread. The course of action was to remove a portion of the lung. He promised to call me after he received information about the upcoming surgery. Bobby was very upbeat and positive.

Two days ago I received a call from Bob. After analyzing the MRI’s, the CAT Scan, and X-Rays, the doctor determined that it was necessary to remove one lung. He was devastated. However, always the optimist he said maybe after they open him up things might appear to be less dire.

Where was today’s candy I wondered? After mulling over our conversations the memories of the past were wonderful. I also looked to his strength and optimism under trying circumstances. After all I was only approaching old age. Surely I can over come this blip in the road. Always—some candy exists.

Ciao