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

On Getting Old -- 43

Saturday presented itself as a most busy day. Early in the afternoon our radio group, TWTD Players, performed a radio recreation at Addolorata Villa, a nursing home in Wheeling.

We performed an episode of Henry Aldrich. For you youngsters this show was about the adventures of a teenager. The opening was clearly recognized. Henry’s mother would call out: “Henrry, Henry Aldrich!” And Henry would yell back, “Coming, Mother.” In the old days we kids would gather around the radio when we heard that announcement.

Next we performed a show called “It Pays to be Ignorant”. This program concerned itself with the goings on of three panelists, one dumber than the other. In the picture are shown Harry McNaughton, Lulu McConnel, and Shelton Leonard. The program was hosted by Tom Howard. Audience participants would reach into a dunce hat and read the question, such as “In what season of the year do Autumn leaves fall?”

The panelists would take off into different directions. The show would be full of corny gags, jokes and puns.

Harry: Where do the leaves fall from?
Tom: From trees.
Shelton: What trees?
Tom: Any tree.
Harry: I don’t have any leaves on my shoe trees, Mr. Howard.
Lulu: What are shoe trees, Mr. Howard?
Tom: They’re something you put in shoes to keep them from losing their shape.
Lulu: You mean if I put them on I wouldn’t lose my shape?
Tom: You mean you really want to keep that shape?

They loved us at the nursing home. Of course it is one of the places were we would be considered the youngsters. Anyway, we gave them a little something to laugh and smile about.

After the show we adjourned to our friend’s house for our annual picnic. We discussed the performance along with anything else. The food was plentiful and delicious. Pulled pork sandwiches and roasted chicken. Homemade pork and beans and roasted potatoes accompanied the entrées. What a meal! All topped off with cake, cookies and brownies with ice cream,

Not much difficulty in locating today’s candy. We brought some joy to the lives of others; we filled our inner cravings f0r a touch of the spotlight; we spent a pleasant afternoon talking with friends and eating.

Seems a pattern is developing. So much of my daily candy involves food. Guess there’s nothing wrong with that.

Ciao

On Getting Old -- 42

After lunch Rosemary accompanied me to LifeSource, the local blood donation center. I usually donate two or three times a year. Last May we went to Peru, and as a result I wasn’t able to donate for a year. Finally, today is the day.

A young Indian nurse took all my vitals and ushered me to a lounger in the lab. After swabbing my arm with iodine, she carefully and gently inserted the needle. She was a pro at this maneuver. I pumped the small, foam rubber ball periodically to keep the blood flowing.

I closed my eyes for a short nap – my usual MO. Today I completed the task in less than ten minutes. Oh, well, I’ll have to nap later.

I rested, drank some juice, and ate popcorn. Rosemary was kind enough to drive.

She said we should visit Mom at the nursing home, and then she would take me to dinner at a new restaurant in the city. Mom was in good spirits. We sat in the garden and chatted. Soon Mom got tired. Since it was near her dinner time, we helped her lie down for a little rest before she ate.

We headed for a Lebanese restaurant on Peterson Avenue in the city. Byblos offered Mediterranean cuisine and we both looked forward to the experience.

The establishment is set up banquet style with a small stage area for entertainment. Since we arrived quite early, the place was empty, and we were the only diners.

Joe sat us at a round, copper table [it looked like a big cymbal] in the front window. Rosemary ordered Shawarma – layers of lamb and beef served over rice with tomatoes and onion. I ordered a lentil soup [I love any soup] and a Vegetarian Combo – a sampling of hummus, baba ghannouj, tabouleh, dolma, spinach, and falafel.

We shared our meals to taste everything. And everything was superb. We scooped up the servings with pieces of pita. The hummus and baba ghannoul tasted cool and refreshing on the palate with the hint of chick peas and egg plant in the after taste. The beef and lamb was richly seasoned with hints of curry. I washed down the meal with an oolong tea.

No need for dessert today for I had my daily candies -- the feel-good experience of providing blood for one in need and the delicious experience of a new restaurant.

Can’t get much better!

Ciao

On Getting Old -- 41

In the spring I turned the soil of our vegetable garden and planted tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers. Over the weeks the garden was weeded [I must say usually by Rosemary] and watered and fertilized and staked.

We watched the small plants reach toward the sun. Our nurturing produced healthy, full leafed vines and plants. [Except for one pepper plant that refused to cooperate and died on the vine so to say.]

The tiny golden flowers developed into tiny buds which then turned into small green tomatoes. This fruit grew and ripened until today. A bright red hearty tomato graced the stem of one of the plants. And today we picked the first tomato of the season from our garden.

The prize, cradled gently in my cupped hands, was brought to the kitchen. Without a lot of fanfare the colorful fruit was halved then quartered.

In anticipation the piece was lifted to my mouth. Ahh! Nothing like a home grown tomato.

The sweet juice rolled over the tongue and coated the nearly 10,000 taste detectors in my mouth with a fresh sweetness. Although the weakest of the five senses, my mouth reached a state of hypergensia – an enhanced ability to taste. The fluids excited the taste buds at the upper esophagus and found its way to the stomach.

Who would have thought that a small piece of vegetable could make the daily candy so sweet?

Ciao

On Getting Old -- 40

Rosemary and I went off to a lunch at the Botanic Garden. After a half hour drive to Glencoe we parked in one of the outer lots. With the weather so beautiful the Garden was pretty well attended.
Merrill Lynch hosted the affair. Lunch was at the Regenstein Center. A simple but tasty lunch was served. Two other couples dined with us. Afterward everyone boarded a tram for a tour around the Garden. Our docent was extremely knowledgeable and kept us amused for the hour long tour.

The grounds are immaculate. We viewed the Japanese gardens, Evening Island with the Carillon Tower. We learned how the Gardens developed into the sprawling acreage of today.

The Garden is open year round with something always happening. What a wonderful way to spend the afternoon – pleasant surroundings, a delightful meal, good conversation, and my loving wife, Rosemary, by my side.

Ah, such sweet candy!

Ciao

On Getting Old -- 37

I received a call from the St. Matthew’s nursing home this evening. The nurse found Mom on the floor. She fell trying to put on her shoes. Apparently there was nothing evidently wrong with her. A slight bump on the fore head, and Mom complained of her sore shoulder.

The nurse assured me it was not necessary to come to the home. They would watch her closely for the next 72 hours.

Being a little shook up, Rosemary and I decide to go to the Pickwick, the neighborhood diner, for a little something to eat and talk about Mom.

After dinner we went home, and the telephone message machine blinked red. Oh, no, I thought. Something happened to Mom.

I clicked the play button. A tiny voice peeled from the machine. “Hi, Grandpa. This message is for you. Plunk your magic twanger, Froggy. Boing. Hi, ya kids. Hi, ya. Hi, ya.”

“Rosemary,” I called. “You have to hear this!” We both were delighted to hear Calvin’s voice. I think I buoyed up to the ceiling.

I immediately called back. Calvin picked up the receiver and repeated the message. I told him how happy I was to hear from him and that he remembered the opening to Smilin’ Ed’s program.

Let me tell you – from a day where I didn’t think I could find any candy – that phone call made me thank God that I was alive. You never know where your candy will come from. Just keep looking.


Ciao