... my dad teaching me to ride my two wheeler in the back alley at Glenhaven road.
... him gardening the back yard.
... him being a fanatic about his front lawn. I remember him putting zouia grass there. I remember him freaking out when it turned brown the first time. I remember him arguing with me about cutting the lawn which took about 15 minutes to do.
... my father and me fishing at Loch raven reservoir. I remember renting a boat, and motoring out to a spot and dropping our lines.
I remember it being boring and fidgeting and making noise. I remember Dad telling me to be quiet because I was spooking the fish.
I remember not catching much week after week. I remember him getting frustrated and wanting to go where we would really get some fish.
... the long drive to the Conowingo dam to fish. I remember climbing down to the bottom of the dam to get the large carp.
I remember the game warden coming and telling us not to fish there because of snakes. I remember my father not liking snakes
(apparently something happened in Boloxi mississippi during his basic training). I remember him running to the top of the hill
and leaving all the tackle and me at the bottom. I remember surviving.
... him wanting to step fishing up yet another notch. I remember driving to Deep Creek lake in western maryland.
I remember the speed boats coming by and grabbing our fishing lines, overheating our brand new reels.
I remember thinking that we were like Mac and Meyer for Hire. Just not very good.
... working as a bus boy at the restaurant that Dad owned. I remember him working really hard past the dinner hours taking orders and cooking.
{I remember it being disgusting cleaning all those filthy dishes by hand.}
... him working at his father's motel adjacent to the restaurant repairing TVs and replacing air conditioners.
I remember him teaching me how to clean the rooms, change the sheets and clean the A/C filters.
... him having to work six days a week for many years, including holidays and Christmas.
I remember him having to plow snow, sometimes throughout the night, to keep the parking lot open.
I remember him not ever getting much satisfaction from his work overall. Who could. I remember his father who was seldom satisfied with anyone.
... him telling me about his war experiences.
I remember him telling me how he graduated in three years from Calvert Hall so he could enlist in the Army Air Force.
I remember how he told me he was selected to be a tail gunner in a B24 because he was small enough to climb over the rear wheel.
I remember him telling me that he did a 26 mile hike in basic training in full combat gear and was the first in his class to finish the march.
I remember him telling me that his turret was shot off by yak yak in one of his fifteen missions over Nazi Germany.
... his telling me about winning the "Lead the Band" contest.
... his love of music. I remember him telling me that his father entered him in a talent show to play his guitar.
... him writing music. I remember thinking it was corny. I remember recording a song with him and me on guitar in our small
bathroom in Glenhaven road and being very relieved when it was over.
... him getting one of his songs Come Be My Own played by the bands in both club Venus and Zim Zimeral.
... his house in Madonna. I remember his love of the birds and his photographs.
I remember his fabulous garden and his obsession with killing every bug, mite and fungus on all his stuff to the point of
killing the plants and trees themselves. I remember it wearing him out to the point of him wanting to move to a condo of all things.
I remember Mom, as usual, going along with it.
... my father yelling at my mother that he should have married Sue Stevens,
a wealthy socialite. He meant it. I remember her laughing. Remarkable.
... Mom and Dad's winter trips to Florida. I remember going there with my daughters and sister to visit.
... our summer van trips. I remember how dad was so protective of his golf clubs when we were traveling.
... him falling in love with Savannah when he first saw it.
... his holding my mother's hand when walking the boardwalk so she didn't fall.
... him immediately saying "Buckle Up Marg" every time they got into a car.
... Dad playing golf on Sundays with his cousin Ben Apicella, John Engers his college roommate, and Tony Quattrocchi
whom they called Reds for his red hair and later Skinhead when it fell out. I remember Dad being the best and most serious of the group.
... being a "caddie" for dad which meant riding in the cart with him.
I remember him telling me about the caddie jobs he had at Baltimore country Club carrying two bags with about 20 clubs each.
He said they weighed a ton.
... playing golf with him. I remember him being a good teacher. I remember him expecting perfection from me and himself on each shot.
I remember him teaching me the rules {which few people truly follow much to my annoyance. Guess I'm like dad there!}.
I remember playing golf with Dad in Savannah, both lighting up cigars as soon as we got in the cart and chain smoking
all the way around the course. I remember having fun.
... Dad slowly starting to lose his stamina and balance. I remember him starting to fall and worrying Mom to death.
I remember him taking longer and longer to play a round of golf.
... Mom making the decision to move back to Bel Air. I remember her selflessness.
