…………………….I guess I don’t have to point out who my Dad is! He is surrounded by his three sons, John in the back [the middle child], me to the right [the youngest], and my older brother, Mauro, seated. With us, our wives, Carol [brunette], Kathy [blond], and Jac. At the bottom left is my niece Jeannine…….My father immigrated to this country from Bari, Italy which is in the south of Italy on the east coat. It was a port town, and boats left for Greece every day….My Mom came from the same town, and they knew each other from childhood…Their father’s came to the USA together and settled in lower Manhattan [the village] before moving to the country….Brooklyn!…..My dad had a very gregarious personality….always cracking jokes, and telling stories. They used to call him “the mayor”, because he was friends with everyone…..sometimes to my mother’s annoyance!……I guess opposites do attract……My father’s love of music started when he was very young. He played the violin….sort of!….. My grandfather would give my father money for violin lessons, but instead of the lessons he would play craps in the back of the church where he was an alter boy…..Oh yeah….he played craps with the priests! That’s my Dad!….I can just picture my Dad as an alter boy….with those big eyes…..He had a record collection of well over 1000 albums, and he had a system whereby he knew where each one was in this huge cabinet he had built. He and my mother were the same age and lived to be 95. Up until the day he died his mind was sharp as a tac, but the heart was failing. My mother, on the other hand was strong as an ox, but had dementia so they took care of each other. My Mom passed first, two days before Christmas, and my day passed a week later…right after the New Year……I’m sure of a broken heart……..Happy Father’s Day in heaven Dad…..I’m sure you’re telling your jokes, and I’m sure Mom is rolling her eyes!
