Throwback Thursday

January/1956, 6 months old

I was disappointed that in Dad's notebooks, he never put into writing how he felt at my appearance the way he did when The Brother was born. Since my birthday is this weekend, I'll tell you my birth story as told to me by Ma.

In April 1952, Dad passed the bar exam, and in May they moved from the duplex in Cambridge to the single family home in Natick. The Brother was 3 years old, and I was just a thought. Ma wanted another child, a girl. She always said she wanted  a family with one of each, a boy and a girl. She called  it a rich man's family.Dad wanted another son. He wanted to name his second son, Reginald which would have been a companion name to The Brother. So they tried and tried but Ma couldn't seem to get in the family way. The Brother turned 4 and then 5.

Ma had a friend from work, at least that's where I think she had met Frank. Possibly the friend was Frank's wife. (Not to be confused with her friends, Frank and Mary, also from work, who would become my Godparents)

 No matter. She must have confided her wish to have a baby, but not having any luck. Frank had an elderly aunt who was a nun. He took Ma to visit the aunt and told her of Ma's wish to have a baby, possibly told her she wanted a baby girl.

The aunt gave Ma a doll. A doll with dark hair and dark eyes. She told Ma to put the doll on her dresser and within the year, Ma would have a baby girl. And the aunt said she would pray for Ma.

Around this time, Grandma (Ma's mother) came for a visit. Grandma loved to visit Our Lady of Fatima Shrine in Holliston, Massachusetts The shrine has a large rosary made of boulders and chains and you can say the prayers of the rosary as you walk around. Underneath the crucifix is a grotto with some sort of well or stream and people say a prayer and light candles and throw coins into the water. So Grandma gave the Brother a coin. He was asked if he wanted a little brother or a little sister. He tossed the coin in the well and wished for a little sister.

After all this Ma finds out she's with child, and just about the same time she finds out that Frank's aunt, the nun, passed away. Ma said a life for a life.

Ma's pregnancy progressed nicely. One Saturday, in her sixth month, she asked Dad to watch The Brother while she went in to take a shower. No problem. Dad was reading a book or doing a crossword puzzle. The Brother was playing with an Erector set. a building toy with metal girders and gears that could be motorized so the construction could move.

Everything was fine or so Dad thought. The Brother was  jumping from chair to chair while holding onto one of the metal girders. He fell, cried out, and the metal piece goes in his mouth and cut his palate. The Brother screamed and rushed into the bathroom for Ma. Ma saw all the blood gushing from his mouth and in her haste to get out of the tub, fell.

After the fall, things returned to normal. Everything was fine. In her 7th month, Ma had to leave work to start her confinement. This was 1955. Pregnant women weren't supposed to be seen.

Jump ahead to July 27, a Wednesday night. Ma always went to bed early since she had to be up early to leave for work. Dad liked to stay up late, watch the late shows, news, listen to the National Anthem as the television stations signed off the broadcast day at midnight. No round the clock television back in those days.

Ma was  trying to get to sleep. She was  uncomfortable, and the sounds of the television was keeping her awake. She told Dad it was time, and to call Mrs. Stacy, the next door neighbor to come and stay with The Boy. And off Ma and Dad went to the hospital in Waltham, a half an hour or so ride.

Ma knew it was not TIME, but figured the hospital would admit her, send Dad home, as dads were not allowed in the delivery room, and she would get a good night's sleep. Her due date wasn't until August 4. The plan worked just as Ma thought. She was admitted to the maternity ward, and Dad went home and was able to catch the late news.

To be continued next week.

Throwback Thursday - The Notebooks

To clear up some confusion, the Notebook passages posted on Throwback Thursday were written by my father and found by me after he passed away. They were his attempt to tell the family history. He was in his late 80s or early 90s when he wrote them. Today's chapter:

Our life at the time wasn't bad we were able to save money.

My association with Michael Pizziferri began to grow and he needed me. So he told another attorney who wanted to form a firm, but did not want me. The attorney told me, he said you're lucky to be needed. The reason I wasn't wanted was that a firm would have to be brought on the field. It would be 3 ways and that would cut the take. We stayed together. I did the research and petitions etc. as well as try cases and did the search for briefs that had to be filed, etc.

At one session in a chamber meeting with opposing counsel and the judge on a case we had that he was presiding.

He asked Mike a question and he was starting to go off the course. I interceded  and corrected Mike. The judge said, "Now I know how you two guys work. You make the bomb and he explodes it." Of course we denied that.

Mike's interest was the criminal law. He didn't care too much for the civil side. But there was a lot of it. The check and bonuses when we struck it rich was very helpful.

We also developed a Supreme Court case that was appealed by us.

[ed: I thought there was a picture of Dad with Mike, but I couldn't find it. Instead a view of Boston where their office was located at 68 Devonshire St. in the Financial District. The office was in walking distance of the court house, the State St. T station (subway), and the shopping district. Now known as Downtown Crossing. All very convenient especially for me. As a teen when I went in town shopping with my girlfriend and needed a few extra bucks, we'd' go to my Dad's office. He didn't like me hanging around the office as some of his clients weren't polite company for young women. So Dad would slip me some cash to get rid of me.

And that's all he wrote. We've come to the last page of the last notebook. I thank all of you who have followed Dad's saga for reading and commenting. He would have been thrilled to have an attentive audience.

I'm not sure how I will fill this space, but stay tuned.]

Throwback Thursday - The Notebooks

To clear up some confusion, the Notebook passages posted on Throwback Thursday were written by my father and found by me after he passed away. They were his attempt to tell the family history. He was in his late 80s or early 90s when he wrote them. Today's chapter:

The Brother was growing and at this time he was 14 years of age. He had gone from elementary school to high school. And along the way he managed to get himself into some episodes. Which we as parents found out [ed: mostly because as adult children during family get togethers where we reminisced. Otherwise, our parents had no clue ] 

Washing the cat in the shower. [ed: I was 12 so the Brother was 17 or 18 at this time. Ma wasn't fond of animals. Claimed the cat smelled.  The Brother ran the shower to wash poor Ginnette who didn't like the whole production. Leaped up the wall where there was a plastic shower curtain covering a window in the tub in an effort to escape over the shower doors. The cat grabbed onto the curtain rod and pulled the curtain down. The Brother opened the shower door and the cat made a bee-line for escape. The Brother wasn't able to get the shower curtain up properly, but enough so that it would stay up. A few days later, Ma was in the shower and the curtain rod came down. She didn't find out until years later what really happened]

Dropping a cherry bomb down the storm drain and having Mrs. Hunter scared out of her mind. [ed: The Brother was probably 13 - 14 yrs old. This really was a very funny event, at least to us. You can read about it and some other escapades here.]

