One of the worst things to do to someone is to forget them, so I'm posting this blog entry here in the virtual world so that we do not forget my neighbor Tommy Wynn, who tragically died today after falling from the Betsy Ross Bridge.
It would be a few days before his body was recovered.
My mother and I attended his wake on Lehigh Avenue in Port Richmond---it was very sad.
Friday, July 25, 1975
Monday, July 14, 1975
Rest in peace Gilford Smiley
"My soul is sad,
even unto death.
Wait here and watch"
He said to his disciples.
In Loving Memory of
GILFORD SMILEY
Died July 14, 1975
Sunday, June 29, 1975
Trip to New York to see the Phillies---June 29, 1975
I took the train from 30th Street Station to New York City today to see the Phillies play a double header against the Mets. My friend Anne from St. Joe's arranged the trip, and also arranged for me to escort two of her friends (Fran and Fran, isn't that confusing) to the game.
I met them at 30th Street Station, and they were very nice. We spend the hour and half ride to New York chatting, then got off the train and tried to make our way to Shea Stadium on the El or Subway.
Luckily, we didn't get lost---I forget whether Anne had given us tickets or met us outside, but we got to our seats in the first row of the upper deck before the game started. It had been raining, so the foot area of the first row was full of water.
Someone had placed some cardboard there to soak up the water.
Directly behind us were some Mets fans, who playfully teased us about our Phillies throughout the game. Despite that, they were pleasant and polite---a far cry, I am sure, from the way New York fans are treated in Philadelphia.
The Phillies won both games of the double header in spectacular fashion. The first game, 9 to 6
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php?boxid=197506291NYN
and the second game 4 to 3 in 12 innings after tying the game in the top of the 9th off Tom Seaver.
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php?boxid=197506292NYN
All in all, it was a great time.
I forget how I got to the train station that morning, but at night, my friend Dave drove me and the two girls home---he would later marry one of the Fran's.
I met them at 30th Street Station, and they were very nice. We spend the hour and half ride to New York chatting, then got off the train and tried to make our way to Shea Stadium on the El or Subway.
Luckily, we didn't get lost---I forget whether Anne had given us tickets or met us outside, but we got to our seats in the first row of the upper deck before the game started. It had been raining, so the foot area of the first row was full of water.
Someone had placed some cardboard there to soak up the water.
Directly behind us were some Mets fans, who playfully teased us about our Phillies throughout the game. Despite that, they were pleasant and polite---a far cry, I am sure, from the way New York fans are treated in Philadelphia.
The Phillies won both games of the double header in spectacular fashion. The first game, 9 to 6
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php?boxid=197506291NYN
and the second game 4 to 3 in 12 innings after tying the game in the top of the 9th off Tom Seaver.
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php?boxid=197506292NYN
All in all, it was a great time.
I forget how I got to the train station that morning, but at night, my friend Dave drove me and the two girls home---he would later marry one of the Fran's.
Saturday, May 24, 1975
Just started work at Sears on the Boulevard
I just started work at Sears on the Boulevard tonight---I'm working in the Sporting Goods Department, which is in an annex accross the street from the main building rignt next to the Automotive Store.
It was an interesting first night---5 to 9PM.
After a few minutes of orientation, I spent the next few hours working the cash register, ringing up tons and tons of fishing line, hooks, and weights. I know nothing about fishing---thank goodness no one asked me anything about it.
When I first entered the department through the main doors, I noticed some very pretty sailboats that were displayed around them. There were 3 of them.
Around 8:30, a very big security guard whose name was 'Sam' asked why there were only 2.
I remembered, as did some of the other employees, that 2 guys had picked up a sailboat, put it on their shoulders and walked out the front door with it.
I didn't know any better---after all, it was my first night.
I think I'm really going to like Sears---I got a break around 7:30 and walked over to the Snack Bar in the main building---got a hot dog that was delicious.
It was an interesting first night---5 to 9PM.
After a few minutes of orientation, I spent the next few hours working the cash register, ringing up tons and tons of fishing line, hooks, and weights. I know nothing about fishing---thank goodness no one asked me anything about it.
When I first entered the department through the main doors, I noticed some very pretty sailboats that were displayed around them. There were 3 of them.
Around 8:30, a very big security guard whose name was 'Sam' asked why there were only 2.
I remembered, as did some of the other employees, that 2 guys had picked up a sailboat, put it on their shoulders and walked out the front door with it.
I didn't know any better---after all, it was my first night.
I think I'm really going to like Sears---I got a break around 7:30 and walked over to the Snack Bar in the main building---got a hot dog that was delicious.
Wednesday, December 25, 1974
Christmas 1974
Not much of a Christmas for the family or for my father...while we are eating Christmas dinner, he is upstairs dying.
God bless him now and forever.
God bless him now and forever.
Thursday, August 8, 1974
President Nixon is resigning
President Nixon just announced that he will resign the presidency tomorrow...wow
Monday, June 24, 1974
Thank God for Rohm and Haas
No sooner did I quit the Italian Villa, then I managed to get an interview at Rohm and Haas in Bridesburg, and was hired for a summer job to start on June 24, 1974.
Not only that, but I was hired over the minimum wage. During the course of the summer, I would get two raises, and I was tempted, due to the depression caused by my father's declining health, to quit school and work there full time. I didn't.
I spent the summer filling in for workers on summer vacation.
Similar to my 1973 summer job, this one had its hazards---namely...
I blew up a fire hose in my face (when you turn on the hydrant to a 3 inch hose, be sure there are no kinks)
I suffered heat stroke (not my fault, about 130 degrees in those trucks)
I bled from the nose while unloading a railroad car of some kind of 'powder' (again, not my fault, I wore a mask)
Rohm and Haas had a very nice medical staff---I remember being in there for my bleeding nose when a girl named Rosemary was being treated for spilling coffee on herself.
The cafeteria was very nice---I only ate there a few times. Most times, we were so dirty from the hot work that we ate in the locker room.
After my bleeding incident, I was no longer able to unload trucks and boxcars, and was assigned to the clean up detail.
I spent some time cleaning the locker rooms. bathrooms, etc.
My boss was a tyrant---he insisted that we clean and re-clean the bathrooms all day long. We weren't permitted to close them, and if we were working a night shift, he would execute a surprise visit to see if we were goofing off.
My last day on the job was spent weeding.
Not only that, but I was hired over the minimum wage. During the course of the summer, I would get two raises, and I was tempted, due to the depression caused by my father's declining health, to quit school and work there full time. I didn't.
I spent the summer filling in for workers on summer vacation.
Similar to my 1973 summer job, this one had its hazards---namely...
I blew up a fire hose in my face (when you turn on the hydrant to a 3 inch hose, be sure there are no kinks)
I suffered heat stroke (not my fault, about 130 degrees in those trucks)
I bled from the nose while unloading a railroad car of some kind of 'powder' (again, not my fault, I wore a mask)
Rohm and Haas had a very nice medical staff---I remember being in there for my bleeding nose when a girl named Rosemary was being treated for spilling coffee on herself.
The cafeteria was very nice---I only ate there a few times. Most times, we were so dirty from the hot work that we ate in the locker room.
After my bleeding incident, I was no longer able to unload trucks and boxcars, and was assigned to the clean up detail.
I spent some time cleaning the locker rooms. bathrooms, etc.
My boss was a tyrant---he insisted that we clean and re-clean the bathrooms all day long. We weren't permitted to close them, and if we were working a night shift, he would execute a surprise visit to see if we were goofing off.
My last day on the job was spent weeding.
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