My Lidda Geeel

DISCLAIMER: The images and writing contained in this blog are the thoughts and opinions of the blogger. Obviously, all names have been left out to protect both the innocent and the guilty. Thank heavens for the 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution which allows presentation of my own feelings and opinions. There are those that feel I have violated privacy or confidences, however, with no names mentioned, attachment can only be made by inference. If by chance you don't agree with what is written here, or, feel you don't like what you have read, stop reading and don't bother coming back.


IF YOU ARE NEW TO READING MY BLOG... PLEASE START AT THE BEGINNING... LOOK FOR ARCHIVES... GOTO AUGUST 2004 AND START AT THE BOTTOM AND WORK UP. THANKS.

On TV, Archie Bunker (remember his New York accent?) used to call his daughter Gloria his lidda geeel... So do I, I call my daughter Rachel Ann ... lidda geeel. (little girl)

Fathers can talk about their kids, but Jewish fathers talk and exhibit (if they are lucky,) what we call "nochus" (pride, extreme pride and joy) From a pig tailed little one, Rachel blossomed into a wonderful, caring and intelligent young lady. Growing up with 3 guys, 2 brothers and Dad (as her Mom passed away when she was only 8 years old) was tough...But she made it through and has made me so proud.

Before she turned 18, Rachel told me she wanted to become an EMT, like me. She took the certification course and just after her 18th birthday became an EMT, like me...

During Rachel's first year as an EMT she helped save a life (using CPR) and bring a new life into this world, helping to, on an emergency basis, deliver a beautiful baby boy in the front seat of a car. These are the "up" parts of being an EMT.

Rachel has known happiness and sadness being an EMT. The events of September 11th shook all of us. But, like so many others in our local volunteer ambulance company somewhere on Long Island, NY. Rachel pitched right in and helped gather and deliver supplies for the rescue efforts at ground zero in New York City in the days following 9/11. The left picture below (while not a very good one, click on it to enlarge) shows Rachel helping the Transit Police unload supplies (water, food, clothing, sundries) for the rescue workers. Our Corps collected four truck loads (18 wheeler size) of supplies and delivered them directly to where they were needed. Rachel was part of that effort.

After the work was done, a police captain took us around ground zero. Words cannot describe what we saw. It was a good feeling to help those who were helping in the search and rescue efforts.

The other 2 pics show my ever smiling Rachel. The one on the right was taken on the Ernestina (tall ship mentioned in other posts here) the day we visited her brother Jay.

While a volunteer EMT, Rachel works for a paid ambulance service as well. I am so proud of her. I love you liddle geeel.

Sailing with Jay

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As mentioned in the a recent post, Current Events 8/27/04 (not very current though) Liz, Rachel and I went out to visit Jay on the tall ship Ernestina while they were docked in Greenport, NY.(Long Island) in May of 2003.(a birthday present for me)

It was a bright but chilly May day and we went for a short sail on Peconic Bay off eastern Long Island. Only by having joined Jay on this marvelous old tall ship, can I get an inkling of why he loves sailing as much as he does. What a great feeling to be under sail (which all guests and crew raised). Jay taught me how to perform various tasks while under way. Then (at my idiotic request) Jay offered to show me how to climb up the masts. This is done via a rope ladder, but the scary part is to get on the ladder, one must step over the side of the ship. OY... (hey guys that's water out there...) well...I accomplished getting on the ladder but only went up half way. (what a chicken) Jay says working on and sailing on tall ships as rid him of his fear of heights.

In the pics here, I'm the guy with the beard and the scared look on his face trying to look fearless and like I'm really liking this...(I really did though) Pic of me was taken by Jay from above (obviously) and the pic of him on the ladder (the guy with no hair and sun glasses...was taken by, you guessed it... me. (click on pic to enlarge)


 

What a great time we had. I was scared stiff but would not have missed being with him for the world. More pics follow, Liz, Rachel and Jay's college friend Liz.

My Liz... (bestest friend)

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aka Betty..aka Bettyann...Really Elizabeth. Liz and I met, about 15 years ago...She worked in the office at one of the printing companies my wife and I dealt with. Fran (my wife) and I ran (and I still do) a small computerized mail list business from our home.

Periodically we'd make a list delivery to this particular print shop and we'd chat with Liz. Always concerned and always saying a prayer, Liz often asked about how Fran was doing when she was sick.

About five years after Fran passed away, and knowing that Liz liked to dance, and we all gotta eat, I called Liz, out of the clear blue, to ask if she'd like to go to a fire department installation dinner with me. To my delight, Liz agreed and we've been dating ever since. I'll add more pics, as Liz and I have had plenty of experiences...trips and events...plus I now have a decent digital camera...lol To boot, she's my best friend. more about US follows...

My Franny

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Fran...My wife of 19 short years...Mother of my three children. Died September 18, 1991. Fran contracted and suffered terribly from bone cancer for 1 1/2 years. Due to the wonders of some medical science, her condition went undetected for over a year and from the time she was actually diagnosed until her death was only 4 months...

I am so fortunate to have had the support of family and friends during Fran's last 4 months. My brother and my parents came down from Connecticut quite often, David (my brother) often stayed with me for days on end, forsaking his family and business to be with us. The ambulance corps I belong to also helped immensely, transporting Fran to and from hospitals and doctors on a regular basis and never a complaint.

During the last four months of Fran's short life, (she died a month shy of her 39th birthday) she was only home for 13 days. My sons and I were members of a Boy Scout Troop here on Long Island in NY and one day while we were away at the hospital visiting Fran, the troop came by the house and constructed a handicap ramp for easier access to the house for Fran, who was unable to walk or sit due to the bone cancer, has to be transported on a stretcher. The ramp was a great help.