Helping mother cook outdoors. He had a good fire going. He used gasoline to start it. Which caused her to whack him. [ed: Well, that but more because he had scared the daylights out of her. She was in the kitchen washing dishes. Watching him build the fire "Boy Scout" fashion like she told him. And then putting a steak on the grill. The fire wasn't going fast enough for him so the gasoline. The grill erupted in a column of flame which filled Ma's view of the kitchen window. She rushed out to thinking he had gone up in flames. After the adrenaline rush and seeing he was okay, but the steak sacrificed to the gods, she took her slipper off and whacked him a few times with it.] One of the neighbors called the police. Officer Fraser came to the house [ed: Officer Fraser would become well acquainted with my parents :-D] Saw all the toys in the garage and his room and said a well loved child. [Actually, Ma describing what happened said to the Officer, so you think sending him to his room with  a stereo and all his things is punishment enough?]

Had a ham radio set up [ed: The Brother was in his late teens] and forgot to ground it [ed: the mast and antenna] a lightning bolt came down the staircase into the television.

He thought he didn't get many toys at one Christmas and we showed him the pictures, home movies.

His driving caused a lot of worry and were we relieved when he came home.

St. Sebastian's was a prep school, but he hung around with the wrong boys.

I took him to some of my affairs [ed: Knights of Columbus, Italian-American Charitable Society] We rented a formal outfit for him.

And of course we were heartbroken with his standing at St. Sebastian's. [ed: The Brother had failed Latin in his junior year. The priests wanted The Brother to repeat the entire year rather than just repeat Latin. My mother reasoned The Brother wouldn't need Latin as he would never become a priest.] We transferred him to Natick High School.

He graduated and then came home one day saying that he wanted to go to computer school. I objected. Mother sent him. That section of the economy was in its infancy and like a lot of parents I wanted him to go to college. He refused. 

Throwback Thursday - The Notebooks

To clear up some confusion, the Notebook passages posted on Throwback Thursday were written by my father and found by me after he passed away. They were his attempt to tell the family history. He was in his late 80s or early 90s when he wrote them. Today's chapter:

The corporation had other things going. They purchased a manufacturing company in Florida which manufactured outdoor chairs and tables, etc. And it turned out to be a mistake. The products were good but the purchased company was not run by the Tenax board. They knew nothing about the practice of making garden furniture. And since the company had to borrow the money to buy the manufacturing company. They let those who were working there to run the company adn the income was not what was expected and the whole thing crashed.

In addition the refrigerator salesmen went into New Hampshire and used Massachusetts contracts to sell the refrigerators. Of course all the contracts were illegal. I straightened the matter with the attorney on the other side and game him a big deal and statement that he settled the case and failed it with the court. And in some sense it sort of made our Massachusetts contract look good. I don’t know how many contracts were affected that should have been New Hampshire contracts. And it resulted in my receiving a wrist watch for this. It’s a nice one.

But straightening a mess didn’t help. The Florida purchase caused the cash flow to decrease. And in Sept. of 1962, the lender pushed Texax Inc into bankruptcy. The company was GAC Service Corp. This was a big company. It was big enough that that it loaned money to banks. They kept me on to collect the money that Tenax had coming and I stayed with them to July 1963.

During this period I was always picking up business from another attorney named Michael Pizziferri.

And on July 7, 1963 I left GAC. I had collected as much as I could and that amount that was coming in did not cover the office expenses. They suggested that I could take the files and work from home. Which I did not want to do. Because there were hundreds of people to go after which would require storing lots of files  and do everything that needed to be done. Also we had a number of attorneys that specialized in collecting monies due businesses.

But it was not practical since most of the files were those that should be sued. And collections attorneys were not thought very well by the profession. Whoever took GAC’s files would have a hard time collecting money. These were people who bought the freezer and food and could not pay. The food supplier cut them off or were required to pay on delivery.

Today, 4. July 2019, would have been my parents' 76th wedding anniversary. This picture taken at my Uncle Bob's (Dad's youngest brother) at his annual 4th of July cookout. Of course, the picture is not labeled, but this picture looks like the late  1970s. That's a pretty fancy cake so I'm guessing a big number anniversary. I'm going with 1978, their 35th wedding anniversary. Happy Anniversary, Ma and Dad!

Throwback Thursday - The Notebooks

Photo by Louis from Pexels

To clear up some confusion, the Notebook passages posted on Throwback Thursday were written by my father and found by me after he passed away. They were his attempt to tell the family history. He was in his late 80s or early 90s when he wrote them. Today's chapter:

After that I had a number of flights to New York for meetings. At one of the times I went there were not taxis around, and I did not know my way around. This was at the airport. So I saw a sky cap. I asked him if there was another way I could get to where I wanted to go. "Yes, "he said. "Follow me. I'll put you on a bus that stops right at an intersection across from a clothing store and gave it a name. Which as usual I forgot. I did not keep a diary for things like this.

He took me to the bus which was about to leave. Told the driver to make sure he dropped me off at the store and directed me to the office building I wanted to go in. He did this. I went up the stairs, got out of the elevator and went into the office.

The company attorney who was the individual who interacted with the food supplier came in about ten minutes later. He greeted me. And asked if I got there by taxi. I said no I took the bus and I got off at the clothing store. He said there was no clothing store on that street. And one of the employees said yes there is. I shop there.

The attorney when I was leaving after completing my meeting said, "How do you like it, a stranger comes to my town and tells me what's there." He also said the next time you come, come by a little later than you did today. It kind of showed me up that an attorney who has got to wake up early and get the first plane out of his airport and flies a good distance and gets here before me doesn't look good for me. 

I attended a few more meetings and I got a call from the clerk of court one day that I had 40 trials and he was calling all the attorneys that were involved to see what could be done. He thought that to try the cases  separately would take months. He set a date and I called New York. Spoke to the Chief Attorney on what was going to happen. And I suggested that  he should come and I said I don't have the authority to make the decision. It will have to come form the President of the Corporation. This judge is of a mind to consolidate these cases and get them off the dockets. and he also suggested that he would like to have some one who had the corporate authority to be able to approve whatever the result.

So he came and it was quite a session. Our chief more than held his own with our [ed: Massachusetts] lawyers who had ganged up on the corporation.They had a letter from the manufacturer that the freezers were made to sell for $400 or $450 and not the high price that this company charged. But there were other charges. Salesmen cost percent as they earned 6% on every contract. The result was that all the attorneys present accepted the settlement price.

While we settled this and also extended the same settlement to anyone who had a complaint.

Throwback Thursday - The Notebooks

To clear up some confusion, the Notebook passages posted on Throwback Thursday were written by my father and found by me after he passed away. They were his attempt to tell the family history. He was in his late 80s or early 90s when he wrote them. Today's chapter:

In September of 1960 to September of 1962, I got a job as a house counsel with a corporation called Tenax, Inc. It was a New York corporation and its operations got it in trouble with the Attorney General of Massachusetts.

