Traveling and visiting was how we spent all of July. We left Florida on July 6th and arrived in Philadelphia on July 8th. We spent the night with son Paul and had a great family dinner with Tracy and her gang. We were off then to what has become our Northern Headquarters the last few times above the Mason Dixon Line, the home of John and Mary MacDonald in Marlton, New Jersey. Their new home in a development called “Village Green” is a beauty, and our accommodations were like having a luxury suite in a five star hotel. Our stay this time was short since we merely unpacked and proceeded further across the state to the shore (called the “beach” in Florida lingo). We went to North Wildwood and had the company one week of Tracy and her sons, Eric and Paulie, and then Mary Lou and the same two another week. Tracy and Mary Lou are June’s daughters. The twins, Sean and David, and their Dad, Walter, joined us on the weekends.
We had a great walk each morning on the oldest boardwalk in America, Wildwood’s. It gave us a view of the ocean and of the myriad of shops which lined the sides of the boardwalk in the central part. They dealt with amusements, body piercing, tattoos, and eating-places. Our stay gave June her beach time and I more reading time. Our apartment had between it and the rear apartment, what is called a ‘breeze way’. It is an opening in which lounge chairs and table are situated. It is and was an ideal place for me; it was out of the sun and it was cool and quiet. It was like an outdoors-Roman library, i.e., lounge chairs in lieu of straight back ones. I had started the newest biography by David McCullough, “John Adams”. I would have no trouble finishing it that first week. As with his biography of Truman I read previously it entertained and educated me on one of the great men of the Revolutionary era. It even made me have second thoughts about the greatness of Thomas Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson lacked Adam’s apparent integrity and wonderful marriage to Abigail. But since I am not required to offer a criticism for Public consumption, I will continue to enjoy the memory of both of them garnered from my reading. (I found later that some columnist reviewing and reading the book offered similar opinions.)
I managed to find a library, a regular one, and not Roman style. It was a challenge, since June, a frequent visitor as a child and later to the area, was ready to bet there was none. It was located in Wildwood Crest, the community just to the south but part of Wildwood. I found in addition around the corner a block or so from our residence an elementary school with a library-computer room. It was open to the public on certain days in the morning. I paid one visit and for part of the time had the company of some twenty elementary school students learning mathematics with the aid of games on the newest educational tool.
One day we walked instead of the Boardwalk down one of the main streets, Atlantic Avenue, to the Post Office to mail a letter. As a usual part of our morning walks we would purchase the newspaper. In Wildwood the paper cost fifty cents, as against 25 cents in St. Pete’s. (On our return I learned that is no longer true, it is now 35 cents.) I usually make sure I had the proper change, i.e., two quarters, to hit one of the newspaper boxes on our way home. However, this day after going quite a bit into our walk I discovered I had no change. On our return walk from the Post office we noted a Church across the street just before going into North Wildwood. We had thought of attending it come Sunday. In fact, as we passed June made the statement to the effect that “Yes, we will go there Sunday morning!”. She had hardly finished her commitment to do so, when my eye caught two quarters lying on the ground. I reached over and gave thanks, adding that it appeared that the commitment had given us the miracle of finding the exact change for the paper. Well, ‘miracle’ is bit strong for the event but it certainly was a happy coincidence.
