Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show...(the opening lines of David Copperfield as written by Charles Dickens;inspired by MTM). Or at least this ACCOUNT will, perhaps, have a reflection on whether I'm going to be the hero in my own life.
Love is the emblem of eternity;
it confounds all notions of time;
effaces all memory of beginning,
all fear of an end.
- Madame de Stael -
Nicole's birthday was. of course, last Thursday---21, July. She wanted to celebrate it on a more personal basis, so she spent the day including Brooke Lyn in her activities. And I think some time was spent on the road of reconciliation with Brian. Don't quote me on this, but I think this was the case. In the process, it was decided that we, as a family, would celebrate Nicole's birthday on Friday. Even as Fridays are laced with 'agendas', apparently we were going to recognize Nicole birthday on a Friday, 22 July.
Recognize!?!? We ended up going Big-Time!! It was Nicole's birthday, after all~~~so it was going to be her choice. The choice was completely unexpected. But having had the chance to experience ALL of its aspects, I thought it was an excellent choice. So much so, that I now have it as a mental file-card in my head as a top-shelf place to have a dinner, and enjoy the food, the atmosphere, and the accommodations~~~both inside the restaurant---as well as outside the restaurant. The outside of the restaurant has a lounge setup on a deck, that is attached to the restaurant, overlooking the pristine Buffalo Harbor waterfront!! In effect, Nicole's birthday was celebrated on a Friday---and it was celebrated on a grand scale. The name of the restaurant is Templeton Landing
2 Templeton Terrace
Buffalo, NY 14202 http://www.templetonlanding.com
Email: gmunit86@srcmail.com
Phone: (716) 852-7337
Templeton Landing
writes...
Drop an anchor at Buffalo's finest full-service waterfront restaurant establishment. Templeton Landing. We are proud to feature a fun and friendly atmosphere that is accentuated by our cozy patio fire places, and our classic waterfront decor. Enjoy our new menu offerings that are signature regional favorites, and classic recipes from Western New York. On our two level patio, we will entertain you and your friends throughout the summer with live music, good cheer and our attentive team service. The excitement will continue throughout the winter months with cozy dining and bar offerings that will make staying home during the colder months a thing of the past. Our restaurant is a world class destination that has been designed and built with the guest's experience at the heart. We know you will enjoy everything we have to offer. Great memories, wonderful food, and friendly service make Templeton Landing your favorite place to land in Buffalo. Cheers!
How is this a reflection on my birthday; the point?? Only this. My birthday; my 60th birthday(in some minds, considered a milepost), was celebrated alone. I take note of so many of my friends that as well are at the 60-year-old-plateau, and how they are recognizing it. It isn't so much that it was my birthday; I had 59 of these already. It was just that I was given to feel that no recognition was needed; I didn't exist. We do celebrate birthdays on Fridays, except mine.
At this point, we will call this~~~water over the dam.
On Sunday, 24 July, we visited Templeton Landing, again. The reason, you ask?!?! The Marconi Family had some very important visitors in town for the week-end. They were USMC fox-hole mate of USMC Corporal Philip Marconi, Jason Roland. Along with Jason, was his cousin Valerie Roland, and Jason's God-father, Bill Roland. It was, for the most part, a crash-week-end where a bunch of stuff was spontaneously put together, and was done with the Rolands, and Philip. When Sunday came around, we were able to do a couple of things that actually included---the two families. The first was taking it an afternoon Class A baseball game which included Philip playing in. He was able to play at SS, which is his preferred position to play. And, he was able to play the whole game. On the other Class A club he plays for, he is often platooned, and when he does play, it is the right-field position. But with The Buffalos---he played well defensively, did respectable at the plate, and was contributory in run production to have the Buffalos win a closely contested affair. With Sunday being the last full day that the Rolands were going to be in Buffalo, I wanted to do something special. The Rolands are special people; Jason Roland in particular, so I wanted to something to make a favorable first-impression, as well as a lasting-impression. The two families were going to have dinner together. The question was---where??? The weather was beautiful, the company was warm, friendly, and congenial, and except for Erica being in Chicago, IL with the Amico side of the family, all of the Marconis were present; and accounted for!! I figured, what I had in mind, was going to be a 'NATURAL'. Buffalo is the Queen City. We sit on a beautiful Buffalo Harbor waterfront. What better place to enjoy a good dinner, and surroundings that are value-added to the atmosphere, than Templeton Landing. Bill Roland was so caught-up in the experience that at one point, he even asked: How did Buffalo, get named Buffalo---especially since it is known that the Plains Buffalo never roamed this far east of the Mississippi River. I was thrilled to oblige with the answer!!
Beau Fleuve's History:
Beau Fleuve (pronounced Bo Fluhve) means Beautiful River. It was the name said to have been given to our area by early French explorer-traders. Because non-French speakers had trouble pronouncing it, Beau Fleuve became simplified to Buffalo.