It sold freezers and had a contract with a food and meat suppler. The price of the freezer was in 4 figures, about $1495 which was later discovered that it sold for $400 on the market. And plenty of complaints on the amount of food. Toward the end of its business it was discovered that the individual in charge of food supply was hitting the food supplier for a percentage of its delivery amount which cause the supplier to cut down on the weight to make up its pay to the company representative.

It was a hodge podge affair. I I discovered this difficulty about a month after I took the job and and their problem with the Attorney General and the fact that attorneys they hired before I cam, quit when they found out what the problem was all about.

So I sat down with the Boston manager and explained to him that Massachusetts laws were different than New York laws. Consequently if the corporation wanted to do business in Massachusetts it was required to conform to our laws.

2nd if I was to act as its attorney, I should have some say in the manner in which they and their sales person brought in business and I should be able to settle any legal complaints which I though would be equitable since the Attorney General was being hit with a lot of complaints they were only pushing him to bring an action against that corporation and its officers.

Also they should see the food supplier did not short change its customers. And any complaint on food quantity be honored. I also told htem that they were lucky that the media did not get into the comflict by seeking to get page 1 stories. New York agreed.

They also had besides New York and Boston in a number of other states the same business. But I did not get into how they ran their business in other states.

I began sending letters to people who were not paying and also were I should filing complaints in Courts. Of course this brought the customers or attorneys to me and I would settle the cases. Whaever I settled for, New York did not complain as the settlement took into consideration the cost of the unit, plus operating expenses and a fair profit.

I also received a copy of a letter that a customer sent to the A.G. that the salesman and company were not fit to do business with, but the attorney was respectful and fair.

The Tenax people I soon learned that they also were in 14 other states. When I was told that there was to be a meeting of all the attorney in New York and handed an airplane round trip ticket. I took the first flight out and when I was in New York took the bus and got where I was to be.

Evidently the front office had discussed me but the other atorney as I was seeted at the other end of the head table. Next to the General Attorney when he came to Boston I had him home for dinner.

In New York at the meeting it went all the way after luncheon hour. The attorney from the other states complained that they would have appreciated at least a cup of coffee at a break, while we were waiting for the elevator. They also stated that they had to leave at an early hour and didn't have any breakfast. Some said no matter what their wives would not get up to make them breakfast under any circumstances. 

I kept quiet and one of the layers asked me, "How about you?" I said my wife awoke and made me breakfast while I was dressing.

They were skeptical and the Chief Attorney said No that's a fact. I had dinner at his house and his wife is a very warm-hearted woman and hostess. and I have no doubt that she wouldn't get out of bed to make breakfast while he shaved and showered. The reaction what what a lucky guy. The General Corporate attorney then said by the way "I owe a hat." This caused one of the other attorney "What is that all about?"

So he explained that he was at the Boston office with me. And my secretary had been invited by the vice president to spend some time at the main office at New York and said that he told me taht they had asked the Boston secretary that they wanted to train her for bigger jobs. ut in reality he wanted her there to have sex with her. She was a looker. She was about 5 ft. 7 in. to 5 ft. 8 in.He then asked me how did you know they wouldn't get to her?" I said I know the people I deal with. She came to me and asked my advice. And I said I told her I didn't approve of her going. I told her that the offer of a bigger job was not there. They had other things in mind.

She replied No way! Also I said I had any number of men come to my office attorney to discuss settlement. And a number of them would stop with her on the way in or out.

So the Chief Attorney continued that they showed my secretary a great time. Took her to dinner, theater, etc. and to her hotel. She could hold her liquor was alert and the hotel was one I recommended. It was an all women hotel (forgot the name) and men were not allowed to go upstairs to their floor to say good night. They said goo night on the ground floor. And the stairways were monitored by female employees.

I said it was to have been a month, but she came back in two weeks. I further told the Chief, forget the hat. When I said they wouldn't get to home plate I knew what I was talking about. And you had already lost. 

Throwback Thursday - The Notebooks

To clear up some confusion, the Notebook passages posted on Throwback Thursday were written by my father and found by me after he passed away. They were his attempt to tell the family history. He was in his late 80s or early 90s when he wrote them. Today's chapter:

I was still with Uncle Vincent and acquiring experience. Drawing wills, examining titles, real estat transfers, answering interrogatories and filing petitions in court, and motions and listening to Uncle argue cases.

Things began to look brighter. I was doing some graduate studies at Northeaster University. It was on its last legs. It was an excellent  law school and over the years it made it possible for the University to expand and move up in the educational area. But it did not do anything for the Law School. They had instructors and they were not in the top tier. As I found out.

In September 1952 to June of 1953, I taught corporate law and partnership law and accounting procedures. This helped me. This position was was acquired by a CPA and unfortunately I have lost his name in my mind. He was a wonderful man and gave me a lot of pointers. A short time after the school shut down because they were not getting a cash flow. They had students that had graduated and other in grades due to the failure of the government to pay as each student completed his or her course.

Mother shortly after that asked for her [ed: Persian] lamb coat. I explained to her that I would be able to do that later but at the time I did not have the finances to do that. That I had to build up the business and I needed more cases and it would be some time before I could build a good practice. And then I could do a lot better for her. It was no go. "If you love me, you will buy me the coat." I did and as it would happen. No money was coming in. And eventually in a few months I got behind on the mortgage payment.

Mother then put the Boy in a nursery school with people a short distance from us on Walnut St. named Whittaker. They were wonderful people and accommodated us by keeping the Boy with them until we came home from work . And were able to get back on our feet. While I did get work it wasn't anything to talk about.

Throwback Thursday - The Notebooks

Image courtesy of The Graphics Fairy

To clear up some confusion, the Notebook passages posted on Throwback Thursday were written by my father and found by me after he passed away. They were his attempt to tell the family history. He was in his late 80s or early 90s when he wrote them. Today's chapter:

I was also getting established in the profession by scraping along. Uncle got me some small jobs and eventually would get more work but no money.I learned the lesson that a lot of people learned that it did not pay to work for your relations.

Uncle Fred sent me a client and it was a tough case. She was related to Uncle. And probably was one of the first live in girl friends in the 60s. It  would not be years before it would come out in the open. Her case was difficult because there was a state statute that said that kind of situation was illegal and there would be no recovery. I talked to Uncle Vincent about it and he said try the case. Eve if you're going against a statute at least you will get some experience. So I accepted. And began to discuss the pros and cons with the client. It arose from the fact that her man promised to marry her but put it off. He went to Italy for a visit and there he found his love and married. The moment that she received the telegram she sought a lawyer. He took the case, but as it began to get close to trial he wanted to opt out and told her. That's how I got the case.

