A shining moment for our student

We gathered at Kelley’s 15 strong Wednesday night to break bread for Elisabeth, to show this amazing young woman how proud we all are of what she’s accomplished these past two years. The food was good. The smiles were better. We were thrilled to then head down the road apiece to Onondaga Community College. My…

A special meal coming for a Happy Easter

My dear wife Karen asked a couple of days ago what I’d like to have for dinner on Easter. A ham steak? My answer had that question mark on the end of it, but that’s the way we left it. Then in those nether moments before I drifted off to sleep that night, a better…

That’s what Cracker Barrel is all about

I came up with a good one planning the brunch with my terrific daughter Elisabeth and her marvelous boyfriend George Three to put another party on my dear wife Karen’s Birthday Week festivities. We texted back and forth about the fact that the gift Elisabeth had carefully chosen apparently was stalled in a UPS warehouse…

Bubbling over at the New York State Fair

It’s State Fair time in Syracuse, and the topic came up last week when I spent Sunday morning playing golf and eating breakfast with my daughter Elisabeth and Georges Three and Two. I told her my dear wife Karen and I planned to attend both Sundays. It’s a shared interest, that dusty collection of food…

Thank you, my new family, for accepting me this way

We sat more than a week back in the living room of our Little Bitty in the Syracuse neighborhood of Eastwood, comfortable in our usual evening hang-out positions of couch and recliner, when my dear wife Karen dropped this one on me. What did I discover about her those precious days we spent in Colorado…

OK, I do know you

Rain, rain go away All the Polish people need to come out and eat their kielbasa pierogi golabki with sauerkraut please and thank you. After catching the matinée showing of Inside Out on Father’s Day, my daughter Elisabeth, her boyfriend George Three, and my dear wife Karen and I headed to downtown Syracuse and Clinton…

Looking good as my daughter heads into summer

My terrific daughter Elisabeth had enough time to spare to meet me for breakfast before heading into work at the orthopedic complex in Hamilton. That made leaving at 7:30 a.m. for the 40-or-so mile drive southeast from Syracuse well worth my while. We agreed on the big joint on the main drag less than a…

I remember Dolores on Mother’s Day

She was a child bride, in all definitions of the word. Dolores was 18 when she wed 19-year-old Frank. I’m not sure if the magnificent photo of them above was at her high school prom or my Aunt Marion — my mom’s sister — and Uncle Chet’s wedding. Both would have been a year or…