I made it a point to validate this perspective on a social networking site because I sensed that the explanation was not being recognized by everyone in attendance; I think there was a doubting-Thomas, if you will. The whole experience was extraordinary. As we suppered, the sun was setting. It was surreal being in the midst of such a setting that was almost transformational.
What was so pleasing to me, as well, was that that the facility was so scooter-friendly.
While I would be downtown Monday 25 July, Philip would take Monday off from his work-place so that he could spend some more time with the Rolands. They wanted to see Niagara Falls, and get a bite-to-eat, before heading back toward Lake Placid, NY.
For me personally, I was so very happy that the Rolands, and in particular Jason, was given a very receptive welcome and embrace. His life hasn't been the greatest since he left the USMC. I am sure that there is a thought that floats often in his head wondering if leaving the USMC was a wise choice. I mean, when you are not deployed, and dodging bullets all day, one gets housing, 3-square-meals-a-day, and a regular pay check. As long as you mind your pees-and-queues, you are part of a functional self-contained community. Do this for 20 years, and you now have a vested pension that you can immediately draw from.
The private sector is not so predictable. And that unpredictability hasn't favored Jason. What I am trying to say, is that if he is having one of his 'down' times, he has a family that he can come to and spend some time with, to recharge his batteries.
Tuesday 26 July, I went to QUEST to submit another vile of blood for another PSA reading. It is hoped and prayed that the 'reading' is a favorable one. And I paid another visit to the friendly confines of the local SSA Office. The intent is to Continue to bring in the ECBOE statements. My concern is that these statement-levels are higher than the TWP cut-off amounts. I will have to make some kind course-correction on all of this, probably by the end of the year. This at least gives me a window to assess, and that gives me some time to decide on a course-of-action.
CODEX~~~Have to pray hard for a couple of matters. One is the above. Another has to do with a very very dear friend, who is carrying a very very heavy heart at this time. I have You in my thoughts and prayers; always.
CODEX: Strength; serious accusation
Wednesday 27 July, spent the day downtown; and actually talked to Sandy M. I was surprised that she was this open, because we really haven't spent much time together at all. Like me, she WAS on Social Security Disability. I was so confused because she is a FULL-TIME employee. So obviously, the question begged to be asked. How are you on SSDI and working full-time. What she had to do---was give up her SSDI. This was some time ago, already that she had to do this. In having this continued conversation with Sandy, the other thing that was upsetting to me a bit, was that the rules had changed. When she was P/T @ the ECBOE, and getting SSDI, the two-for-one-deal, was in effect. Sadly, it now is not. At least not on a volunteer basis. It is only available as a 'lottery' pick. And this sucks, because I went all the way to Senator Charles E. Schumer to see if the SSA could be 'tweaked' so that I would be a 'lottery' participant. Even he couldn't shake anything loose from the vine, on my behalf. In effect, in this two-for-one-deal, was is allowed to happen is that for every two dollars one makes over the cut-off, one dollar is returned back to SSA. You can still work, and keep your SSDI; you just return half of the overage, back to SSA. What this would mean for me, is that I can continue to keep my head above water, and still hold on to my group health insurance plan which would include Donna, and Erica as long as she remains a full-time student.
But---I don't have this two-for-one-deal available, so now I may, at 60 years old, and a cripple, approach the ECBOE to see if a F/T position is available. In effect, this will put my SSDI in suspended animation, but I will have a health insurance plan. If I ask for reduced hours to get below the cut-off, I will no longer be an RPT(regular part-time) classification, so I will have to waive participation in the health insurance program. It is so maddening. I paid into this all my life, and at 60 years old, and acutely walking impaired, I am still having to fight to attain and hold onto anything.
But Hey!!! My health insurance plan now has myself a mouth-full of teeth---to die for!! When I went in to get my teeth cleaned in May, Dr Hannon comes in subsequently, to discuss my X-rays. He mentions that the insurance will cover it, so~~~'we' are going to take care of the two chipped molars in the upper left. Seriously!?!? Are you kidding??? These are two chipped molars that I have had chipped from football, when I was a teenager, for God's sake. They haven't bothered me for all these years. Now that I'm in the zenith of my life, and am more concerned about my walking impairedness, I am going to have a vanity-fair mouthful of teeth. So Thursday 28 July, I go to Dr Hannon's office, and get this done.
Later that same Thursday, I paid another visit to Dr Bennett's DeGraff Wellness Center location to demonstrate how well I have integrated the reciprocating walker into my everyday activity. She was very very impressed with how quickly I desired to assimilate the whole process into my lifestyle. She paid particular attention to the detail of how I, and Ellen of HOME DEPOT, 'created' the hooking apparatus on the back of my basket to carry the walker around for me, on the backside of my scooter. She told me to continue using the reciprocating walker until the one I ordered from Sheridan Surgical, comes in. And she was also impressed that I have the trial-day with the baclofen-pump implant, already set up as well. That, of course, is Thursday 18 August, 2011.