Another bit of serendipity occurred on July 16th while I was visiting the local library in Wildwood Crest. I had served with Frank Rizzo, one time Mayor of Philadelphia, when he was the Commissioner of Police. I was a fellow Commissioner under Mayor Tate. After he was elected in 1971 I was ‘let go’ since I was considered one of Tate’s Irish Mafia. So I didn’t have the opportunity of serving under him, but I never regretted it. His tour as history now shows was not one of great success. He served two terms then sat one out before trying again. The City Charter required this. He tried a comeback in 1991. All of this came back to me as I was browsing in the biographical section of the library. I saw there a biography on the same “Frank Rizzo” by a fellow ‘paisan’ and former reporter for the “Philadelphia Inquirer”. I skimmed through the bio and not surprisingly it was complimentary of his conduct. I didn’t bother to take the book with me. The next morning, July 17th, the Philadelphia Inquirer had a picture of two men, one of whom was Herman Tose, a big contributor and one time owner of the Eagles, saluting the grave of Frank Rizzo. He died in that last campaign on July 16th ten years before. I felt maybe Frank was trying to tell me something but since I had never been considered a “friend” of his, what it was I can’t figure. I had another what you might call a “biography experience” while we were staying at Marlton the last weeks of July. I would hop over to Barnes and Noble on Route 70 to purchase the N.Y. Times. I, of course, always took the time to stop for a cup of coffee and browse a bit. One day there on the “New Books” pile was another biography entitled, “The Last Mouthpiece” by Robert F. Simone. Here was another voice from the past. He practiced criminal law in Philly during the same years I practiced what has been sometimes called “general” law. He ended in prison for what I can’t remember but he was renown for his defense of the alleged Mafia in and around Philadelphia. He was a very friendly guy and we often chatted about this and that. We never talked business, his or mine. I managed to read a few chapters on my next few visits and it brought memories of the 60’s and 70’s in the city of Brotherly Love.
I didn’t just visit libraries and read while we were away. We had some great visits with children and grand children that make the ordeal of being away from home all worthwhile. I even tried outrunning my grandson Eric, six years of age. I failed. He the same great guy who last year on our visit, while sitting on my shoulders shouted to all within hearing distance on the Boardwalk, “Pop-pop your going bald!”. We listened to another grandson, now about to be a senior in High School, support his part-time employer, a supermarket taken over by a national chain. He had just moved up to the management level (with no increase in pay) but certainly demonstrated managerial loyalty. We heard another criticize his teachers as having no integrity when it came to some erratic behavior by students related to the institution’s Board of Directors. He felt they had none. We watch grandson Matt Golden,eleven years of age, play Basketball in the hot sun on July 18th. His team won and he scored twenty points. He’s the same guy who first put me on the Harry Potter, which led me and June to read they all. His basketball playing was super, just like his reading habits. Then there was Paul Berger grandson age 10 throw a football left handed like a pro. The surprise of all these encounters reminded me of my father’s comments when my oldest brother, his first born, arrived home after years of being away. He said, “I am impressed how much and well he has grown!” I likewise was impressed.
We packed up on July 31st and the following morning attended a memorial mass for Anne at which we had the opportunity of meeting some of the Lukens and Sister Mary. Following a luncheon, we headed south out of Philadelphia to Northeast, Maryland and the home of Rich and Shirley. It is tucked back in the woods on the rise from the Elk River. They had a small cottage next to theirs, which became our home for the next three days. It had a porch with a view that was awesome. You could sit and watch the rippling river and the greenery behind it. If we hadn’t been anxious to get back to the old homestead we could have easily stayed longer. I saw some verse that reminded me of the spot, it went like this: “I see an envied haunt of peace, …remote from the roar, Where wearied men may from their burdens cease on a still shore” It was all of that. On August 4th Rich and Shirley were the host of the McSorley’s Cousin’s Party. It was great to meet and chat with those who attended, and a regret not seeing the many whom we had hope would be there. I had a workout with Aidan and Alex Yake, twin grandsons of four years of age. We saddled up the next morning after the party and started our jaunt back to St.Petersburg. We took our time and arrived at the driveway around noon on August 7th. We had been gone one month and a day.
This August marks the twentieth year of our marriage. Saying, it has been a happy twenty years, would be a understatement. I thank the Lord daily for having her in my life and we wish the newest bride and groom, Joe Lukens and Sarah Weissen all the blessing of the Lord upon their union. They will set sail on the ship of matrimony on August 25th. The date has been a memorable one in the McSorley Family since 1913 when Frank the first born came into this world. The date was further enhanced when 10 years later in 1923 son number six, John, came to be. So now we add one more memory to that date with the marriage of Anne’s son Joseph Lukens to Sarah. The Lord be with you until we chat again.