So beautiful. Passover seems more meaningful this year than any other I can remember. I’m adding a bottle of water to my Seder plate in honor of those who vote and those who support the voters.
Thank You Heather. On this night of Passover, we’re sending prayers of peace and promises to continue to stand up for all those who remain oppressed in our country and all over the world.
I join Heather in wishing all who celebrate the feast, a joyful Passover. And since her letter was brief today, I submit a bit of personal family history should you care to read it. Today marks the 101st anniversary of my dad’s birth. He had always hoped to celebrate his 100th birthday, but fell short by 2.5 years. I celebrate him today with excerpts from an interview with him conducted by one of his grandsons.
In his own words: “As teenagers, my parents moved from Sicily to the US where they later married. As the fourth of eight children, my life began in 1920 the day I kicked the slats out of my cradle.
I lived in Akron, Ohio in a working district. There were a lot of bootleggers and gangsters who lived in my neighborhood which was in a valley with big hills on both sides. Many people were afraid to come down the hill for fear they would never make it back.
The stock market crash of October 1929 began the Great Depression. It lasted until 1941. Times were so bad that my dad and many other people lost their jobs. People were selling apples on street corners. I was ten years old when I went into the city up the hill where I sold newspapers for three cents a copy and made a penny for every copy I sold. I didn’t get home until after midnight walking down into the valley after dark. Someone would ask me how I was doing, and I would say, “Ok, bro” but I kept my head down and kept walking. We had a lot of fights. We called them recreation to see who was boss. I was often the boss. We had no other recreation—no TV, nothing other than a radio. We barely had gas lights.
We started a pee wee football league for ages 10 to 12. We could weigh no more than 115 pounds. We had helmets, but no shoulder pads, no football jerseys, nothing. Not even a regular field. That’s how I broke into football. In high school I joined the football team. In my senior year of playing—remember these were the days of the iron men and wooden ships—we played a full 60 minutes. I was guard on offense, and backing on the line on defense. We were terrible because most of our good players had graduated. Coach called me in and asked what was going on. I said, “I don’t know. I think you are calling the wrong plays.”
He asked me, “Al, then why don’t you call the plays?”
I was the only guard in the history of my high school to call the plays. The quarterback was out and Al was in. I was All City Guard for Akron, Ohio 1938. I also wrestled for my high school. I started at 155 pounds.
The day after I graduated from high school a friend of mine and I jumped on a train headed for New York. We were on the roof of one of the cars when we heard a guy yell, “You better get off there or you’re gonna fry!” It was an electric train, so we held on to the rafters all the way from Akron to New York.
I stayed in New York for a year working as a dishwasher and then a short-order chef. I decided to go back to Akron where I drove truck and played a season of semi-pro football for the Ohio team. Once I had seen my limited options, I decided to join the US Navy to see the world and to eventually take advantage of the Navy’s guaranteed retirement benefits.
I joined the US Navy at age 20 and served for 20 years. While in the Navy, I traveled to countries all over the Mediterranean. Too many to mention. I have also travelled to Iceland, Japan, Hong Kong, Hawaii, and the Philippines.
Being a wrestler in high school may well have saved my life! When I was on the Tuscaloosa an order came down to separate many of the crew into two groups. The ones who had a hobby stayed on the Tuscaloosa, while the ones who did not had orders to transfer to the USS Arizona.
While I was aboard the Tuscaloosa, they started building ramps all around the ship. I couldn’t understand the reason for them. Then I learned that President Franklin Roosevelt would be coming aboard in his wheelchair and the ramps were needed to push him up to the ship. They even had a ramp built to take him to the fantail so he could fish.
The crew honored the President with a smoker which is akin to a talent show. My talent was wrestling. I wrestled and won. Roosevelt was the judge. When he congratulated me, I got to shake his hand.
In March, 1942, we were taking a northern route to Iceland. The weather was rough. We were zigzagging to avoid German U-boats. The admiral put out the word we were all to stay away from the lifelines because he didn’t want anyone to be washed overboard. He warned us that if anyone were washed overboard the ship would not go back for them. They would be a goner! Even if the ship had turned around, the water was so cold a person couldn’t survive more than ten minutes.
The next day we got the man-overboard signal; we had to go to muster to see if everyone was present. Everyone was present on every ship, so a group of men went to report to the admiral that everyone had been accounted for. Problem was, no one could find the admiral. They assumed he was the one overboard, so they turned around all the ships to search for him. There was much talk as to whether he had committed suicide or was pushed over. Admiral Wilcox was his name.