There is just so many concerns on this plate right now; Room for Dessert?!?!?
--{-=@
Hickok
The Promise
NB: The one whom one would've always implicitly thought to be trusted; to be supportive~~~to be standing by another's side would instead, in a confrontational tone---remark: You have your upper-body-strength; otherwise, I'd be stronger than you. This certainly had me taken aback. I thank God that by-and-large, I can get myself beyond the petty innuendos, and still see myself as "The Little Engine That Could."
Friday, July 29, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Reciprocating Walker??
Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show...(the opening lines of David Copperfield as written by Charles Dickens;inspired by MTM). Or at least this ACCOUNT will, perhaps, have a reflection on whether I'm going to be the hero in my own life.
When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have
All of me~~~My Immortal; Evanescense
On Friday, 15 July, 2011 I have this doctor's appointment at the U B Neurological Clinic. It is affiliated with The Dent Neurological Clinic in Amherst, NY. I am to see a neurological surgeon to discuss the implantation of a pump. Almost immediately, I am overwhelmed. I am sure it is because my layman's mind is just that; a simple one. In part, this is because besides Dr. Robert Plunkett in the meeting, there was also a physical therapist as well; Dr. Susan Bennett. Before Dr. Plunkett gets far into the technical explanation of the surgery, he asks that I allow Dr Bennett to go-to-town on me. She is asking me to do all these different types of lower-limb positions. She invariably, has to aid in having me assuming some of these positions because I just don't have the ability to do so on my own. As I am doing these, she is calling-off, for Plunkett to note, different score; tension-point numbers.
Once this is concluded, both Doctors now want to actually see me walk. Both are very absorbed by the acute degree of spasticity, how turned-in my feet are at the ankle as I struggle to get the one gait to drag itself ahead of the other, while I laboriously try to keep myself upright with the aid of two canes. Bennett does not like what she is seeing. Yes!! I know!! Which part!?!? She tells me..."you won't be using those canes, when you will be 'trialing' this pump, all day, at The Buffalo General Hospital." She adds..."we are going to trial this all day, to see your reaction to the baclofen dosages." "You will need to have something steady and trusting to keep you upright, in case the dosage does impact you to where you are feeling groggy or drowsy."
She then asks..."have you ever heard of a Reciprocating Walker???" By now I am thinking~~~"Lou, you are in---so over your head." And additionally---"what in God's name is a reciprocating walker???" Is this going to be my next 'steady' piece of equipment?? How much is this going to cost??? Don't worry Jesus---I still Love You!! Gggrrr!!
Plunkett and Bennett ask me to sit back down on the gurney. They can tell, by now, I am an information-overload wasteland. Bennett jumps in to try to get me focused again. What she wants me to do is to arrange for an appointment at her DeGraff Wellness Center. There, she will show me this reciprocating walker, and 'walk' me through its various aspects, including actually having me use one so that I can feel comfortable with it. This is, of course, because this will be the apparatus that I am going to be using during my trial day with the baclofen 'pump' at the Buffalo General Hospital.
Among other things, I have to find out how one obtains these. Preliminary investigations indicate that these are not cheap. It is not like going to the local Ivy Lea Pharmacy and buying a $69.00 cane. Does the Wellness Center rent these; rent to buy?? Do health insurance plans provide some relief?? Does the Wellness Center sell these at a discount?? Is what I am doing part of a "UNIVERSITY" study?? Is there some cost relief, or in-kind gestures afforded me, because of this??
Time-will-tell on this one. An appointment is arranged for Thursday 21 July, 2011 @ 15:15PM, through Michelle, for the DeGraff Wellness Center. There, I will be working first-hand with Dr. Susan Bennett. To make sure that as many people as possible are involved with this learning curve, I have made it a point to make sure that Donna will accompany me on this meeting. The struggle that is a part & parcel of my existence, is often perceived differently from the ivory tower, than from seeing it first-hand, at the ground-level.
--{-=@
Hickok
The Promise
When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have
All of me~~~My Immortal; Evanescense
On Friday, 15 July, 2011 I have this doctor's appointment at the U B Neurological Clinic. It is affiliated with The Dent Neurological Clinic in Amherst, NY. I am to see a neurological surgeon to discuss the implantation of a pump. Almost immediately, I am overwhelmed. I am sure it is because my layman's mind is just that; a simple one. In part, this is because besides Dr. Robert Plunkett in the meeting, there was also a physical therapist as well; Dr. Susan Bennett. Before Dr. Plunkett gets far into the technical explanation of the surgery, he asks that I allow Dr Bennett to go-to-town on me. She is asking me to do all these different types of lower-limb positions. She invariably, has to aid in having me assuming some of these positions because I just don't have the ability to do so on my own. As I am doing these, she is calling-off, for Plunkett to note, different score; tension-point numbers.
