I live on the North Shore of Long Island and when I sit in my back yard I notice the never ending, clockwork pattern of big jets passing high above, somewhat to the South in an East/West pattern. I imagine they are coming from Europe and guess they are on the way to JFK.I have actually timed them and the intervals are around a minute and a half. I …
Have you ever noticed that two people present at the same event oft times have different memories?I had that experience last week when I had dinner with a high school friend who, unbeknownst to me, is a reader of my Friday With Fred Blog. The first word out of his mouth was Zelig. I took the bait and said I’m like Zelig and have been witness to ma …
Gotham held it’s annual Bob Formica Golf Outing this past Monday and I must say that besides the beautiful verdant rain enriched course the golf cart, not the golf, was the best part. Every year Paul Napolitano and spouse Victoria Drogin are in my foursome (we missed Hard Hitting Don Bernstein this year) and, lucky me, I'm paired with Victoria in a …
If you knew today was your last day on earth what would you do?Who would you be with?Who would you reach out to talk to?What would you say that you haven’t said?What credit or praise would give that you haven’t given. What wrongs would you try to right?What debts would you pay?What gifts would you give?Who would you tell of your love?What self indu …
Preface: This story is written from the perspective of our dog Charcoal who was visited upon for a week by Lucy, our son’s vacationing family’s fellow Schnoodle:I’m Charcoal in color and fellow female Lucy is White . Lucy is a year or two older than me and when I came on the scene as a hyperactive puppy my recollection is that she was not too welc …
One of the very very special things in my Afterlife is the weekend ritual of having batting practice with my 51 year old son David and his 20 year old son Jackson, my Batman teammates (pictured), at the local school yard. We bring a box of balls, take turns as one hits, one pitches and one shags. There are muscle memories and eternal memories being …
Sometimes my eyes open in the predawn hour and I sample the silence and as I lay there I hear a chirp and then an answer and the silence is sweetly broken. Soon our dog Charcoal stirs as if on signal and the first cracks of dawn emerge and the sweet chirping increases. It is an ordinary, but highly over looked (or slept through), sensual experience …
Every year we go to a Yankee/Met game and we still have a limited number of tickets available for the above game at the Mets Citi Field. Before I go on, a continuing expression of appreciation is sent out to Corey Bearak for making all the ticketing and seating arrangements for our Tribe!I am a life long Yankee fan, but in all the prosperous years …
I belong to an all male book group. It is headed by my muse, Jay Gould. Inasmuch as it was originated by a bunch of Sea Cliff and neighboring guys I have dubbed it the North of 25A Book Group. It is a highly eclectic group and it’s amazing how far afield we can wander when we get together periodically to discuss the chosen book. I wonder if th …
On Monday I underwent my annual eye examination. It is always a pleasant experience, as my doctor is a fellow Roslyn High School graduate, Leslie Goldberg. Leslie is a World Class ophthalmologist and even a better person, making this doctor's office visit something to look forward to. Being who I am, I was apprehensive as to the condition of my ey …
Who says you can’t come home again? Whomever it is will get a vigorous argument from me. I’m home. Put me in Coach I’m ready to play!
One of my earliest memories is hiding my eyes, looking away and cowering behind a movie seat upon watching the appearance of the Wicked Witch of the West in the Wizard of Oz with my mother. Truth be told, the shock and horror has never left me. I looked away and my over stimulated youthful imagination nearly destroyed me. The same thing happene …
I’ve come to the realization that there are three stages of life: Youth, Middle Age and “You Look Good!” I can’t resist that line when someone tells me I look good. Actually, in my case, the third stage is what I call my Afterlife. No matter how long I live I will never retire. Rather, I will revel in this stage as a sort of enjoyable, no hold …
I saw The Killer rip it up atop his piano in 1957 to close the show at Alan Freed’s Brooklyn Paramount after Screaming Jay Hawkins rose from his coffin to put an eternal spell on me. That same year I saw Althea Gibson make everlasting history by winning the Women’s Tennis Singles Final at the old Forest Hills. I was alone with my idol Elvis at a …
As blogged last week, Saturday was my birthday and it was a very very nice day. Thank you all for your happy birthday wishes through blog comments, emails, texts, cards, phone calls and Facebook messages! Presents came too. Examples are cool Roy Orbison/Sun records and Batman tees plus significant numeral art work from Jo, a chilled bottle of m …
Fridays With Fred
A perfect way to send you into your weekend