August, the month of birthdays, is with us. It, this birthday month, has for us more of them than any other month of the year. There is the Mary’s: McSorley and MacDonald (June’s sister) on the fifth and sixth; Danny McSorley and Denise Bugey on the seventh; Bryan MacDonald, Jr. on the eleventh; Paul Leo, Jr. on the sixteenth; Sr. Mary Rita McSorley on the nineteenth; and the month ends with grandson, Paul Joseph Berger, on the thirty-first. So let’s all join in and sing, “Happy Birthday To You! …Hope you remember the words!
We are celebrating our 16 years of marriage (5/15) in St. Petersburg, Fl. by getting our house in order. We are converting just a “house” into a “Home”. It is being painted, carpet laid, appliances installed, air conditioning and heating system replaced, garage door replaced, a new porch being built in place of the old one, phone connected, etc. etc. (I can report as I retype this now all the above has been done and a new driveway will be laid by the time be return!) We hope to have it ready by Paul’s Birthday and then leave once more for Dorcas Street. We will then gather up our belongings and furniture and return to Connecticut Avenue, NE. In St. Pete’s our new address and phone number will be (post 9/19 approx):
1644 Connecticut Avenue, NE
St. Petersburg FL. 33703
(813)-522-4796
On or about September 19,1997 we will have a settlement on our property on Dorcas Street. Then it’s off to Shore Acres.
We went out for dinner to celebrate our anniversary at a restaurant near Madeira Beach. As we entered on the large slate board stood the list of the ‘Today’s Specials” written in chalk. Below them, Lo and behold, it said: “Congratulations! It’s a girl “Hanna Elizabeth, 7lbs 11 ozs. 20 inches long…” Who would believe that some 1500 miles away we would be reminded of our own new “Hannah Elizabeth” born just 5 months ago! We hope she is coming along with her therapy and will give you all a report as soon as we have anything further.
I ran into my father the other night here in Florida. Sounds like a line from the play “Da!”. I was a bit surprised to see him here in Florida but then he did not seem upset that I was asleep. I was complaining to him about his failing to offer me any sex education. As I recall the only instructions I ever received were comments he made as he passed by the open bathroom door, as I was relieving myself, “take care of that you will need it if you ever get married!!” or words to that effect. My complaints to him however fell on deaf ears and were quickly dismissed when he asked me: “Well what sex education did you ever give your sons?” Touché! Never could win an argument with Him! Case dismissed!
My father wasn’t much into instructing but then neither was I. Most of his edicts were in epigrams like “Don’t waste time! Phones are for messages not conversation! (My daughter Mazy reminded me recently that I passed this one on to my children). He did teach by example rather than by words. His disciplining himself, certainly over done on occasion, will always be with me. It was real work and he did do it well. I now know the nature of the task and admire his having done so. He also, along with Mom made us realize, very early, that education is worth the work. Nothing new here, just reminiscing about the ‘old boy’ who would be 111 years old in 1997. Seems like a” moment” when we read about the Neanderthal Man becoming extinct 50,000 years ago.
Recalling, “Father”, reminds me of some stories I crossed in reading about the “Father” of Our Country, G.W. It appears that George was aloof and aristocratic to the core. His aura of complete control at all times made him an unforgettable character even to his contemporaries. One story I read was in Catherine Drinker Bowen’s “Miracle at Philadelphia”. It seems Alexander Hamilton and some of the boys while drinking in one of the Inns discussed George’s aloofness and untouchable quality. He certainly was not ” one of the boys” at the Constitutional Convention. Alex ventured that it was really not that bad and made a bet that he could walk up to George and give him one of those,” How hell are ya greetings!” with a pat or slap on the back. Some accepted Alex’s offer; others begged off knowing Alex had been one of George’s aide-de-camp during the war. Later in another pub while George was standing alone, in front of a fireplace contemplating or whatever General’s do, Alex walked over to him. When he came abreast of GW, he started to raise his arm to the shoulder of the General while saying “Hello”. George turned his head a bit and glared at the arm and Alex. The arm fell to one side! Catherine omitted telling us how much
Alex lost on that challenge but we all recall how he lost his life on another one with a guy named Burr.
The other George story appeared in the “American Sphinx” by Joseph Ellis, an analysis of the character of Thomas Jefferson. It reports the battles around George waged by TJ, a cabinet member, and no other know “who” stepped on my foot! Why? The foot stepping is easy. We are proud to report the incident of the unintentional touching, but when “we “see men embrace, touching, kissing, it is tougher. It collides with the “no intentional touching code” of the American Male. We make exceptions in the boxing ring, wrestling mat, football field, hockey rink, etc. etc. That touching is OK. Violent touching is allowed, we “color” other touching as effeminate, flowery (i.e. pansy).
I watched two men walking holding hands and I boiled. My mind asked why but my feelings said it’s wrong. I colored it as I have been made to feel that way over a lifetime of learning all about “sin”.
In contrast, June had an experience while walking to work several mornings seeing two men holding hands and kissing good-bye. She shrugged it off until one day she noticed only one man as she walked by. Her thought was something like: “I hope nothing has happened between them!” No condemnation here, just good old plain sympathy for the possibility of a broken relationship.
Maybe it just comes easier if you’re a woman!
We opened these pages with “birthdays” in August present; we would like to now think about August birthdays past, viz., Frank and John. They were both born on the 25th of this month ten years apart (1913 & 1923: Frank number one son, number one child; and, John number six son and number ninth child!). I think of John often when I stay at his son’s Richard’s house. He spent his last days here. We, June and I were further reminded of him as we walked Shore Acres. We pass the house of his widow Dee. His old Chevy is parked in the driveway. Dee must at least continue to use the name “McSorley” since I answered a telephone call at Rich’s home asking for “Dee McSorley”. I advised the caller: No, I do not know her phone number, No, I do not know her precise address but it is on Overlook Drive, etc., etc. She is an enigma.
Apparently the only “McSorley” she ever wants to hear about is when she’s addressed as “Mrs. McSorley”!
We close with the news that we will move on either the 17th or 18th of September. Our next episode will be from Connecticut Avenue, Shore Acres, and St. Petersburg, Florida Vale!