When I told her that she was not in a good position because of the statute she said I'm not suing for that. I'm suing him for the work I did of maintaining his house, getting his children to school, lunch, etc. etc. The trial lasted two days and it was a circus. She did exceedingly well on the stand. When asked by opposing council if she had slept with the defendant her answer won the case. She said that is not your business, nor his pointing to the judge and then the jury and went on I'm suing him for and went down the line to all the things she did like cleaning the house, washing clothes, cooking, shopping, and taking care of the children. The jury came back with a verdict for my client. And gave her a nice sum of money for the economic condition we were in. I also did well.

And the next case I did even better it was turned over to me by one of my professors. A trust which the client wanted to discontinue. But whether ti could be done was within the discretion of the trustee. It had been on going for some time. The trustee was a rich brother who ran a business and he hired his brother (my client) who was with his wife spendthrift which was the reason for the trust. Any way I talked with the other side's lawyer who was a district attorney at one time. The rich brother would not agree to anything. So I put my case forward the told that attorney even if my client should lose as long as the rich brother held to the trust he would be facing another suit for another reason, etc. About a week later I got a call and there was an agreement and papers were signed and I received $33,000 in settlement. My fee was one third and I had to give my professor one third for his giving me the case. We lived on this for a while. We also went on the town on the night I paid the prof. off. Dinner with our wives and a Broadway production.

Throwback Thursday - The Notebooks

To clear up some confusion, the Notebook passages posted on Throwback Thursday were written by my father and found by me after he passed away. They were his attempt to tell the family history. He was in his late 80s or early 90s when he wrote them. Today's chapter:

In May of 1953, we moved to Natick. We purchased the house we are still living in. It was to be a beginning and then a bigger one. It did not happen. I had gone with your mother to see a number [ed: of homes] But your mother said to me that she would not wait any longer. Either I make up my mind or else. And even though our marriage was good and happy. She was going to jump into the water. We were young and somewhat innocent.

I was not seeing what I wanted to live in.After all I had lived with the Arnolds and I knew what was right. [ed: American]

So we began looking. We had a decent amount to put down. Which would make the monthly payments smaller. Also being a veteran our interest rate was locked in by statute to 4%.

We were shown a number of houses. Some were vacant and some lived in. Good, but not what I thought we should have. Uncle Fred had a house next door to him that was up for sale. But the price was too high. The seller would not come down.

We came to Natick [ed one town West of Uncle Fred and one town East of Uncle Joe] Mother was itching. We were despite the number of houses we had seen still innocents. 

We came to this house, that mother was not set on going back home without a contract. No more looking or else. We were brought by the Realtor up Walnut St.

We looked around. There was a cellar. It was brand new and the price was right and the builder's daughter lived next door [ed: And later she would sell to Himself's parents] Nice sell. Mother liked. She was all for it. Today, 06/14/07 your mother hates this house and will not admit her opinions when we signed papers to purchase. [ed: In all fairness to Ma and what Dad forgot is Ma suffered a massive stroke in 2003. So she wasn't quite the same after. A little like Pet Sematery by Stephen King. Dad expected her to make a full recovery. Poor old dude]

We signed mortgage contract and shortly after that we moved into the house. Mother noticed either on the day we moved in or day after that the Boy had the measles. And needing the room to be dark. Put up newspapers in the windows. In due course he was in good shape.

We also had our furniture and rooms as we would like them. We also were getting acquainted with the people in the neighborhood. We visited each other and for a good while we had my sister [ed: Emma] and Jack [ed her husband] came to visit and we had a lot of company over the weekend.IT seemed that we were always busy over the weekend. [ed: Ma had told me in the early when they first moved to "the country" all the relatives would come to visit on Sundays during the Summer. Ma ended up cooking for 40 people. chicken, sausage, lasagna, eggplant Parmigiana, salad, cookies as Italians don't have hot dogs and hamburgers as the main event for a cookout. 😸] Our weekdays were a lot better.

We got water in the basement and I sued the builder and recovered a good amount. And I installed a pump and things worked out well.We still have a problem but I put down blanket etc. and everything remains dry. We also enjoyed our barbecues. And did a lot of planting flowers and landscaping and dug a trench in the front of the house and filled it with stones directing the water away from the house.

Throwback Thursday - The Notebooks

Image by David Mark   https://pixabay.com

To clear up some confusion, the Notebook passages posted on Throwback Thursday were written by my father and found by me after he passed away. They were his attempt to tell the family history. He was in his late 80s or early 90s when he wrote them. Today's chapter:

We walked out the building and he [ed: Uncle Vincent] headed  toward the Old State House and then up the hill to the state house. We got in the elevator, got out and went down the corridor and came to a sign over an open door entitled executive office. On each side of that door were a number of people sitting and waiting. As we approached, the receptionist said, "Go right in, Mr. Mottola. He's waiting for you." And we were ushered in to the Governor's office. His name was....and he ran a campaign logo, "Had Enough" which ousted a democratic governor out of office. The Republicans were in. [ed: Seems Dad couldn't remember the name of this governor. Looking through a list of Massachusetts governors and knowing this is 1951 or 1952, the Republican governor was Christian A. Herter who narrowly beat out Democratic governor, Paul A. Dever. Herter served from January 1953 to January 1957] Uncle introduced me to the governor. It would not be the first and last time. There were others and as you know you received a phone call from one who wanted you to deliver a message to me he only gave you a first name and said I had his telephone number. You told him unless he told you who he was, you would not deliver the message He said "I'm the Governor." You were either 6 or 7 at that time. [ed: My Governor Story]

The Governor asked Uncle a couple of questions about something that was on the agenda. Uncle gave his opinion and we left. The questions were whether or not he should support the legislation.

We returned to the office. My cousin, Ned, helped me a lot. He was good when it came to writing petitions to the courts. He trained me well. No one ever (lawyer) ever was successful in having any of my petitions thrown out. They all went to trial or settled with me.

I went with my cousin when he went to court and with my uncle. To sit in as it was described, but it did not produce any money. I was scrounging around and built a little tax clientele. Some wills and small stuff. I also got to be good on research and writing briefs.