Once this is concluded, both Doctors now want to actually see me walk. Both are very absorbed by the acute degree of spasticity, how turned-in my feet are at the ankle as I struggle to get the one gait to drag itself ahead of the other, while I laboriously try to keep myself upright with the aid of two canes. Bennett does not like what she is seeing. Yes!! I know!! Which part!?!? She tells me..."you won't be using those canes, when you will be 'trialing' this pump, all day, at The Buffalo General Hospital." She adds..."we are going to trial this all day, to see your reaction to the baclofen dosages." "You will need to have something steady and trusting to keep you upright, in case the dosage does impact you to where you are feeling groggy or drowsy."
She then asks..."have you ever heard of a Reciprocating Walker???" By now I am thinking~~~"Lou, you are in---so over your head." And additionally---"what in God's name is a reciprocating walker???" Is this going to be my next 'steady' piece of equipment?? How much is this going to cost??? Don't worry Jesus---I still Love You!! Gggrrr!!
Plunkett and Bennett ask me to sit back down on the gurney. They can tell, by now, I am an information-overload wasteland. Bennett jumps in to try to get me focused again. What she wants me to do is to arrange for an appointment at her DeGraff Wellness Center. There, she will show me this reciprocating walker, and 'walk' me through its various aspects, including actually having me use one so that I can feel comfortable with it. This is, of course, because this will be the apparatus that I am going to be using during my trial day with the baclofen 'pump' at the Buffalo General Hospital.
Among other things, I have to find out how one obtains these. Preliminary investigations indicate that these are not cheap. It is not like going to the local Ivy Lea Pharmacy and buying a $69.00 cane. Does the Wellness Center rent these; rent to buy?? Do health insurance plans provide some relief?? Does the Wellness Center sell these at a discount?? Is what I am doing part of a "UNIVERSITY" study?? Is there some cost relief, or in-kind gestures afforded me, because of this??
Time-will-tell on this one. An appointment is arranged for Thursday 21 July, 2011 @ 15:15PM, through Michelle, for the DeGraff Wellness Center. There, I will be working first-hand with Dr. Susan Bennett. To make sure that as many people as possible are involved with this learning curve, I have made it a point to make sure that Donna will accompany me on this meeting. The struggle that is a part & parcel of my existence, is often perceived differently from the ivory tower, than from seeing it first-hand, at the ground-level.
--{-=@
Hickok
The Promise
Saturday, July 9, 2011
A Man Scorned...
Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show...(the opening lines of David Copperfield as written by Charles Dickens;inspired by MTM). Or at least this ACCOUNT will, perhaps, have a reflection on whether I'm going to be the hero in my own life.
...A man who came to my valley
A man I hardly knew
A man who came to my garden
Grew to love me
A girl I saw in a valley
A girl I hardly knew
A girl at work in her garden
Grew to love me
From the gate
He called out so kindly
"Lass, wouldst thou 'low me
Rest here, I've ridden quite far"
"Share my tea"
She bade me so gently
Oatcakes and cream
Sweet plums in a jar...Secret Garden Lyrics » A Girl In The Valley
She toils through the incessant unforgiving heat of the overhead sun. As the time laboriously crawls its way into the late afternoon, the madame of the house is still on hands and knees with the gardening and weeding that her sense of urgency has her still undertaking. It is well into summer and she wants to get the landscape of the household fine-tooth-combed.
The madame is wearing a thin gauze pullover garment for comfort. It is cotton and is stitched in a manner that allows the subtle hint of her body's silhouette and accents to be suggested. The elastic bands cinch her at the waist. And again at the top, where the garment gives her bronzed neck and shoulders to the glow of the sun.
With the garment allowing the ease of movement, the labor of the tasks that the madame is undertaking, the unforgiving sun, and the humid standing-still air, has the garment clinging to her bosom, because of the sweat that is profusely beading from her every pore.
The elastic band stitched in the gauze garment around her waist cinches the garment so that her form takes on that of the hourglass. The view offers a primal appeal that can easily have the eye resting on this subject for a very elongated 'moment'. What is left of the pullover drapes down just beyond the hindquarters and thighs. What is revealed are the bronzed shapely limbs; legs that have a glistening, glowing tinge layered over them from the sweat that is emanating from her because the sun is still high over the sky in which it is resting. The madame is kneeling prone giving her the stability on the one hand, and the mobility on the other, that is needed as she prods along with the tasks she is so immersed in.
Being otherwise barefoot, the madame's dark brunette hair is tautly drawn back so that there exists a very generous bun resting on the back of her head allowing her to easily wipe away, with the palm of her hand, the droplets of sweat that continuously bead onto her forehead.