It's hard, relating what death is to young children. Our kids were only 8, 10 and 12 when Fran died. I did the best I could, and with each visit to see Fran, I had the kids say goodbye as if it might be their last chance. Fran knew the end was near by the 2nd week in September. We talked about what the future might be without her. She filled me with such hope that I could carry on without her. I did not want to believe a word of it and would have done anything, including selling my soul to the devil to be able to trade places with her. That was not to be. Fran passed away quietly in my arms, in the early morning hours of September 18, 1991. She was one of a kind.

More than 300 people attended her funeral. While her father and brothers thought the funeral was more like a circus than a solemn rite, it seemed like everyone that knew Fran and was touched by her was there. Our children's teachers of various years, principals of the schools they attended, ladies of the PTA, leaders of the Girl Scouts, Cub & Boy Scouts, scouts themselves, friends and relatives were there. All wanted to bid Fran goodbye. There were over 100 cars in the procession to the cemetery. I could not believe the outpouring of love from our community.

I still love and miss my Franny-anny after 12 years. As is recorded on her headstone, She was the Wind Beneath Our Wings.

an APRIL Fool....am I

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(l/r)My daughter, Rachel (EMT), my son, Dan (Lpcl/USMC) and me. Prior to Memorial Day Parade, 2004 somewhere on Long Island. I'm so proud of both of them.

I was elected Chief of a local Volunteer Ambulance Corps here, somewhere on Long Island NY in March 2004, by a one vote margin. It was an election filled with controversy and thus divided the corps. Half for the incumbent Chief and one more than half in my favor.

None the less, I took office on April 1st (fittingly,April FOOLS day) and am trying to bring the corps together again. Of course this is no easy task. With over 60 active members I must remember as Chief, the direction in which I, and my fellow officers lead the corps this year will probably only suit half the corps. But I'm trying. It won't be easy as there was post election ballot tampering.

As an aside, after I was elected Chief, my kids bought me a custom made Chief's baseball cap. I was honored, however some of those in the corps saw this as my highest and first priority was to get a Chief's hat. I wear the hat with pride, what was I to do tell my kids... sorry some people are upset about the hat so I can't wear your gift? Some people can be so petty, insensitive and cruel. But I deal with it.

Anyway, this event (the parade) was my first as Chief in 2004. Many of those participating in the parade returned to headquaters for a BBQ afterwards. It was a nice ending to my first event.

Current Events 8/27/04

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Well... heard from my son the Marine last night...
 

He just got started this semester at LSU in Baton Rouge, LA...But... he now has been given the chance to become a Primary Marksmanship Instructor and go to Quantico VA for 2 weeks in October... wow.. what a great opportunity for him... I am so proud... Anyway... he called and asked my opinion, should he do it, just having gotten back into school and all... I told him... GO FOR IT!!... Gotta act when opportunity knocks and this sounds like something Dan really wants to do... Of course he'll have to get his professors to go along with his missing 2 weeks of classes that he'll have to make up... but Dan can do that easily...I hope he gets to go... oooh rah Dan...

Also heard from oldest son Jay the other night... He's back in port at Erie PA after a long sail on the Great Lakes. Jay is an able bodied Seaman sailing on tall ships. He's sailed on a number of ships like the Corwith Cramer a tall ship and part of Sea Education Association's (SEA)armada. Also sailed with the Ernestina - the official tall ship of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Then down to Florida for a stint on the Heritage of Miami and presently on the US Brig Niagara out of Erie PA...

Last year while the Ernestina was docked at Greenport, Long Island around the time of my birthday (May) Jay took his sister Rachel (I'll get to her shortly), my best friend Liz and me on board and for a short cruise on Peconic Bay. Awesome. Jay used to be afraid of heights...but not any more... he and I started to climb up into the sails... I only went up halfway and Jay took pictures...Hey at 55 years of age, I'm glad I got half way up there... scared only describe's one of the emotions I felt up there...exuberant over the fact that my son was above me on the rope ladder was more like it... he's some sailor. Knows his stuff too. Can't wait till he's home again for awhile.. miss him lots...

I'll write more later... gotta bring Rachel into the picture here... so watch for it... She's an EMT like me and rides with a paid service and volunteers as well. she's up next... Later...

My First Thoughts

DISCLAIMER: The images and writing contained in this blog are the thoughts and opinions of the blogger. Obviously, all names have been left out to protect both the innocent and the guilty. Thank heavens for the 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution which allows presentation of my own feelings and opinions. There are those that feel I have violated privacy or confidences, however, with no names mentioned, attachment can only be made by inference. If by chance you don't agree with what is written here, or, feel you don't like what you have read, stop reading and don't bother coming back.


I've named this site "JUST ONE MORE DAY" because it fits my hectic life style. Within this blog, you the reader may gain insite as to the crazy life I love and lead. Whether you are friend or foe, enjoy the show.

My son, Dan, a USMC reservist and LSU student got me into this... Here's hoping I can make and keep it interesting. I'm lousy at individual e-mails and writing snail mail... So maybe those I care for, those who do and don't (possibly)care for me, can visit and see what's happening in my hectic life.

If what you read here is interesting to you... you may leave a comment... there is a button on the page to hit in order to do so. Comments are more than welcome or you can e-mail me at ambula1@optonline.net if the feeling grabs ya. Thanks for reading my blog and visiting Larry's Mind.