Y'all know my dear Dad Vince...today I honor him...
I used this slide show last year and after considering many things, have decided to use it again. The pictures truly are special to me....
They honor three men who are incredibly special to me...my grandfather Ernest "The Boss" as my dad called him, the most incredible dad in the world, Vince Sr. and the person who is the most special in my life, my son Matt.
My mom's father, who my brother and I called "Be-Bop", do not ask me why, died when we were still so very young. Grand dad Ernest lived until he was 90 or so (Dad...I am sure you will let us know his exact age).
He was a larger than life man...who came here as a child from his home in Italy. I have mentioned bits and pieces about him over the years and someday will have to do a much more comprehensive post.
Dad Vince will be 78 this year and does not look or act his age. I never remember him without a head of gray hair, which is why I never thought a second when I began to gray (though they say the hair genetics come from you mom's dad).
I did get my "Marini Belly" from him - gee thanks dad! hahaha - that is no doubt.
Dad worked in publishing for many years. I remember one year when he was at American Home they sponsored a Bar-B-Que for their clients and held it at the skating rink at Rockefeller Center...It was on the news and there was dad on TV manning a grill..how cool!
He still has the newspaper articles done for this event and someday I will try and get them to share with y'all.
He worked at Esquire Magazine for some 17 years and was the Advertising Sales Manager for many of those years. One of his friends told me of a time when Playboy was having a party at their corporate offices in Chicago and dad crashed the party. The story goes that someone came up to him from Playboy and said "Vince, ok, you crashed but can you please let some of our sales people talk to the clients here" seems he had wrangled a few of the top clients in the corner..working them for business!
That is the way I remember the story....
In 1980 both he and I were selling printing for competitors. We had many of the same clients and entertained in the same restaurant. We both had a special table and they were next to each other. On Monday he would be with client A and I would be with client B. On Wednesday he might be with client B and I would be with client A.
I would call a client and they would say "Didn't you get the Purchase Order yet?" and I would say "You mean you gave that old guy the job? How dare you!" All in good spirits.
Dad worked hard and played hard. He took brother Rich and I to Yankee Stadium for games. I remember being in Florida and going to a Marlins/SF Giants game with him (Rich is a huge Giants fan)....We were in Atlanta as a family and we got to see Willie Mays and the Giants vs. the Braves years earlier.
I have talked about the trip south when I was 16 years old. He always knew how to teach a lesson without making you feel small...well maybe a little small!
He took care of Mom Joan when she got sick and made sure she was always comfortable.
They are still in love 56 years after marrying and in a few short weeks will get in their car and begin their summer sojourn up north and then to Memphis.
I am so lucky to still have him in my life...
Today, if dad is around...give him a huge hug...if he has passed...send that hug and feel their love enveloping you.
To those of you out there who are dad's HAPPY FATHERS DAY TO YOU
Love you Dad. THANK YOU ....
Showing posts with label Grandpa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Grandpa. Show all posts
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HAPPY FATHER'S DAY
Today we honor the fathers.
Those dads we can touch
and those who are no longer with us.
If you are a father...Happy Father's Day
For me, it goes back to my grandpa, Ernest.
He was a huge man to me.
My dad called him "boss", so he was even bigger in my eyes.
Totally forgot today is
FLAG DAY...
FLAG DAY...
Our normal post is just below...
I am lucky enough to have Grandpa Marini's Flag. The one his coffin was draped with before his burial. It is in my living room, folded.... I know they make those holders, but I like it out so I can turn it around and see both sides...I put it in my front window on Memorial Day and will do so when I get home and then again on Fourth Of July...
"SOLDIERS BE PROUD"
Today is the day we honor the men and women who
haveworn the uniform of the
UNITED STATES military services.
haveworn the uniform of the
UNITED STATES military services.
Many have served...
have fought in battles to protect
the rights of the citizens of the
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
and the countries we have joined
to provide freedom throughout the world.
have fought in battles to protect
the rights of the citizens of the
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
and the countries we have joined
to provide freedom throughout the world.
Many have not returned...
from these battles, their blood spilled -
leaving behind families and friends.
from these battles, their blood spilled -
leaving behind families and friends.
Many have come back...
different, both physically and mentally -
never to be the same.
different, both physically and mentally -
never to be the same.
Many, the lucky ones, have returned...
to rejoin our society -
to regain their lives.
to rejoin our society -
to regain their lives.
Today, take a minute out of your day and stop...
bow your head...and say a silent prayer for
every single one of these brave veterans.
bow your head...and say a silent prayer for
every single one of these brave veterans.
Our friend Dixie's son will be signing papers
to join the Marines on Monday.
Another in a long line of Americans who feel
the need to help defend our freedom.
We send him our prayers...our good wishes...and our gratitude...
to join the Marines on Monday.
Another in a long line of Americans who feel
the need to help defend our freedom.
We send him our prayers...our good wishes...and our gratitude...
It is Veteran's Day, but let's not forget those
men and women who are serving us today.
I found out about this on THE ICE BOX the blog
of one of our new friends, Desert Songbird.