Throwback Thursday - The Notebooks

Photo taken 1960 or 1962 when Uncle Vincent (seated) was appointed as a judge at the East Boston Municipal Court
L-R: Ma, Lucia Barrasso (I think, Uncle Vincent's sister, and mother to Ned), Ned Barrasso, Gloria Mottola (Uncle Vincent's daugther), not sure if the older woman is his first wife, Amalie or second wife, Alma, Uncle Vincent's son, Rudy, and Dad

To clear up some confusion, the Notebook passages posted on Throwback Thursday were written by my father and found by me after he passed away. They were his attempt to tell the family history. He was in his late 80s or early 90s when he wrote them. Today's chapter:

While we still lived in Cambridge, Mother began to talk about looking to buy a house. This section of the nation was was in building of homes. Prices were rising as well. We began to talk and look around did not make a move. We did not have enough for a down payment. The veterans had a chance of getting a mortgage at 4% which was a good deal. The average interest rate was 6%.

On March 2, 1951, I receive a notice that the examination that I took, given by the Bar Examiners, stating that I had passed and would be notified to appear before the full bench of the state's Judicial Court to take the oath of office.It was a happy household and so were our families. I received a letter from the Clerk of Court setting a date for me to appear and be sworn in as a lawyer.

On April 14, 1951, I took the necessary oaths for lawyers, ethics, etc. I was still working at the Veterans Administration. I would be there until sometime in 1952 due to the Massachusetts V.A. was going to shut down and go to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We were asked if we were willing to move to Penn. a promise was made about promotions. It would have been a good one as I would be in charge of a section. As usual, Mother refused to move. There were other opportunities that I could have had, but I did not bother. They required moving. I stayed at the V.A. until they moved.

I had the good fortune of having a lot of time coming that I did not take and the government paid for this up to 60 days. I didn't have the 60 but there were a good number and I along with my salary there was an extra check of $220. We lived off this for a while.

The cut off came before Thanksgiving. I applied for jobs, but got the old song I was too heavy [ed: too educated] for a job. But finally [ed: something I can't make out] with Jordan Marsh. I was doing good there. The manager of the men's department liked the way I kept my counter. Men's shirts, socks, etc. even sold suits when the other clerks were busy with a customer. He came to me one day and asked if I would like to stay on as my job for the holiday season. He wanted me to stay and get trained to run a section and buy good for the store.

It was a situation of yes and no. He said think about it. I did and the pro and con was that starting a legal business was tough and in discussing things with my teachers they said that it would be tough but as you progressed and hand a drawer full of cases, you would be ok. It would take time.

Uncle Vincent when I ws sworn in told me to go to his office as he would help me. The first day I was in his office, he was going out and said "come with me". I asked where we going? "Come with me," he said. This request I heard Uncle Michael say the same thing. It was a way of not letting anybody know who they were going.

My cousin, Ned, was also with Uncle Vincent. He was with him a long time. Ned was a wonderful guy and lawyer. Uncle marginalized him and he had a hard time passing the bar examination which was not unusual. He was not alone. Many candidates to the exams more than once. The first time was for try outs. Just to see how they were. Some like myself just jumped in without taking a review under lawyers who were established  and could coach you. Not to do so was stupid. I  passed with flying colors, no oral examination.

Throwback Thursday - The Notebooks

To clear up some confusion, the Notebook passages posted on Throwback Thursday were written by my father and found by me after he passed away. They were his attempt to tell the family history. He was in his late 80s or early 90s when he wrote them. Today's chapter:

When the Boy was in his early teens, he asked Grandma (maternal grandma) if he could help her make her homemade macaroni. She gave him the task of dusting the pasta with flour to help them dry. She wasn't looking and he dumped the whole bag of flour on the macaroni. She got upset. I guess he spoiled the babysitting. When mother came home Grandma told her, "Marie, he's a niza boy, mut a somnabaitch.

[ed: The macaroni making and "somnabaitch" are two separate stories, but connected. Grandma had come to spend the week taking care of us while my mother went to work. It must have been a school vacation week. Yes, Grandma was upset when the Brother dumped the entire bag of flour (close to 5 lbs) on her macaroni. I guess he thought he'd try to speed up the pasta. She was upset because now she had to dust each individual little hat (cappalini or orichetti), and the flour couldn't be used so all that flour was wasted.  

 I was 7 or 8 years old making the Brother 13 or 14. I was in the kitchen with Grandma. It might have been when she was trying to teach me how to speak Italian and to count writing the numbers in Roman numerals Suddenly, there was a huge explosion. Ma had a cabinet over the counter filled with her stemware and some fancy dishes. All the dishes rattled. Grandma yanked the rosary beads she always kept in her pocket and began praying to every saint in heaven. The Brother had been in the garage lighting a can of hair spray to make a torch and the can blew up. Fortunately, he was not injured. 

When Ma got home Grandma told her she would never come to stay over to take care of us. She would come for visits, but would not stay alone with us. That's when she told Ma, "Marie, he's a niza boy, mut a somnabaitch." Grandma kept her word. Came to visit, but never stayed overnight ever again.]

When the Boy was a baby we were on our way home in Cambridge. On the bus, almost home when I felt my trousers get wet. Mother thought it was funny. Daddy didn't.

The Boy began to crawl and we got him a playpen. To keep him out of harm's way.

One Saturday, Mother went shopping, and I was babysitting and sitting by the playpen reading The Reader's Digest [ed: a yearly Christmas gift from Charlie] He was making sounds and in the area he was in I patted him on his head and went on with my reading without looking his way. I read a few more lines when it suddenly dawned on me that I had patted him across from me. I said to myself he was standing up.

I put my magazine down and gave him attention and encouraged him to stand up. He looked at me with smiles and making sounds. I don't know how old he was but earlier than most, to do what I thought he could. He grabbed the playpen fence and lifted himself up. He looked at me and began making his noises or talking with pride, baby talk, no words. Daddy got the message this time and I clapped and hugged him. I said Wait until your mother gets home. Is she going to ge a surprise!! He would sit down and I would wait and say "again. do it again." He oobliged.

Mother eventually came home and when she put her things down and took her coat off. I asked her if she would like to see something. She came over and at this time the Boy began playing with his toy. I got his attention  and said "Show Mama what you can do. Come on. He crawled to the fence and pulled himself up and his noises or baby talk translated to Hey, look at what I can do." Mother was in a mood of utter surprise, she saw but couldn't believe what she was seeing. She came to and not only was she proud she picked him up, kissed him, hugged him. And the she came down to earth and said, "Well, we will have to watch what is around and remove things he can reach!" 

It was a wonderful Saturday at home.

Throwback Thursday - The Notebooks

To clear up some confusion, the Notebook passages posted on Throwback Thursday were written by my father and found by me after he passed away. They were his attempt to tell the family history. He was in his late 80s or early 90s when he wrote them. Today's chapter:

So I left for home. And early, very early Saturday morning I got a call and was informed that I had a boy. [ed: April 1949] I was in seventh heaven. I was happy. I dressed and started for the hospital and it was a beautiful morning. The sun was starting to come out the sky was a beautiful rich blue with white clouds. It was a lovely picture. I got to the hospital and went to see mother. She was ok. tired rosy cheeks.

