I’m down at Maggie’s and I just wanted to bring you up to date.
I left for my “ride around” vacation on Saturday, September 13th after the 5:30 pm Mass. I drove to Ranson, West Virginia and visited Marilyn and Frank Cavallaro, old and dear friends. We sat and laughed and caught up. Frank had a serious fall about 7 weeks ago and with therapy and Mal’s good care; he is making a great recovery. He did go to bed around 10:30PM and Mal and I stayed up talking till 3:30AM. We were always good at late night talks. Their home is on a regular street but little noise and so I slept very well.
On Sunday, the 14th, we all went to the Bavarian Inn in Shepherdstown for a brunch. Mary McGreevy, her daughter Sara, her daughter Bella, her daughter-in-law, Chrisie, her son, Roman, and daughter, Grace were all there and we had a great meal and a wonderful visit. After that, I headed to Cincinnati, Ohio. It was about 400 miles and I got there around 8 PM and checked into a motel and relaxed.
On Monday, the 15th (Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows), I drove over to Mt. Notre Dame Health Center, where Sister Ann Christine (Sister Natalie) is living. She will be 88 in November and moved out to Cincinnati last year as her health required more care. She had been in Baltimore for the last few years and I could go and take her out for a meal and had regular visits. We do talk on the phone but it was so nice to see her. The nurse I spoke to on the phone about coming said, “Father, she’s not as good as she was when last you were here; so I don’t want you to be disappointed if she isn’t sure she knows you.” I said, “I’m not coming for her, I’m coming for me. I just want to see her”. Well, I walked in and she said, “what are you doing here?” I said, “I came to see you”. Then she said to the 6 other sisters who were in the room, “I taught him in kindergarten and first grade” I ended up staying for three hours and we talked about the other kids in the classes and various assignments she has had over the years. I even joined her and the sisters for lunch. It was a great visit. I left and drove about 300 miles to Pittsburgh and had supper with Keith and Sheila Morris.
On Tuesday, the 16th, I had a very interesting day. While talking with the Morrises, I mentioned a problem I had in Ohio. My brakes didn’t work. Eventually they did and so I drove on to Pittsburgh. They felt this was “more than inconvenient, it might be serious”; so we took it to their mechanic to look at. It seems the brake cylinder was shot. It would take a day to replace it. As I was supposed to be at a 4 PM Mass in Latrobe that day. Keith and I went to see a movie, Calvary (I can recommend it because I am glad I saw it; but it is NOT a comedy!!)and then he drove me to St. Vincent’s. Bob Norton, Rich Wesolowski, and Tom Kredel sat together for the dinner and saw lots of old friends. Then Bob, Tom and I stayed the night at the hotel.
On Wednesday the 17th, after breakfast, Tom drove me to the Morrises’ house and Sheila and I went to get my car. Then I headed to Philly. I was suppose to have a fancy dinner with Terry Odien, John Bohrer and Joe Stoutzenberger to celebrate John’s and my 70th birthdays; but I called when I discovered about the brakes and said to cancel the dinner as I didn’t know when I’d be there. So they did. Then it turned out, that I was in Philly by 6 PM, so we all met out in Chestnut Hill and had supper together. It was great as always!! Then I drove to Atlantic City and had comp rooms at the Taj Mahal. I slept very well.
(I THINK I’LL POST THIS AND CONTINUE LATER)
Waiting for “the rest of the story….” 🙂