Family
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Sitting on the fringe of large patio contemplating retaining wall perch, New York Bay lapping gently every table, chair, square foot occupied genial reverie of twenty, thirty-somethings enjoying summer Saturday night companion and I well beyond the demographic Our backs to Staten Island, I squint my mind’s eye at ancient brick-warehouse-turned-hip-brewery easily imagining much Read more
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I cried to my grandparents todaya first for memy father’s parents, who diedbefore I was born never heard their voicesfelt their touch never knew where they wereeven buried until recently I cried to my grandparents todaythey never had a shoulderthey could offerneither ever rocked meto sleep, or just for comfortnever dried one of my tearsuntil Read more
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We never had one of those TV sitcom father-imparts-his-sage wisdom, serious sit-downs that I can recall I have no fatherly counsel fortune-cookie-inclusion viral-meme-worthy wisdom to share rarely proclaiming, “As my daddy used to say…” Sans great punchline parts of my father I carry with me, mirth more tangible than profundity less open to interpretation than Read more
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Eight-by-ten, glossy Women’s gowns a snowy hue men’s jackets polar-colored pants black, everything else radiant shades of grays drearily brilliant tones off-black, dark-white vibrant portrait in celluloid Twelve adults, a young boy bouffants and buzz cuts, ogling camera, mischievously dead serious, mindfully aware playful magnitude of the day fighting off hangovers practicing feigned solemnity due Read more
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We never had one of those TV sitcom father-imparts-his-sage wisdom, serious sit-downs that I can recall I have no fatherly counsel fortune-cookie-inclusion viral-meme-worthy wisdom to share rarely proclaiming, “As my daddy used to say…” Sans great punchline parts of my father I carry with me, mirth more tangible than profundity less open to interpretation than Read more
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As a kid I collected rocks – as many colorful pebbles as my six-year-old jacket pockets could smuggle via subterfuge mom and dad later humored my geologic interests with a small, paperback, field guide to rocks – which I always took with on trips we took – grandpa in tow – playing along, helping me Read more
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Eight-by-ten, glossy women’s gowns a snowy hue men’s jackets polar-colored pants black, everything else radiant shades of grays drearily brilliant tones off-black, dark-white vibrant portrait in celluloid Twelve adults, a young boy bouffants and buzz cuts, ogling camera, mischievously dead serious, mindfully aware playful magnitude of the day fighting off hangovers practicing feigned solemnity due Read more
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Greeting card aisle all celebratory sins at your disposal birthday, anniversary shout-outs long-time-no-sees Thank-yous! Love you! I’m sorry! pronouncing gratitude for things and flings sorry-you’re-feeling-blue get well tomes Good luck! kiss-offs congratulatory over-priced nods to milestones earned, attained, survived sweated out colorful, sentimental, creased tagboard matching-envelope; touchstone marked by mirth! merriment! maudlin mooning! four-ninety-nine a Read more
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Gratitude the appreciation of gratefulness an understanding that you stand not alone mindful of abundance not dependent on it honest thanks is given freely, sincerely, often with malice toward none, charity for all true thankfulness is no appreciation of personal abundance never simply a pre-feast prayer of appreciation for a bountiful table True giving of Read more
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Changing diapers we once foolishly hoped were a passing fad too soon wistfully outgrew all-star wrestling bouts on sopping pads consoled ourselves with years of wiping runny noses becoming laser-precise, discreetly or not plucking odd clumps from noses, Cheerios from ears via pointer-finger-and-thumb industrial tweezers overcame defiance deftly utilizing Kleenex-and-spittum wash cloths to rub off Read more
Ponderable polemics, poetic 