Earlier this week I ventured forth to the dreaded Department of Motor Vehicles. My quest was to secure one of the fancy new Enhanced Licenses. Armed with my expiring license, passport, tax forms, Vision Test Report, Birth Certificate (with raised seal), Notary Public Identification Card, Medicare card, bank statement, Social Security and Draft card …
The expression is “Let a smile be your umbrella” and it is profound. To smile is to appear pleasant and agreeable. That’s a powerful social tool. A smile conveys feelings of happiness, hope and positivity to anyone who sees it. When you smile, you are sending a nonverbal message to those around you that they are accepted, welcome and that all is …
Lucy is a snow white 8 year old schnoodle (cross breed of schnauzer and poodle) who cares for my son David’s family (David, Julie, Jackson and Maggie). They are so well cared for that it was David’s inspiration to share the care, and some 6 years ago at his urging we were adopted by Lucy's sister schnoodle, who Joanne dubbed Charcoal due to her d …
I first stepped foot on the Syracuse University campus in the Fall of 1959 when Ike was President. It was that long ago!The Orange football team proceeded to run off an undefeated season, culminating in the National Championship with the great Ernie Davis as it’s Elmira Express engine. I joined the Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity and among the many amaz …
I usually wake up (without an alarm) before 5:30 and loll a while in bed. However, at this time of year it is far tougher to get out of bed as it is dark. Pitch black. Hello darkness, you’re no friend. No disrespect to the classic Simon and Garfunkel song. At least there is November 3rd Daylight Savings time to look forward to...
The words Labor Day conjure up images of end of Summer enjoyment on a sandy beach. However, on this Labor Day, as is our contrarian wont (see previous blog re our recent visit to the Guggenheim) we went away from the beach and into the city for a day in lower Manhattan at the Whitney Museum of American Art. We zoomed into the city in record time …
I am a life long Baseball fan. Did you know fan is short for fanatic?Well fanatic is what I am about this year’s Yankee team (and Aaron Judge, but that’s for another blog)! They have suffered unprecedented injuries to countless key players and yet the “Next Man Up” has carried them to First Place in the American League and one of the best records …
Could it be that Summer is ebbing in these “dog days”? If so, there’s absolutely nothing we can do about it. Could it be that Labor Day and the start of school (and traffic) are just around the corner?I try to put that out of my mind and tell myself to be in the moment as I dream of an Endless Summer. Then I tell myself that Fall and beautiful co …
Last Sunday we ventured into the city for our annual visit to the beautiful Guggenheim (see picture). Summer in the city weekends present less hustle, bustle and traffic as we left early. We zoomed into the city in about a half hour and quickly found a street spot before entering Wright’s beautiful creative edifice. Who could resist a flurry of p …
We vacationed last week at the shore and I found it the perfect opportunity to read “Two Women In The Trunk” a “Sergeant Markie Mystery” written and self published by Tony Celano. Tony Celano? Yes our Tony Celano, long time Gotham member and former Chair of our legendary Bandit Group. To my knowledge, "Trunk" is Tony’s initial writing effort and i …
Like the song says, It’s Summertime and the living is easy. You could alter the words a bit and say It's Summertime and the commuting is easy, as once school ends for the Summer and people migrate to the beaches, my daily drive from Nassau County to Long Island City becomes far easier and quicker (as much as a half hour each way). In a way it is a …
A high school friend who is a reader of my Friday With Fred blog sent me the following email last weekend:You always do great “starters” and I thought if you had remembrances of yours [First Friend] it might qualify for a prompt for your followers. I began thinking about my happy childhood and those who contributed to memories that made it “fond”, …
I have never been a good dancer. I just don’t get it and as a consequence have not danced in years. My wife Joanne, however, is the Natural on the dance floor. Last Saturday we went to a party and the music was from our era and she asked me to dance and I surprised myself with my willingness. Well, surprise surprise, I was out there moving just ab …
I live on the North Shore of Long Island and when I sit in my back yard I notice the never ending, clockwork pattern of big jets passing high above, somewhat to the South in an East/West pattern. I imagine they are coming from Europe and guess they are on the way to JFK.I have actually timed them and the intervals are around a minute and a half. I …
Have you ever noticed that two people present at the same event oft times have different memories?I had that experience last week when I had dinner with a high school friend who, unbeknownst to me, is a reader of my Friday With Fred Blog. The first word out of his mouth was Zelig. I took the bait and said I’m like Zelig and have been witness to ma …
Fridays With Fred
A perfect way to send you into your weekend