And I went to the babies' quarters. It was down the hall and they had a number of babies there and name tags on their cradles. I hunted for mine and there he was asleep. He was handsome and I said "well at the least you could open our eyes to see what your old man looks like." Not then. I went back to mother and we chatted and also making sure that we had every thing necessary for his homecoming .

Since the baby was a boy it was a sort of tradition. My father at one time told me that the men in the family had their first born, a boy for seven generations. If so he's the 8th.

Some day I'm going to trace my family tree all the way back to its origin if I can live that long. [ed. Well, Dad, I've been tracing the genealogy for you. I've gotten back as far as the early 1800s on the paternal side of your family. While it was a nice story about the first son having a first son, you should have known that was not correct. Your grandfather's first child was your aunt, Angelina.]

The time came to take the little guy home. Doris came by taxi and brought a nice roast dinner for us. She brought a section from her roast beef and the trimmings. We were flabbergasted. She said her children could share it. She did it so that Mary would not have to get into the usual housework right away.

Mother did have a hard time and she looked all done in. Yet extra happy. We wondered between Charlie and Doris and our parents who were the grandparents.

We set up the cradle next to our bed.And like all parents who were new to a new birth quite proud of our effort.

Well before the Boy came along our life was different. We both worked. And she had her women's club. And met at different houses including ours. Mother got very friendly with Mary across the street. And our next door neighbor. A wonderful young lady they had a boy and later a girl.

It was a wonderful area. The people were very social. We always had company around. The young couple next door to us was a lovely lady younger than us. Polish with one son who was a character. She and mother hit it off and it was not unusual for her to walk out of her house and walk on the porch to our side. It was also company for mother since I was a night college in those days

The Boy was also doing good and growing. We took him with us to our parents. My father would pick him up and let him play, bite on his pocket watch which was one of the best of its day and gold. He did not do that with any of us. So the grandson fitted well with his grandfather.

When The Boy was walking, whenever we went to my parents my father would take him to the Arianesi on Lubec St. [ed: My mother's parents were from Ariano. These would be her father's friends] They called my father Maestro, but he was proud of the Boy. Too bad that he did not get to meet his other grandfather as he died before the Boy was born. He did have his grandmother. [ed: maternal grandmother]

Throwback Thursday - The Notebook

To clear up some confusion, the Notebook passages posted on Throwback Thursday were written by my father and found by me after he passed away. They were his attempt to tell the family history. He was in his late 80s or early 90s when he wrote them. Today's chapter:

Mary invited some of her co-workers shortly after we had settled in our apartment.

I took time off. The government gave its employees a day off a month. And we were told that we could keep adding to them and if we left they would pay for the unused days. We were also putting money in a retirement account.

One year I was told that I should take some time off as I had too many days and towards the end of my association with the government I took 16 days off in December adding two holidays. 18 altogether.

I took the time off to allow Mary at the time to be with the girls. And I did the honors. Brewed the coffee, tea and goodies and clean up and washed dishes etc.

When they left Mary said, "if I ever go to work and complain that you were not a good husband, they wouldn't believe me."

Your mother was expecting [ed: 1948 - 1949] and the Arnolds suggested that we go to Dr. McCarthy, their doctor. We did and he was a great doctor. During her pregnancy, Charlie would stop by, they did not live too far and he used to take their laundry to Cambridge. He did not want to put too much stress on Mary and he would bring his own can of soup or some canned goods for lunch. Doris also visited while Charlie went to do the laundry. She told mother that she wanted to know when things were happening that the time had come she had put cab money aside to get to us. Mother had a hard time. I took her to the hospital on Friday and we checked in. And a nurse came to take her to the delivery area. I walked along until we came to a line painted on the floor. and the nurse said this is as far as you can go. So I said, Ok, where should I go?" The answer, "Go home. It will be some time before she gives birth. We will notify you."

Throwback Thursday - The Notebooks

To clear up some confusion, the Notebook passages posted on Throwback Thursday were written by my father and found by me after he passed away. They were his attempt to tell the family history. He was in his late 80s or early 90s when he wrote them. Today's chapter:

We made arrangements to move out and the landlord would call us when he did some painting. While we lived with Mary's parents we were on the lookout for furniture and we did window shopping. I think it was during a lunch hour that Mary went into a furniture store within the area. Just walked in, spotted what she liked and spoke with the salesman. Since she was in her work clothes he asked her "Can  you pay for it?" Mary said, I can. I went with her to look at it and I said ok. And made arrangements to deliver when we were ready.

In due course we did get an apartment and moved. And by that time her parents accepted the fact that we were out.And your Aunt Josie [ed: 5 years younger than Ma] was happy to get her room back.

Our stay in East Boston was nice. We visited our friends. My sister, Olga, with the people upstairs, I forgot their name. Out of sight out of mind. The woman was a person who looked at the world with a healthy attitude. She was always good for laughs. But she could also face fact and deal with them. She had a son and Domenic [ed: Dad's father-in-law] took to the boy and treated him and he would be in Domenic's house, etc.

We also went looking for things that we would need. Kitchen set, parlor furniture. I think these we bought in East Boston from a furniture store that we made a hit with the salesman or manager. The room you had was bought there and also your brother's room. And that was a steal. The manager was leaving or was fired. Whatever we go that for about 50% less of cost.

We began to get along with our life. We were happy. The rent was $40.00 a month and that included heat. It was not so hot at first as the heat was turned off early. The time was extended and it got better.

On the third day, or when we hadn't bee there too long. We were on the proch. It was a duplex and we were talking with our next door neighbor when my name was called and I turned just in time to catch a young lady that was familiar at the East Boston Center. Her brother was a volunteer there even from Cambridge. It surprised Mary and our neighbor. The young lady lived across the street with her parents. She had two sisters both married. One was named Mary. We made friends. The women in the area decided to have a klatch and met at different houses. They were happy moments. Also the Arnolds came back into Massachusetts at an Elder Center in the Back Bay area. It was not too far from us so we visited back and forth.

I was still going to [law] college at night and still working with the Veteran's Administration.

Throwback Thursday - The Notebooks

To clear up some confusion, the Notebook passages posted on Throwback Thursday were written by my father and found by me after he passed away. They were his attempt to tell the family history. He was in his late 80s or early 90s when he wrote them. Today's chapter:

The other thing that my father-in-law was interested in was becoming a grandfather. We were not in a hurry for that at the time.

One night at the dinner table after dinner, he started to ask me a question which Concordia tried to shut him up.

He asked me, "Joe  when you go to bed what do you do?" The moment he got to the word bed I knew what he was after. I looked at him with a puzzled, innocent look and frown, "I go to sleep." He got up  and headed for the parlor saying as he was shaking his head and in Italian about the stupid Americans didn't know anything. He's going to wait for the stork to bringa the son."