There is a site where you can send a postcard
to a member of our military
thanking them for their service.
A GREAT IDEA!
Find it HERE
Finally, on a personal note...
THANK YOU GRANDPA - WWI
&
THANK YOU DAD - KOREA
SONG TITLE INDEX: (source www.bmi.com)
SOLDIERS BE PROUD: Composer: Gertrude Daigle
"PEACE IN THE VALLEY"
"WELCOME TO MY MIND"
"LOW VOTER TURNOUT"
"AMERICAN ENGLISH"
"GRANDPA"
Welcome To THE COUCH...Sit on Down and Get Comfy..
"WELCOME TO MY MIND"
"LOW VOTER TURNOUT"
"AMERICAN ENGLISH"
"GRANDPA"
Welcome To THE COUCH...Sit on Down and Get Comfy..
"PEACE IN THE VALLEY"One of our visitors yesterday, Lizza from the Phillipines had this tremendous video on her site yesterday and as it streamed a tear came to my eye.
THE COUCH now shares it with all of you...it truly reminded me that the theme of the day DONA NOBIS PACEM can be started by one individual and if they are sincere and convinced that what they are doing is right, the idea can spread and be accepted by the multitudes...
It also brought to mind the visual from Tianamen Square when one brave soul stood tall against a line of aggressor tanks...
THE COUCH
"WELCOME TO MY MIND"There are many more red dots on our map...South Africa, the Phillipines...more throughout the US.
THE COUCH began as a comfortable place for The Soul Patrol to sit over on that gulag site...and migrated here to Blogger when it became evident we were no longer welcomed there.
In the course of the last few months, our visitors have increased; opening our world to many other writers who honor us by sharing their thoughts on subjects as varied as the population of the world.
"LOW VOTER TURNOUT"Being new to the Memphis area, many of the names mean nothing to me other then party affiliations, not knowing what they stand for or their platforms.
The recent move meant THE COUCH was not able to participate in this election. As a registered independent THE COUCH has always voted for a candidate based upon their beliefs and platforms.
We wonder how many people, who had the ability and right to vote, did not. You see the numbers and realize there are hundreds of thousands of disenfranchised, who feel their one vote means so little they just bag the whole thing.
Put those hundreds of thousands of votes into a ballot box and many election results could change. If you are one who passed the polling places on your way to work, or on your way home, or on your way to and from lunch and you said "It doesn't matter", then you can not complain when your liberties are challenged or the things you believe in disappear.
If you did vote, I tip my hat to you and thank you for exercizing the one right every American, no matter their race, social status, or philosophy is allowed.
"AMERICAN ENGLISH"The question of language in our country. The fact that many new immigrants have deemed it their right to not have to speak English. This is especially prevalent in the Hispanic community.
Now, THE COUCH has no problems with people wanting to speak their native language within their own ethnic group, but asking me to speak your language...and becoming upset if we do not..that is just plain wrong.
How many times have you seen job postings that require you to be bi-lingual English/Spanish?
Why should someone have to speak Spanish to get a job in the United States of America?
Because your co-workers or employees speak Spanish. Why are they not required to speak English?
In the town we just moved from in NJ, there is a large Asian population at this time. Recently there has been a push for the schools to add Cantonese to the language program. This makes THE COUCH laugh, as the majority of students who will take this course come from homes where it is already spoken.
What sense does this make? THE COUCH has no idea.
Again...understand THE COUCH is not insisting that people leave their native tongues behind. What we ask is that the immigrants to this country understand that English is the language spoken here and learn it to become part of our great land.
Have we not always considered the USA a "melting pot". If we still do, then those who join us here - legally - need to be mixed into those of us who have come before them.
"GRANDPA"WHY were we not taught it as a child...
My grandfather and grandmother came over as young people from Italy. When they arrived they only spoke Italian.
As a child, in their home, THE COUCH heard very few words of Italian spoken and when they did speak it, it was only because it was something they did not want us to understand.
Grandpa Ernest believed strongly that The United States of America was his home and English was the language of his country. He fought for the US in WWI and was so proud of his uniform and being a veteran.
He never forgot his native land, but knew that when he and his family moved, the only way to assimilate was to become an American.
As THE COUCH packed for this move, there was one item we needed to find and bring along. It is the flag that covered his coffin when he was buried.
It sits in the living room now, tri-folded as is the custom and looking at it, I can only thank my ancestors for taking the long, frightening journey across a grand ocean, to come to a place they hoped would bring a better life for themselves and their children and their children and so on.
Their wish has come true.
St. J - P.B.U.A.Q.B.
Thanks for sitting on THE COUCH, hope you enjoyed your stay.
PEACE IN THE VALLEY: Composer: Thomas A. Dorsen
WELCOME TO MY MIND: Composer: John Patrick Denery & Chris Imlay
LOW VOTER TURNOUT: Composers: Timothy W. Alexander, Michael David Manring & Alex Nathan Skolnick
AMERICAN ENGLISH: Composers: Andrew M Gold & Graham Keith Gouldman
GRANDPA: Composer David Farnon