As the man of the house comes from his activities and errands in the downtown area, he becomes keenly aware of all of the work and effort that has transpired on his property to have the landscape, and the appointments become so alive, so vibrant, and with such an eye for a balanced symmetry. And being an earthbound part of humanity, he sees as well, how spent, and yet how sensual his madame appears persevering through the day working so closely with mother-nature. Above and beyond everything else, the madame wanted to see, by the end results, that mother-nature would bestow on madame, the seal-of-approval.
The man of the house wanted to offer his seal of approval, as well.
In the driveway of their property, he presented to her, her favorite; a freshly prepared pink Rose.
As the man of the house was presenting this rose of recognition, he added; "this is to thank you for all of the work that is very evident."
With a very removed, and reserved facial expression; with no responsive warmth or glow attached to the expression at all---as my expectation anticipated, she gave a low hesitating 'thank you', turned, and Walked Away.
The Scorn; its continuation...
--{-=@
Hickok
The Promise
...A man who came to my valley
A man I hardly knew
A man who came to my garden
Grew to love me
A girl I saw in a valley
A girl I hardly knew
A girl at work in her garden
Grew to love me
From the gate
He called out so kindly
"Lass, wouldst thou 'low me
Rest here, I've ridden quite far"
"Share my tea"
She bade me so gently
Oatcakes and cream
Sweet plums in a jar...Secret Garden Lyrics » A Girl In The Valley
She toils through the incessant unforgiving heat of the overhead sun. As the time laboriously crawls its way into the late afternoon, the madame of the house is still on hands and knees with the gardening and weeding that her sense of urgency has her still undertaking. It is well into summer and she wants to get the landscape of the household fine-tooth-combed.
The madame is wearing a thin gauze pullover garment for comfort. It is cotton and is stitched in a manner that allows the subtle hint of her body's silhouette and accents to be suggested. The elastic bands cinch her at the waist. And again at the top, where the garment gives her bronzed neck and shoulders to the glow of the sun.
With the garment allowing the ease of movement, the labor of the tasks that the madame is undertaking, the unforgiving sun, and the humid standing-still air, has the garment clinging to her bosom, because of the sweat that is profusely beading from her every pore.
The elastic band stitched in the gauze garment around her waist cinches the garment so that her form takes on that of the hourglass. The view offers a primal appeal that can easily have the eye resting on this subject for a very elongated 'moment'. What is left of the pullover drapes down just beyond the hindquarters and thighs. What is revealed are the bronzed shapely limbs; legs that have a glistening, glowing tinge layered over them from the sweat that is emanating from her because the sun is still high over the sky in which it is resting. The madame is kneeling prone giving her the stability on the one hand, and the mobility on the other, that is needed as she prods along with the tasks she is so immersed in.
Being otherwise barefoot, the madame's dark brunette hair is tautly drawn back so that there exists a very generous bun resting on the back of her head allowing her to easily wipe away, with the palm of her hand, the droplets of sweat that continuously bead onto her forehead.
As the man of the house comes from his activities and errands in the downtown area, he becomes keenly aware of all of the work and effort that has transpired on his property to have the landscape, and the appointments become so alive, so vibrant, and with such an eye for a balanced symmetry. And being an earthbound part of humanity, he sees as well, how spent, and yet how sensual his madame appears persevering through the day working so closely with mother-nature. Above and beyond everything else, the madame wanted to see, by the end results, that mother-nature would bestow on madame, the seal-of-approval.
The man of the house wanted to offer his seal of approval, as well.
In the driveway of their property, he presented to her, her favorite; a freshly prepared pink Rose.
As the man of the house was presenting this rose of recognition, he added; "this is to thank you for all of the work that is very evident."
With a very removed, and reserved facial expression; with no responsive warmth or glow attached to the expression at all---as my expectation anticipated, she gave a low hesitating 'thank you', turned, and Walked Away.
The Scorn; its continuation...
--{-=@
Hickok
The Promise
Friday, July 1, 2011
The Gale Has Swept In...
Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show...(the opening lines of David Copperfield as written by Charles Dickens;inspired by MTM). Or at least this ACCOUNT will, perhaps, have a reflection on whether I'm going to be the hero in my own life.