During the first year or two the housing area was tight. It was hard to get an apartment. We were looking and I asked my co-workers to be on the look out. One day I got a chance when my co-worker came in and said that there was a vacancy in his town of Cambridge. Knew the name of the landlord and gave me the address and her telephone number and hot to get there.

I called and made an appointment and Mary and I made it after work. We looked at the place. It was a parlor, bedroom and kitchen. The area was not far from the Charles River and still close to work. We took it. We were so happy and we went home together and told my in-laws what we had done. Boy, did they get mad. This was on a Friday. On Saturday, my father-in-law, Domenic called my wife into the parlor and asked her what did I do or say that made your husband leave us? She explained that we would like to have a place of our own as we were crowded as it was. On the same morning, Concordia who washed our laundry as well as theirs threw ours on the floor and told Mary, "You wanna leave, you washa your own clothes. I no do it no more."

Strictly Italian. You have children. They marry and still live with you. Why should children leave? In Italy, they do not.

There was a television interview with young Italian. And the interviewers couldn't get over the fact that they still lived with their parents. One was married and every night, he went home to his parents and had dinner there while his wife ate with their children. Another built a house and it was unoccupied because he still lived with his parents. The interviewer even spoke to a professor of sociology who stated it was Italy. And that families are close in this country.

[ed: This story surprised me and made me laugh. I have to add a story from my own young adulthood. Around the age of 25 or 26, after a broken engagement, I began to get restless. I was still living at home. All my girlfriends had or were getting their own apartments. One weekend, I broached the subject to my parents. My mother cried for the whole weekend and wouldn't speak to me. Dad called me into the living room and said, "What are we doing to make you so unhappy that you want to leave?" I told him they had done nothing wrong. It was just time for me like all little birds to fly the nest. He listened to me. Said, you have made a thoughtful argument (ever the lawyer), but there would only be one reason you would want your own place and that would be to "entertain gentleman." There are only 2 ways you can leave my roof. You can get married, and he gave me a leveled look. Being the smartass I am I asked, what's the second way? "You can go out in a box." That was the end of the discussion.

My brother was expected to go out and sow his wild oats, but as a young woman, I was not allowed to reap a harvest. Double standards.]

Throwback Thursday - The Notebooks

To clear up some confusion, the Notebook passages posted on Throwback Thursday were written by my father and found by me after he passed away. They were his attempt to tell the family history. He was in his late 80s or early 90s when he wrote them. Today's chapter:

My next look for a job was with the Veteran's Administration in the Insurance Division.When we went into the Service, the Government offered each inductee life insurance. It was optional and one could sign up any time. At the time I had ten thousand dollars worth. I filled the long application and a short time later I was hired. At 26 years of age I began working for the Government.

The previous summer I got talked into taking courses by Mary. I wasn't so sure that I would go to college. I took two law courses. Your mother suggested that I go to college and see if I would like it. I knew I would.Reading and learning were things I enjoyed doing.

Mary and I talked things over and she thought I should study law and become a lawyer. It wasn't my wish as I still thought I would like to be a social worker.

I signed up and went into the law school. It was called Portia Law School Today,, it's called New England School of Law. Eddie Dressler also went there where we met and became friends.

I had completed my pre-law requirements when I when I worked in Waltham. 

In the day time I worked  at the Veteran's Administration and at night I would go to the law college. The professors were all practicing attorneys. They knew their business. Uncle Vincent [ed: a lawyer] when he learned that I was studying to be a lawyer said if I made the Bar, he would help me.

I worked for the Veteran't Administration for 8 years. I got promotions and also an increase in salary to train a section leader who spent more time in a bar room than at the office. He was a political appointment.

I also was selected to be one of the people who would work the the auditing group and certify the amount of the insurance and interest to be paid.

Of course, my going to law college made my parents happy, my in-laws, and Mary who thought it was great. And my father-in-law, since I was at night school, would set my dinner to one side. No one in the family could eat until he set my portion to one side.[ed: This was done so Dad would not have to eat the leftovers as he got the very first portion]

I was also doing well with my grades. I had a to do with one of my teachers. When he marked me absent. I told him that I was there because I could not afford to miss a class. When this came up prior to this incident we had a test. And I had created the impression I wasn't that intelligent. He said for a student who isn't smart you did very well on the test. I asked if he could tell me what I got. As it was a tricky sort of test on the giving of and applying the law of another state in your own state. He said 100.

Later after I graduated I met him on the street. And he asked me how I was doing. I said I got my first case, a tort, but I'm waiting for my cousin to help me once he finishes with what he is working on. He said do you have any of your letterhead? I said yes. He had me go to his office. Talked to me what the matter was about. And he dictated a letter to his secretary and I mailed and kept the copy.

The fact that a person is a lawyer means nothing. You need additional training in the real world.

Throwback Thursday - The Notebooks

By Not provided - FDR Library https://fdrlibrary.wordpress.com/tag/g-i-bill-of-rights/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=40882962

To clear up some confusion, the Notebook passages posted on Throwback Thursday were written by my father and found by me after he passed away. They were his attempt to tell the family history. He was in his late 80s or early 90s when he wrote them. Today's chapter:

We returned to her parents' home as they had more rooms than my parents and her father talked to Mary about room and board which was more than reasonable. Leaving me to decided what I wanted to do.

My problem should I go back to college on the G.I. Bill or see a job? I could have gone to the Boy's Club, but that did no please me at all. Mary had her job and in the community that we were in, going to school while the wife worked was not the thing to do. Not there. Her parents would not understand. Going to college as a day student would not sell. There was no understanding that there was a sacrifice  to be made for a good future. Most Italians expected that the husband was not doing things [ed: working]. Their thinking. I took some time and began looking for a job. My going to college would get me some money if I went days plus my disability. I could have done it, if I was single. But I did decided I should try college.  I went to Boston University. The person who interviewed me was not interested in me. He was surprised with my knowledge, my reading ability, etc. and he was having a hard time staying awake. His questions and attitude were ridiculous. So I said I'll see you later, good-bye.

Of course, your mother was for my going to school. Also I was getting a little edgy. Life wasn't like I learned from the Arnolds. On one of my walks in Boston, I ran into a person I knew who was a social worker and we had a chat. He said that the Women's Industrial Center was looking for an assistant director. The next day I went to the North End [ed: of Boston] and was interviewed. The director was looking for someone who had experience, etc. I did not have a graduate degree as a social worker and this he said he needed the employee now. And didn't have to be strict on college education at the time. And how I would work that out would be up to me. I mentioned that I trained under Charlie Arnold. And that ended the interview. He said, "If you worked for Arnold, you do not need to submit a resume. Arnold is a top social worker and I'm sure that you got excellent training. Go home talk it over with your wife and if she says yes, you have the job." At that time the custom in the area of community centers, wives were expected to take part in the activities and render service.

