THE FOOTNOTES

This is a picture from my week-long visit to the infamous "surf diva" school in Costa Rica. I graduated not only with flying colors, but also with a torn rotator cuff, a dislocated hip, and muscle soreness that lasted about 2 months. I'm exaggerating a bit, but it really was a physically punishing week! After the first day I felt like I had been in a bar brawl. By the second or third day I really got into the swing of things, eventually graduating to what is called the "outside" (out beyond where the waves break). It's pretty hard to paddle out there, but it's so much fun. Catching your first wave is unforgettable and more fun than most things I've experienced. I really appreciated the simplicity of it -- you didn't have to chop down trees and ride a gondola to get a downhill thrill. It's eco-friendly and free! Try it.

THE HURRICANE OF 1938
I will never forget that fateful day, September 21st, 1938. Nancy and I were on our way to religious instructions at St. Mary’s church. We left Smalley school with dozen of other kids and headed up north street to the church. The wind was howling and the rain was coming down sideways. We had an umbrella but it was useless, so we didn’t even attempt to use it. As soon as we arrived at the church, the priest realized the severity of the storm and sent all of us home. I will never forget the horror of struggling against the wind fighting to catch my breath. Luckily, the priest at St. Ann’s church took us in. We waited out the storm there, safe at last. After several hours, the storm subsided and the priest gave us bus money to get home. When no bus arrived Nancy and I walked all the way home to Wilcox Street. Trees were down everywhere and live wires were dancing and sparking all over the sidewalks. We dodged them all although I almost stepped on a few. When we got home, our parents were waiting for us in the driveway. They were so happy to see us alive. All we could say was “ gee, we still have our umbrella. It didn’t blow inside out”.

You think things are tough today? Take a look at the gang assembled on Hahn's back steps. Can you picture this unruly crowd running through your house, as they often did? The Hahn and Noonan kids often were assembled for holidays such as Thanksgiving, and on Wilcox Street, the six large rooms were aligned in such a way as to create a race track when all the interior doors were opened. At some point, we and the Hahns agreed that we wouldn't visit them if they wouldn't visit us. Take a peek.

I grew up in a three family brick house in New Britain. Our family lived on the second floor. We had a very large tenement of six rooms. Our kitchen was three times the size of kitchens today. We also had a pantry and a laundry room off the kitchen. In the kitchen, we had an ironing board that folded into the wall. The refrigerator and sink were in the pantry so we only had a stove, a table and chairs in the kitchen. There was so much wasted space!

In those days we didn't have hot water or showers. We finally got a hot water heater, but that was when I was in high school.

Our back yard had a four car garage and an ash box. In the back of the garage we had a large lot with a huge cherry tree. We had lots of land to play in for a city block. It was not as great as having your own home as we do today, but it was fun back then.

One of the most interesting things about our house was my grandfather's wine cellar. He imported grapes from California and had his own press, and did all the work himself. He had a small cot in the basement where he would nap when he got tired. Pressing grapes was hard work. I didn't like going into the basement. It scared me. The attic was a different story. I never tired of exploring the many treasures that were stored there. Everything considered, I had a pretty interesting childhood.

(The picture of 112 Wilcox Street was taken in more recent times. There were three porches on the building when Moe lived there. They have since been removed.)

We visit Nancy and Bill quite often, and sometimes we meet the children of Kelly and Davey Hahn who live across the courtyard. We had a nice visit with Nan, Bill and Davey the other afternoon. The kids were in school at the time, but here they are in a picture taken a year or two ago. Say hello to your relatives.

Here's Moe in a familiar pose--cuddling kids. She spent a lot of years doing this, and still does it emotionally--sometimes over the phone. Her reasonably capable assistant, Noonski, is depicted here, also

Moe's parents shown here in April, 1954. Silas was widely know in New Britain as "Doc".

Here are Aunt Margaret, Aunt Nancy, Uncle Bill, Grandma Lynch, Uncle Jim and Moe in 1962

This collage has been languishing in a large folder for lo, these many years. It is time that it saw the light of day. Ergo, here it is presented for your pleasure.