...It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death! The closing paragraph of the; Give Me Liberty, Or Give Me Death---speech, by Patrick Henry
Because the Arizona summers were getting increasing difficult, Barry Goodwin & his wife Kathy have bought a summer condo in East Amherst, NY. The significance; you ask?? Well---Barry went to Cathedral Grade School, and then Bishop Fallon High School; class of 1969. With Barry having come back to Buffalo NY, this was decided to be an excellent reason to put another 'fellowship' together. Sue McKnight had suggested the DOCKSIDE ON THE CANAL---and it proved to be an excellent choice. We met @ 7:00PM on Tuesday 28 June, 2011. What was particularly impressive was that some new faces decided to join this rendezvous. Besides the regulars of Jim & Barbara Barrett and son Shamus, Blaine Wegrzynowski, Norb Warnes, Sue McKnight, and very belatedly Joe Barrile, that made the journey, we had a couple of newcomers who joined in, on the fun---Tommy Gannon, and Jimmy Eagan. The weather was great, the food was delicious, and the conversations were lively and spontaneous. I was not aware of it---at the time---but something very murky, had dropped into the mix, on the home-front of Tuesday; at 20:44PM---to be exact. The festivities adjourned at about 22:00PM. I left with a good feeling about the evening, the service by Justaline, and that I had, in effect, found another good location for subsequent rendezvous. And from a personal standpoint, I am eager to find out about Wednesdays, having to do with AMTRAK schedules, and the TRESTLE BRIDGE overpass on the Erie Canal part of Ellicott Creek. As a train-enthusiast, I was thrilled to see on Tuesday, twice during our stay, the AMTRAK passenger train passing by, in the N/B direction. One of them was the Empire State Express, and one of them had to be, The Maple Leaf Ltd!!
Wednesday 29 June, 2011---at least as I am progressing through the ECBOE activity, is pretty much going to plan. Once I get home, and settle-in, something very very unsettling, comes into focus. Like myself, when Andrew gets home from work, and he got in just a bit in front of me, he goes through a little bit of a routine. Included in the routine is catching up on some messages left on the phone voice-message system---that included messages from Tuesday. I, of course, was @ DOCKSIDE ON THE CANAL, on Tuesday---till late, and Donna & Andrew went to The Merge Restaurant for their supper, and got back late,as well.
The second message---the one that came in @ 20:44PM Tuesday---was bone-rattling, heart-racing, scary, and numbing. It was a message left by the family black-sheep; the one bad-apple---Margaret. The second youngest of eight, she is ten years my junior. To make a very very long story short, her life has been wasted on drugs and alcohol. In her younger years, she gave birth to two children. The first one was a boy named Paul. Because Margaret had failed as a mother with Paul, he was adopted by a family in Grand Isle, NY. The family Paul was adapted into, moved away from Grand Isle, and through FACEBOOK, recently reconnected with with his other sibling. Paul now resides in North Carolina. Margaret had a second child; a daughter, named Erica Christine. Margaret's attempt at mothering this child---failed miserably as well. We; Lou & Donna Marconi, stepped in and ADOPTED Erica. It was an especially long and arduous process because the State of New York's orientation toward adoptions is ALWAYS with deference to the biological mother. Because of this deference, it took us over ten years, to finally make the adoption official. In Judge Mattina's courtroom chambers, on 29 August, 2002---it became official. Over the years, Margaret would surface for an inquiring phone-call---and then, disappear again(which was fine by all of us; Erica included).
As I was listening to this recording, I just---went numb. The voice intonations are very very threatening. As each phrase is remarked, the intonations are punctuated with a more macabre, sinister, and bewitching threat-level, so that when she imposes her final word into her statement, I'll be honest with you---I can't say I have EVER HEARD THAT WORD SAID---THAT VOLATILE, before.
The TEXT of the message:
You Bunch of Assholes---
You Dirty Rotten Son of a Bitches---
I'm gonna Kill You---
And I'm gonna Ruin Your Property---
For What You Did To My Girl---
YOU SICK FUCKS.
What did I do?? What could I do?? Of course, the first thing I did was tell Andrew--NOT TO DELETE the message. With the message being so threatening and incriminating, it would be my intention to report this to the Kenmore Police Department, and determine what my options would be.
In due course of time, because we just kind of are this way; on a wing and a prayer, rather than having plans already set in place---Andrew wants to get an idea of whom all should he include in supper plans. Toward that end, he calls his mother to see if she is eating with us, or has already 'grabbed' something. She will do that sometimes when she is at one of her all-day cleaning jobs. While I wished he hadn't done this over the phone, he shared with his mother that we got a very nasty message from Margaret. Through the course of the conversation, she concurs---don't delete; we want to tell the police. Donna eventually gets home in due course of time. She had bought some groceries for salad and apparently caught-up with my sister Rose by cell-phone, on these hair-raising developments.
When she comes in to talk to me, having now just listened to the recording herself, she asks---did you call the police?? I replied--No. I quickly added why I did not. I detected a look on her face that suggested; well, why not. I explained that I was waiting for you to get home so we could 'close-ranks' and show a united-front. This dynamic that had just unfolded is a curious one because, based on this line of questioning by Donna, the status-quo of the interior of the house would have been suitable, at this time, to bring the police into. But then again, maybe not.