While I was in the Navy, we frequently moved. Consequently, it was a necessity I learn to never look back. I made friends everywhere I went. There was a saying in the Navy: There are only two good ships—the one you are on and the one you are transferred to. My favorite ship was the cruiser Tuscaloosa because it was such a big ship.
I dreamed of having a beautiful wife and children. I met my wife in Columbus, Ohio, and married her soon after. Together we raised a son and two daughters. I am very proud of each of them.
After retiring, I used the GI Bill to pay for my college education. I majored in accounting. After graduating I worked for the IRS—in the refund department [wink]—for 16 years. Upon retirement, I opened my own firm.
Family comes first no matter the situation.
Hold on to your real friends because you never know when they will need you or when you will need them. When it comes to helping them, remember that it’s not about you. As the Bible says, “Don’t let your right hand know what your left hand is doing.”
I’m happy with the life I’ve lived and for the family and the dedicated friends I have made along the way. I choose not to dwell on past setbacks.“
Thank you for the Passover greeting and lovely photo.. Most of all, thank you for bringing such brilliance and clarity to the most important political issues of the day--and with brevity, no less! You have many fans in Lawrence, Kansas.
Just a quick note to add my wishes for a blessed Passover to everyone who observes it, and prayers as well for the coming Holy Week for Christians. Heather's picture reminds me of how, in these tempestuous times, we can always look to Nature and its timeless beauty for consolation and hope. It can be very restorative. We owe it to ourselves to sometimes step away from the tumults and noise of life and revel in the beauties surrounding us, whatever those may be--down here, it's the explosions of colour that accompany Spring. The older I get, the more I appreciate and love it. The simple beauty of birdsong is a comfort to my soul. Blessings to all y'all, and prayers for this great country we call home. May you find your peace within.
So beautiful. Passover seems more meaningful this year than any other I can remember. I’m adding a bottle of water to my Seder plate in honor of those who vote and those who support the voters.
Thank You Heather. On this night of Passover, we’re sending prayers of peace and promises to continue to stand up for all those who remain oppressed in our country and all over the world.
I join Heather in wishing all who celebrate the feast, a joyful Passover. And since her letter was brief today, I submit a bit of personal family history should you care to read it. Today marks the 101st anniversary of my dad’s birth. He had always hoped to celebrate his 100th birthday, but fell short by 2.5 years. I celebrate him today with excerpts from an interview with him conducted by one of his grandsons.
In his own words: “As teenagers, my parents moved from Sicily to the US where they later married. As the fourth of eight children, my life began in 1920 the day I kicked the slats out of my cradle.
I lived in Akron, Ohio in a working district. There were a lot of bootleggers and gangsters who lived in my neighborhood which was in a valley with big hills on both sides. Many people were afraid to come down the hill for fear they would never make it back.
The stock market crash of October 1929 began the Great Depression. It lasted until 1941. Times were so bad that my dad and many other people lost their jobs. People were selling apples on street corners. I was ten years old when I went into the city up the hill where I sold newspapers for three cents a copy and made a penny for every copy I sold. I didn’t get home until after midnight walking down into the valley after dark. Someone would ask me how I was doing, and I would say, “Ok, bro” but I kept my head down and kept walking. We had a lot of fights. We called them recreation to see who was boss. I was often the boss. We had no other recreation—no TV, nothing other than a radio. We barely had gas lights.
We started a pee wee football league for ages 10 to 12. We could weigh no more than 115 pounds. We had helmets, but no shoulder pads, no football jerseys, nothing. Not even a regular field. That’s how I broke into football. In high school I joined the football team. In my senior year of playing—remember these were the days of the iron men and wooden ships—we played a full 60 minutes. I was guard on offense, and backing on the line on defense. We were terrible because most of our good players had graduated. Coach called me in and asked what was going on. I said, “I don’t know. I think you are calling the wrong plays.”
He asked me, “Al, then why don’t you call the plays?”
I was the only guard in the history of my high school to call the plays. The quarterback was out and Al was in. I was All City Guard for Akron, Ohio 1938. I also wrestled for my high school. I started at 155 pounds.
The day after I graduated from high school a friend of mine and I jumped on a train headed for New York. We were on the roof of one of the cars when we heard a guy yell, “You better get off there or you’re gonna fry!” It was an electric train, so we held on to the rafters all the way from Akron to New York.
