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Tuesday, March 19, 2013

1989:A MEMORABLE ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE

When you get to the ripe old age of 75 to 80 and above, you find that you have countless memories of persons, places, and things of the past. It is a known fact that the older one gets, the more he or she treasures those memories, whether pleasant or sometimes sad. I hasten to add that I didn't fit into the 75 to 80 category referred to above. There are quite a number of us who became aware of our past at a much earlier age. In my case, it was in the 1960's, when Judy and I started a family and felt compelled to pass on to our children and grandchildren "The Way We Were" in our younger years. They also tell me that as one ages, he or she develops a certain wisdom. I do believe that to be the truth. One of my lasting memories is found in my many years of service at St. Anthony's Church in Hamilton. I have been entertaining the idea of writing an article on my years at that great old church on South Olden Avenue. Some of my most memorable years were spent as a very active parishioner in that parish, having served as Lector, singer, Eucharistic Minister, President of the Holy Name Society as well as being the first male President of the St. Anthony Grammar School PTA, carnival worker, lawn mower and clean up worker in an impossibly littered environment. The graphic above is just one very small memory of the many I have garnered over the years. I still remember when an aging "Iron Mike," Monsignor McCorristin rode shotgun with me in that kelly green 1961 Rambler. He really relished the ride from St. Anthony's to Immaculate Conception Church on Chestnut Avenue. The love the people had for the man as we rode slowly along Olden Avenue to Hamilton was a thrilling experience for me. I will never forget the cheers from the spectators as Monsignor, cigar clenched firmly in his teeth, waved to all those admirers. Memories are made of this, my dear visitors!

3 comments:

  1. HI TOM....YOU ARE SO RIGHT WITH ALL YOUR THOUGHTS OF YESTERDAY AND THOSE EVENTS THAT WILL BE IN YOUR MEMORIES. I RECALL ALL THE GOOD THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE 94 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN AROUND AND WONDER, WHY ME? MY DAD PASSED AWAY AT 52 AND MY BROTHER "CHUCK" DIED AT 56. THEY BOTH HAD MUCH MORE CLASS THAN I AND ACCOMPLISHED MORE IN THE SHORT TIME THEY WERE WITH US. "CHUCK" OVERCAME MANY HARDSHIPS TO BECOME A HEART DOCTOR AND MY DAD GOT US THROUGH MANY TOUGH TIMES. SO, WHAT IS IT THAT THINGS LIKE THAT HAPPEN? REGARDS.

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  2. The Lord picked out the path we were to take on life's journey long before we were born, Ralph.

    Tom

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  3. Ralph, I agree with Tom, I couldn't have said it any better. I just turned 74, which is 25 years longer than my Dad. And think of all that I have seen and done...that he never got to see. Congratulations to both you and Tom on your birthdays and on your contributions to this wonderful site. Ron

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