Somehow, my Father scraped enough together to get a used Ford Capri.
This being the family car from 1980-1983.
Bucket seats, knobs, leather.
A tapedeck that played a “Kenny Rogers Greatest Hits” album, ad infinitum.
An air freshener that smelled of magic, and freshness.
Having a jalopy, unburdened my maternal Uncle Kevin;
Because we did not ask him to borrow his Plymouth Valiant to go to the “Clownie House”.
The “Clownie House” is where we would go for respite and sustenance after picking up my Maternal Grandmother from her Saturday job at Jordan Marsh in Framingham.
Peanut shells cast about on the floor, an allergists nightmare.
A big screen displayed playing old time movies.
Beef hot dogs with french fries.
A real family restaurant.
Those in New England will remember it as “The Ground Round”, not the “Clownie House”.
But, that’s what we called it.
Saturdays were the best days.
Trips outside of our second floor apartment.
When weather permitted, windows down.
Hair blowing in the magnificent breeze,
Music playing.
Trusting that no matter where we went, our Father knew how to get there,
And, would always get us home.
Sometimes with bundles of food.
Errands.
Family.
Squeezed into a jalopy and ready for whatever came to us.
Welcome to my effort. Yes, as a great procrastinator, it requires great effort to stay focused on something productive that matters to me. I’ll find any old excuse to traipse from project to project, and I rarely end up at the place I started. I find this maddening, and exhaustive. So it is with high hopes, and a greater grasp of self-awareness, that I embark upon staying the course so to speak.
I enjoy writing. Be it blogs, fiction, poetry, etc. I love the craft and the act of creation, the art in and of itself, for it’s own sake and end. I am happy to be able to do it.
Some stats:
Born: March 1974
Education:
St.Francis de Sales, Charlestown MA
Don Bosco Technical High School, Boston MA
University of Massachusetts at Lowell, Lowell MA
Bunker Hill Community College, Charlestown MA
DePaul University, Chicago, IL
North Virginia Community College, Arlington VA
Harvard Extension School, Cambridge MA
Place of residence: Somewhere in the land of metro Boston. It’s vaguely familiar and becoming home more and more by the day, but when you come from “The Town” all else fails by comparison.
Favorite Color: I’m partial to all forms of blue.
Favorite Author: c’mon! don’t expect me to answer that, there are too many.
I enjoy memories of playing 80’s Atari better than playing any advanced gaming system that exists today.
Some day:
Hope to be recognized for my paper clip collection. As well as my 27 rejected applications to Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailiey Clown college.
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