We decide to have supper first, and then afterwards, have the Kenmore Police department brought to the house. By now it is 20:30PM, when supper is finished. Donna now decides she wants to 'straightened-out' the house. Apparently it was alright earlier, but now, on second-thought, it needed to be squared-away.
At 21:00PM, officer D. Rule arrives. Like Joe Friday of DRAGNET, he wants to hear the recording immediately. As it is finishing, I even noticed his eyebrows drop a tab, as the last word of the message is expressed, with such vile emphasis. After this, Donna & I ask for him to listen to another message that, so ironically, is left on the machine---right after Margaret's. It is a message from Erica---and it is so alive, bubbly, and effervescent!! The officer, here as well, seemed to have a look on his face that concurred with our perspective: Margaret has it---ALL WRONG.
As he pulls out his report form to write it all down, he gives me, as the complainant, my options. Family Court---or Criminal Court. With this being a deadly threat, I choose Criminal Court; the charge, aggravated harassment.
While all of this is unfolding, as a united-front, Donna & I are sitting across from each other, at the kitchen table. Andrew is in the living-room, keeping Tootsie from being a distraction. At no time, does Donna decide to choose a chair alongside me, or at least reach across the table to take my hand---a physical gesture that says we are together in this. Remember earlier, I had reflected that Donna had given me the seal-of-approval to have the police come by, and that I would singularly handle the matter.
After the report is completed, and is turned over to me, he exits. In doing so, Donna accompanies him. And this is where I received another sad, in-effect, commentary to our reality.
I mean---My God, these were bone-jarring threats. At least from where I was positioned in all of this, I could have certainly used some gesture, some expression of humanity. And it certainly did not have to be intense or overbearing. I would have appreciated some supportive conversation, a hand being held, an arm around one another's shoulders. Something---anything, that might have said---We Will Get Through This Together.
Having come up the side-door stairs, Donna opens the refrigerator door and pours herself a glass or wine. She then turned her back to me and proceeds to the living room for the desk-top computer and a couple of hours of You-Tube exploration.
The turning of her back, and the walking away from me, had me, with my weighted thoughts at the kitchen-table~~~now alone & abandoned.
--{-=@
Hickok
The Promise
...It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death! The closing paragraph of the; Give Me Liberty, Or Give Me Death---speech, by Patrick Henry
Because the Arizona summers were getting increasing difficult, Barry Goodwin & his wife Kathy have bought a summer condo in East Amherst, NY. The significance; you ask?? Well---Barry went to Cathedral Grade School, and then Bishop Fallon High School; class of 1969. With Barry having come back to Buffalo NY, this was decided to be an excellent reason to put another 'fellowship' together. Sue McKnight had suggested the DOCKSIDE ON THE CANAL---and it proved to be an excellent choice. We met @ 7:00PM on Tuesday 28 June, 2011. What was particularly impressive was that some new faces decided to join this rendezvous. Besides the regulars of Jim & Barbara Barrett and son Shamus, Blaine Wegrzynowski, Norb Warnes, Sue McKnight, and very belatedly Joe Barrile, that made the journey, we had a couple of newcomers who joined in, on the fun---Tommy Gannon, and Jimmy Eagan. The weather was great, the food was delicious, and the conversations were lively and spontaneous. I was not aware of it---at the time---but something very murky, had dropped into the mix, on the home-front of Tuesday; at 20:44PM---to be exact. The festivities adjourned at about 22:00PM. I left with a good feeling about the evening, the service by Justaline, and that I had, in effect, found another good location for subsequent rendezvous. And from a personal standpoint, I am eager to find out about Wednesdays, having to do with AMTRAK schedules, and the TRESTLE BRIDGE overpass on the Erie Canal part of Ellicott Creek. As a train-enthusiast, I was thrilled to see on Tuesday, twice during our stay, the AMTRAK passenger train passing by, in the N/B direction. One of them was the Empire State Express, and one of them had to be, The Maple Leaf Ltd!!
Wednesday 29 June, 2011---at least as I am progressing through the ECBOE activity, is pretty much going to plan. Once I get home, and settle-in, something very very unsettling, comes into focus. Like myself, when Andrew gets home from work, and he got in just a bit in front of me, he goes through a little bit of a routine. Included in the routine is catching up on some messages left on the phone voice-message system---that included messages from Tuesday. I, of course, was @ DOCKSIDE ON THE CANAL, on Tuesday---till late, and Donna & Andrew went to The Merge Restaurant for their supper, and got back late,as well.
