Thank you for sharing your personal story. I have admired your writing for years and continue to look forward each Wednesday to these columns. As I reach 80 now, I find myself looking back at my family and remembering each person differently than I did as a young boy. Your work always makes me reflect on the past and myself.
Now I feel sorry for Mom knowing she was surrounded by drunks of internal means. I only found out about Grandpa Walter when a call came in from some upstate VA hospital asking for Mom. Lost that chance to know him. Same way with Grandma Gertrude. In fact, never meet my father's parents either (that I can remember). I remember when you came home one night and fell flat on your face in the living room and Mom yelled out, "you're just like your father and Dad". That's got to be why I never got to know Dad's side because of Mom's hatred for them. Though, I was very impressed about Aunt Kathy. The picture is very vivid in my brain. She was the first woman in the NYPD to receive a gold detective shield. In the end, I always said to people when they ask what nationality I am, I tell them my Irish side allows me to have fun, and my German side keeps me in check and disciplined when needed.
Thank you for sharing your personal story. I have admired your writing for years and continue to look forward each Wednesday to these columns. As I reach 80 now, I find myself looking back at my family and remembering each person differently than I did as a young boy. Your work always makes me reflect on the past and myself.
God Bless,
Paul
Paul: Thank you for your kind words.
Thank you for sharing your p
Now I feel sorry for Mom knowing she was surrounded by drunks of internal means. I only found out about Grandpa Walter when a call came in from some upstate VA hospital asking for Mom. Lost that chance to know him. Same way with Grandma Gertrude. In fact, never meet my father's parents either (that I can remember). I remember when you came home one night and fell flat on your face in the living room and Mom yelled out, "you're just like your father and Dad". That's got to be why I never got to know Dad's side because of Mom's hatred for them. Though, I was very impressed about Aunt Kathy. The picture is very vivid in my brain. She was the first woman in the NYPD to receive a gold detective shield. In the end, I always said to people when they ask what nationality I am, I tell them my Irish side allows me to have fun, and my German side keeps me in check and disciplined when needed.
I did go overboard trying to carry on the Clavin/O'Brien tradition. Glad you were spared that part of it anyway.