Monthly Archives: June 2014

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY DAD!

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Starting on Friday, as we said goodbye for the weekend, I heard a lot of “have a happy father’s day”. I naturally said Thank you. As I began to drive home I started thinking about father’s day and what it means. I have been a father for over 15 years now and as it approaches and we begin to make plans, I said often “It’s my day I should be able to do what I want to do”.   I am reminded that I have a family and that spending time with my children is what father’s day is all about. I get that and for my children it’s about spending time with their father.

Father’s day is not about me the Father! It’s about being a son and honoring and spending time with your father. For the past 11 fathers day that means taking a trip to St. Charles Cemetery and looking at a black rock with my Dad’s name on it. On October 22, 2003, my Dad took his last breath. So father’s day has become a sad one for me. Yes I get to see my family and my children and it’s all very nice. But what would really awesome is to spend the day with my Dad. We used to have day trips to Atlantic City. I remember our last trip in August of 2003; the Borgata just opened and I lost my bankroll pretty quickly. My brother Heinz, my friend Steve, and my Dad sat at a bar in the Tropicana joking how we have had hundreds of trips down here and we shall have hundreds more. But we didn’t, it was the last one.

My Dad was tough, we always did agree and sometimes argued. However, when I left his hospital room on October 21, 2003, I knew that was the last time I was going to see him. My wife yelled at me when I got home that night for saying it, but at 1:50am, I received the terrible call from my Mom. He was gone!

Why am I telling this story, because many of you still have your father with you. So make sure you tell him what he means to you and how much you love him, because one day he won’t be here. So today when you are at the BBQ, the Beach or on the Golf Course, have a beer with your old man and tell him:

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY DAD!!!

Mom & Dad on their Wedding Day 6-15-57

Mom & Dad on their Wedding Day 6-15-57

 

Dad and my Nephew Nick

Dad and my Nephew Nick

Dad & my Brother Heinz sharing a Beer

Dad & my Brother Heinz sharing a Beer

Dad & my Brother Heinz sharing a Cigar

Dad & my Brother Heinz sharing a Cigar

 

REMEMBERING DEAN MARTIN

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It was the early 1970s and my family was driving somewhere, my dad was driving, my brothers were in the back seat, my Mom in the front, and I was standing up between my Mom and Dad (I did say it was the early 70s).   A song comes on the Radio and my father asks, “Who is singing this song?” (A game I still play with my children) and one of us yells out

DEAN MARTIN!!!

Dean Martin has been a part of my life so long I truly don’t ever remember a time when I didn’t know who he was.   He was my Dad’s favorite. We listened to his music all the time; we watch his variety show and the famous Dean Martin Roast. To this day I go on You Tube and watch old clips of these shows.

So why am I talking a Dean Martin today, because on June 7, 1917 in Steubenville Oh The King of Cool was born.

Born Dino Paul Crocetti son of an Italian Barber grew up to become one of the greatest entertainers that ever lived. I call him an Entertainer, because he did it all. He is the only Entertainer that had successful careers in (1) Music, (2) Motion Pictures, (3) Television, (4) Radio, and (5) Night Club Circuit. Nobody did it all like Dean. Not Elvis, not Michael Jackson, not The Beatles, not Beyoncé’, and yes Not even Frank Sinatra. Dean was the only one.

 

Let’s face it when was the last time you went to a wedding, a block party, a sweet sixteen or just an backyard BBQ and didn’t hear That Amore’? When that song comes on everyone sings everyone gets happy and everyone says, “Man Dean Martin was the Man!”

It is hard for me to believe it been almost 20 years since Dino has been gone. He passed away in his bed on Christmas day 1995. Tony Bennett once said about Frank Sinatra passing: That only Franks Friends are going to miss him, those that never met him will still have his music and movies. I feel the same way about Dino. At least 5 or 6 times a week I listen to at least 1 Dean Martin song. Like Frank, Dean holds a very special place in my heart. When I listen to his music or watch movies and TV Shows, I remember my childhood and my Father and yes a simpler time for me.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAN AND THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES

AND AS YOU HAVE SAID – MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS

dean_martin

 

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70 years ago today, there was an 18 year old man sitting in a plane shaking in his pants afraid that he would never see his family again. He gently prayed to God to let him live. The fear turned to terror when the door of the plane opened and he knew he had to jump and may not survive. When he jumped, the fear and terror remained on the plane. He pulled the rip cord and was focused on the task at hand to defeat the Nazis.

That is the way Willie told me the story of his 101st Airborne mission at D-Day June 6, 1944. I met Willie about 5 years ago; he was heading to Normandy for the 65th Anniversary of the Invasion. It was late May 2009 and I was with some business associates having a cigar at the Carnegie Club, when my friend noticed three old men having cigars with 101st Airborne caps on. So we went over to say hello and thank them for their service to our country. We had no idea when we went to them that they were members of the 101st Airborne at the invasion of Normandy. For the next two hours these men shared their bravery with us and frankly brought us all to tears. They told us that every year since the end of World War II all of the remaining members of the 101st travel to New York for a few days and then go to Normandy to celebrate and that’s why they were in New York. They were heading to Normandy the next day. Then Willie (I am not even sure if that is his name, but that’s what I call him) told me there were only 5 men left, the three there and two more who were meeting them in France.

I looked at Willie and told him “Thank you, because if it weren’t for you I wouldn’t be alive”. He looked at me confused, so I told him I would explain to him that my Mother and Father were born in Germany in 1935. After the war ended they struggled. My father’s family was very poor ; he saved for 4 years to earn enough for a boat ticket. My mother’s family was a little better off. My grandfather was an engineer so they did okay. However, to say he was strict was an understatement. So my mother worked out a deal that she would visit my grandfather’s sister in New York for 3 years and come home. So both set sail (on different boats) in 1955: my father never to return and my mother to go on an adventure. Neither one could speak English and their church was giving an English class and that is where my parents met. They fell in love, got married, and had three children (I am the baby).

So I turned to Willie and said “So if you weren’t successful at Normandy, Germany probably would have won the War and my parents would have never gone to the United States and as a result would have never met and never have had me. So my friend Thank you for winning because I wouldn’t be here if you didn’t!

He looked at me with a tear in his eye and said “Thank you, in all these years that is the most sincere thank you I ever received.” Then he lifted his drink and said:

YOU ARE WELCOME!

 

Me and My New Friend Willie

Me and My New Friend Willie