The second message---the one that came in @ 20:44PM Tuesday---was bone-rattling, heart-racing, scary, and numbing. It was a message left by the family black-sheep; the one bad-apple---Margaret. The second youngest of eight, she is ten years my junior. To make a very very long story short, her life has been wasted on drugs and alcohol. In her younger years, she gave birth to two children. The first one was a boy named Paul. Because Margaret had failed as a mother with Paul, he was adopted by a family in Grand Isle, NY. The family Paul was adapted into, moved away from Grand Isle, and through FACEBOOK, recently reconnected with with his other sibling. Paul now resides in North Carolina. Margaret had a second child; a daughter, named Erica Christine. Margaret's attempt at mothering this child---failed miserably as well. We; Lou & Donna Marconi, stepped in and ADOPTED Erica. It was an especially long and arduous process because the State of New York's orientation toward adoptions is ALWAYS with deference to the biological mother. Because of this deference, it took us over ten years, to finally make the adoption official. In Judge Mattina's courtroom chambers, on 29 August, 2002---it became official. Over the years, Margaret would surface for an inquiring phone-call---and then, disappear again(which was fine by all of us; Erica included).
As I was listening to this recording, I just---went numb. The voice intonations are very very threatening. As each phrase is remarked, the intonations are punctuated with a more macabre, sinister, and bewitching threat-level, so that when she imposes her final word into her statement, I'll be honest with you---I can't say I have EVER HEARD THAT WORD SAID---THAT VOLATILE, before.
The TEXT of the message:
You Bunch of Assholes---
You Dirty Rotten Son of a Bitches---
I'm gonna Kill You---
And I'm gonna Ruin Your Property---
For What You Did To My Girl---
YOU SICK FUCKS.
What did I do?? What could I do?? Of course, the first thing I did was tell Andrew--NOT TO DELETE the message. With the message being so threatening and incriminating, it would be my intention to report this to the Kenmore Police Department, and determine what my options would be.
In due course of time, because we just kind of are this way; on a wing and a prayer, rather than having plans already set in place---Andrew wants to get an idea of whom all should he include in supper plans. Toward that end, he calls his mother to see if she is eating with us, or has already 'grabbed' something. She will do that sometimes when she is at one of her all-day cleaning jobs. While I wished he hadn't done this over the phone, he shared with his mother that we got a very nasty message from Margaret. Through the course of the conversation, she concurs---don't delete; we want to tell the police. Donna eventually gets home in due course of time. She had bought some groceries for salad and apparently caught-up with my sister Rose by cell-phone, on these hair-raising developments.
When she comes in to talk to me, having now just listened to the recording herself, she asks---did you call the police?? I replied--No. I quickly added why I did not. I detected a look on her face that suggested; well, why not. I explained that I was waiting for you to get home so we could 'close-ranks' and show a united-front. This dynamic that had just unfolded is a curious one because, based on this line of questioning by Donna, the status-quo of the interior of the house would have been suitable, at this time, to bring the police into. But then again, maybe not.
We decide to have supper first, and then afterwards, have the Kenmore Police department brought to the house. By now it is 20:30PM, when supper is finished. Donna now decides she wants to 'straightened-out' the house. Apparently it was alright earlier, but now, on second-thought, it needed to be squared-away.
At 21:00PM, officer D. Rule arrives. Like Joe Friday of DRAGNET, he wants to hear the recording immediately. As it is finishing, I even noticed his eyebrows drop a tab, as the last word of the message is expressed, with such vile emphasis. After this, Donna & I ask for him to listen to another message that, so ironically, is left on the machine---right after Margaret's. It is a message from Erica---and it is so alive, bubbly, and effervescent!! The officer, here as well, seemed to have a look on his face that concurred with our perspective: Margaret has it---ALL WRONG.
As he pulls out his report form to write it all down, he gives me, as the complainant, my options. Family Court---or Criminal Court. With this being a deadly threat, I choose Criminal Court; the charge, aggravated harassment.
While all of this is unfolding, as a united-front, Donna & I are sitting across from each other, at the kitchen table. Andrew is in the living-room, keeping Tootsie from being a distraction. At no time, does Donna decide to choose a chair alongside me, or at least reach across the table to take my hand---a physical gesture that says we are together in this. Remember earlier, I had reflected that Donna had given me the seal-of-approval to have the police come by, and that I would singularly handle the matter.
After the report is completed, and is turned over to me, he exits. In doing so, Donna accompanies him. And this is where I received another sad, in-effect, commentary to our reality.
I mean---My God, these were bone-jarring threats. At least from where I was positioned in all of this, I could have certainly used some gesture, some expression of humanity. And it certainly did not have to be intense or overbearing. I would have appreciated some supportive conversation, a hand being held, an arm around one another's shoulders. Something---anything, that might have said---We Will Get Through This Together.
Having come up the side-door stairs, Donna opens the refrigerator door and pours herself a glass or wine. She then turned her back to me and proceeds to the living room for the desk-top computer and a couple of hours of You-Tube exploration.
The turning of her back, and the walking away from me, had me, with my weighted thoughts at the kitchen-table~~~now alone & abandoned.
--{-=@
Hickok
The Promise
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