I stayed in New York for a year working as a dishwasher and then a short-order chef. I decided to go back to Akron where I drove truck and played a season of semi-pro football for the Ohio team. Once I had seen my limited options, I decided to join the US Navy to see the world and to eventually take advantage of the Navy’s guaranteed retirement benefits.
I joined the US Navy at age 20 and served for 20 years. While in the Navy, I traveled to countries all over the Mediterranean. Too many to mention. I have also travelled to Iceland, Japan, Hong Kong, Hawaii, and the Philippines.
Being a wrestler in high school may well have saved my life! When I was on the Tuscaloosa an order came down to separate many of the crew into two groups. The ones who had a hobby stayed on the Tuscaloosa, while the ones who did not had orders to transfer to the USS Arizona.
While I was aboard the Tuscaloosa, they started building ramps all around the ship. I couldn’t understand the reason for them. Then I learned that President Franklin Roosevelt would be coming aboard in his wheelchair and the ramps were needed to push him up to the ship. They even had a ramp built to take him to the fantail so he could fish.
The crew honored the President with a smoker which is akin to a talent show. My talent was wrestling. I wrestled and won. Roosevelt was the judge. When he congratulated me, I got to shake his hand.
In March, 1942, we were taking a northern route to Iceland. The weather was rough. We were zigzagging to avoid German U-boats. The admiral put out the word we were all to stay away from the lifelines because he didn’t want anyone to be washed overboard. He warned us that if anyone were washed overboard the ship would not go back for them. They would be a goner! Even if the ship had turned around, the water was so cold a person couldn’t survive more than ten minutes.
The next day we got the man-overboard signal; we had to go to muster to see if everyone was present. Everyone was present on every ship, so a group of men went to report to the admiral that everyone had been accounted for. Problem was, no one could find the admiral. They assumed he was the one overboard, so they turned around all the ships to search for him. There was much talk as to whether he had committed suicide or was pushed over. Admiral Wilcox was his name.
While I was in the Navy, we frequently moved. Consequently, it was a necessity I learn to never look back. I made friends everywhere I went. There was a saying in the Navy: There are only two good ships—the one you are on and the one you are transferred to. My favorite ship was the cruiser Tuscaloosa because it was such a big ship.
I dreamed of having a beautiful wife and children. I met my wife in Columbus, Ohio, and married her soon after. Together we raised a son and two daughters. I am very proud of each of them.
After retiring, I used the GI Bill to pay for my college education. I majored in accounting. After graduating I worked for the IRS—in the refund department [wink]—for 16 years. Upon retirement, I opened my own firm.
Family comes first no matter the situation.
Hold on to your real friends because you never know when they will need you or when you will need them. When it comes to helping them, remember that it’s not about you. As the Bible says, “Don’t let your right hand know what your left hand is doing.”
I’m happy with the life I’ve lived and for the family and the dedicated friends I have made along the way. I choose not to dwell on past setbacks.“
Thank you for the Passover greeting and lovely photo.. Most of all, thank you for bringing such brilliance and clarity to the most important political issues of the day--and with brevity, no less! You have many fans in Lawrence, Kansas.
Blessings to all. Next Passover May we all be in a land of peace.
Happy Passover to all. Happy Spring! Peace and Goodwill! And thank you HCR for making my mornings bearable (mostly!)
I am grateful for your commitment to our democracy !
Really nice image!
Thanks for your hard work and excellent insights. Your telling the unbiased truth is important. You give me, and the country, hope.
Yes, Happy Passover to all my friends for whom this day is sacred.
Holding you and all those who read your letters in the Light. No exceptions.
To those who celebrate, a great Passover to you. Here in Blue Hill, our politics seem to remain local. ♥️
Lovely photo. Have a great night.
Just a quick note to add my wishes for a blessed Passover to everyone who observes it, and prayers as well for the coming Holy Week for Christians. Heather's picture reminds me of how, in these tempestuous times, we can always look to Nature and its timeless beauty for consolation and hope. It can be very restorative. We owe it to ourselves to sometimes step away from the tumults and noise of life and revel in the beauties surrounding us, whatever those may be--down here, it's the explosions of colour that accompany Spring. The older I get, the more I appreciate and love it. The simple beauty of birdsong is a comfort to my soul. Blessings to all y'all, and prayers for this great country we call home. May you find your peace within.
Chag Sameach!
My heart rests in hope. Thank you for your work.
I’m sure that the photo doesn’t do justice to the beauty of the moment. Thanks for keeping us in the light.