It was late in the afternoon and I went home. When Mary came home I told her that I had a job, etc. And she turned it down. She said that she didn't intend to work in that area where they got two employees for one salary. On the Monday I returned and told him it was no go.

Throwback Thursday - The Notebooks

L-R: Joe, Mary, Bob, and Steven

To clear up some confusion, the Notebook passages posted on Throwback Thursday were written by my father and found by me after he passed away. They were his attempt to tell the family history. He was in his late 80s or early 90s when he wrote them. Today's chapter:

There were a number of things for me to do. So on Monday, we made arrangements to spend some time with the Arnolds. Mary had kept in contact with them while they were in Waltham and she visited them often. She and Doris hit it off very well. In fact on wee and Mary visited and they were to go out. Doris asked her to help get the house in shape  Mary went into the dining room, Charlie had a stack of papers lying here and there. She took them and shoved them in a drawer in a built-in cupboard off the dining room.

Charlie would go home on weekend from the Cape where he worked for the government in establishing recreation places for G.I.s. When he got home and went to the dining room to get his papers, he yelled for Doris in the kitchen. "What happened to my papers?" Doris looked at Mary. "What did you do?"

Mary told Charlie she put the papers in the drawer in the cupboard off the dining room. She said he messed up the dining room. And he shouldn't leave his papers lying around. That was your mother. Sticking her nose where it didn't belong. An attribute of her ethnic custom of her Arianesi. [ed: typical Dad 😹] It wasn't the first and it would not be the last. Any way Charlie took the lecture. And whenever Doris told him that Mary was going to visit from thereafter, he would gather his papers, run up to his room, and put the papers where they would still be in the same position. He just piled letters, paper, etc. one upon the other. And whatever paper he had to refer to  at a later date he could go the pile and pull it out.

I also kept in touch with them via mail while in the service. Mary to the date claims that she kept the friendship going. Because Skip and I were at odds. Yes, but it did not affect the friendship.

They invited us when they found out that I was coming home, to spend some time with them. {ed: Charlie and Doris had moved to Ohio] I called them and Skip gave me a number to call. It was to a man who worked for one of the aircraft companies at the airport.He told me to mention his name, that any time he needed to get a seat or seats to call him. I did and he too my number and about ten minutes later he called us and told me which airline and to give my name.The tickets would be waiting and he gave me the time to call for them so that we would be able to make the flight.

Although the war was over the nation was still in a war condition. Everything was rationed. One needed tickets for everything. Anyway in January we flew to Cleveland, Ohio. It was a nice trip. I did not need to be on the alert. Back in our war zones I flew a number of time to go to schools (Army) or to locate our positions to drop supplies during rough weather.

When we landed Charlie was waiting for us. As we told him when we were to take off from EB [ed: East Boston] our flight and arrival time.

Doris had three boys and she loved them. But when I was in Waltham, she had two boys and I asked if there would be more children. She said she would like to and have it be especially a girl. She also told me that they had had a girl but she died shortly after birth. She never mentioned the girl again. Except that she would like to try but was afraid. She did but it was a boy. Steven.

And as I note that she and Mary go along very well. Mary stood in the position of the daughter she yearned for. Even after they moved back to Massachusetts. And we visited, Doris just bloomed with Mary around and mentoring her on the short cuts to take while cooking new recipes, etc.

The move to Ohio resulted in the end of the war. In his job, Charlie moved to be in charge for New England. When the war ended , that job went to the person who had it. If they wanted it back. And most did.

I was asked if I wanted to go back to the Waltham Boys Club. I said no. So Charlie opted for the Cleveland job as it was open and had to do with housing.

Our time seemed to fly. Since most things were bought with ration tickets. Things to be plentiful in Cleveland and I bought a coat, suit, shirts which your mother said she bought. She seemed to shut her eyes that every month I was in service a percentage of my salary was sent home to her.

We got to see some of Cleveland. They had a nice city and nice stores. We had everything that we bought shipped home, no charge and no payment of taxes either. If we took the clothes they would add the taxes on the bill. We saved some money and we also took Steven with us one day and bought him a coat. He looked cute in it. Doris said we should not have done anything like that.

Like all good thing they must come to and end so we made arrangements to fly home. Mary enjoyed it. Her first and last flight.

Throwback Thursday - The Notebooks

To clear up some confusion, the Notebook passages posted on Throwback Thursday were written by my father and found by me after he passed away. They were his attempt to tell the family history. He was in his late 80s or early 90s when he wrote them. Today's chapter:

My landing was not at East Boston airport [ed: Logan Airport]. We landed at a military airport and were put on a truck to get to Camp Devens. It was an overnight sleep. The next morning, we would be processed out.

I was shaving and I had a fellow on my left pushing his face forward and trying to get a look at me. I looked at him and figured that he was a little mind boggled G.I. He finally spoke to me and said do you have an Uncle Fred in Wellesley? I turned to face him and there stood my cousin, Arthur. We greeted each other. And he asked me how was I going to get home? Was someone coming to pick me up? I said by bus. So he said why don't you come with me, I'm being picked up and you can also see my father. He'll be happy to see you. And we can then take you to the bus stop in Newton. So I said ok. [ed: Arthur's brother] Charlie came to pick us up and I went with my cousins, we had gone through the process of getting our discharges, money due us, etc. Told that we should continue to see a doctor once a year. That we were in good shape and should continue to do so.

We got to Uncle Fred and he was in his glory. He had his Italian G.I. uniform on with medals attached and a bottle of liquor in his hand. He was one happy father. His sons were home. Arthur served in Europe, Tootsie had been been in the armor corps keeping rifles and artillery  in apple pie condition. Repairs, etc. with a discharge rank of Captain. The Todiscos like a lot of other families did their share.

Of course the stop delayed my getting home. But eventually I got to the bus. Got closer to Boston and finally the last trip to East Boston. On the subway I ran into Uncle Mike and we greeted each other. He asked me which house I was going to I said my wife. He said do they know that you are coming home? I said yet they expect me. But he insisted on coming with me. The old Italian mind set in. He thought they would be surprised to see me after years of being away from home, changed etc. That they could be shocked. It happened in some house where the returnee was going to surprise the family. In some cases it caused strokes, passing out, etc.

After the greetings I began to settle down and your mother was proud as a peacock. It was noon or after and it would be a long day after dinner.. It was a Sunday. We would go to my mother and father. It was a happy and tiresome day. Your grandmother was feeling her son from time to time to make sure I was all in one piece.