If You Can Make it There - New York Book Festival - IV

-

The kidnapped, handicapped, claiming that he caught the clap.

I'm not quite sure that Bruce line was rattling around my brain as I walked the streets of New York but it was.

There was every sort of person on the streets.

The street fair stretched from 32nd street all the way to 42nd street.

Just person after person after person.

White, black, Asian, Indian, Iranian, Hispanic.

Tall people, short people, skinny people, fat people.

Ugly people, beautiful people.

We were all hot. We were all tired. We all just kept moving.

The smells were wide and varied too.

The aroma of food from the carts.

The odor of urine, and puke, and whatever else you can imagine.

People on bikes. People skating. Horses.

Sirens. And the car horns.

Just blaring.

And there was the not-famous guy from North Collins in the middle of it all.

Just thinking of love and people and loss and love and the madness that can get you, and love, and loss.

And Food!

We all can cook.

I'm not sure how it all came together, but Corinne had broken it down for me a week before as she had watched me make the sauce and start the meatballs.

"Isn't it funny that we all had our solitary moments when Dad taught us?"

It was true.

There were six of us.

But he'd taken each one aside.

He'd made them feel special as he taught them.

Love.

I wanted that meal.

I was chasing greatness in sauce.

New York was the place to be.

We all have spent every minute chasing perfection.

The chase has made us who we are.

And we've all made it happen from time-to-time.

The food I had was good.

Make no mistake.

The veal was tremendous.

The lobster-based appetizer was expertly prepared.

But you wanna' know a secret?

Dad's was better.

Jeff's was better.

Jim's and John's and Corinne's and Carrie's and mine.

They're all better.

The missing ingredient from the meal served above?

Yeah.

You know what it is.

The awards are in.

Ten awards from ten festivals.

Roaring approval of Jeff's days.

Tremendous support for the love we've brought.

We went to New York.

We were funny.

We showed 'em the Fuzzy's.

I hope they find the love on their own.

All of 'em.

All of you.

Get busy living.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My Buddy, Dave

-
Way back in 1997, I started working with a steel erection company out of Syracuse. I was coming straight from a long stint with a steel erector here in Buffalo so I knew my stuff when it came to steel erection safety rules. On day one, I met with the safety director and he was just getting started as a safety guy, but man, he certainly cared about the guys he worked with. Dave was a good man from the start. He’d say things like: “You’re so full of beans.” Just a down to earth, hardworking guy who became a fast friend. We drove all around New York State setting up jobs. I always let Dave drive so that I could rest. One fine day, way up North of Syracuse, we passed a state trooper.  I glanced at the speedometer. “You’re screwed,” I said, and seconds later, the lights came on. Dave was beside himself.  The cop stopped by the window, grabbed the license and registration and headed back to his vehicle. “Here’s the thing,” I said. “You’re pissed, but you’re such a good guy that I be...
Read more

Mom & Ollie

-
Image
 Ollie Stadium is a mess. The heavy rains rendered the backyard a mud pit and even though we threw in the side yard, the Big O was looking for more, and we were both covered in mud. I had to take some steam out of him somehow so I suggested we go visit Grandma. Ollie hates the car, but he laid quietly as we made the trip. We even brought the football because there is plenty of room to play at Grandma’s. Mom opened the door and started laughing. I thought about the love she had for every single dog we ever had. Oliver was quick to give my Mom a kiss, and then he stood beside her. The love between Mom and Dogs is a mutual bond. Through the years, Mom would make breakfast for the dogs.  Fried eggs, toast, bacon… She would wrap Christmas gifts for them. “To Jeter, Love Santa,” she would write on the cards. They played with the big chicken that made a lot of noise. Mom tossed the football and Ollie brought it back to her. As the visit drew to a close I headed for the door.  “C...
Read more

Eyes on the Horizon

-
Image
My sister’s book is out there! Go get it!! It makes me so proud to see the book on Amazon, knowing that it’s very, very great! It’s been a long, long time since we were out in California, brainstorming my stories long before they were published. Carrie Lynn was writing, writing and writing some more through the years and I kept telling her… …”Go for it!” Well, she did!  To amazing results. Of course I was able to read the book as it was being put together, but I ordered a copy from Amazon yesterday and can’t wait to read it again. The shoe is on the other foot now as I have been sitting on a lot of my writing lately. I plan on getting it out there before the end of 2024, but for now: Carrie takes center stage! And it’s so great… …go get a copy!
Read more