November Work Outs and Runs

 

11 23 25 21:10

I went for a run today.  It was more than 6 miles and I was thinking maybe I should sign up for the Christmas race again this year.  Last year, I ran in the single digits, down Main Street and up hills and over streams.  I can do it.  But I have not been running as consistently in the past few months.  I have my reasons.  It used to be every other day and then three times a week and two times, but the last couple have been one 4 miler and couple of milers on the tread mill at the gym.  There’s so much to say about a good run, my mood is better, a sense of accomplishment, seeing a few other runners and bikers.  There’s a trail I used to take fairly often and it’s been weeks – dare say months since I was on the trail.  It’s off of Sand Island and leads under train trestles.  I was surprised I was able to go out for the distance and get back feeling very good.  Good enough to get to the gym for a little work out.

11/30/2025 21:13

And a week later, I was on my ass for most of the day.  Meli and I have been battling a virus that effecting our throats, coughing fits and our voices are raspy and whispery like Miles Davis in any interview.  No run today.  Tomorrow, back to work.  I took a walk today and finished my push-ups.  Our gym has a board and if you make it to the gym, at least 12 times you get on the board and if you go 15 times you’re in another group and 20 or more, well you make the elite group.  My goal each month is to get on the board, at least 12.  Considering we flew back on 11/9, I made the board. 

Dave and Rennee stopped over yesterday with dinner, White Castle and Bo Jangles Fried Chicken.  I have not had a White Castle in ten years.  And my body was paying the price.  Overall, we eat healthy in this house and eating fast food is a treat.  Tastes good going down, but my body sends off warning shots, what the fuck are you putting in me? 

And Thanksgiving, we spent Wednesday night in a hotel in Philadelphia with a beautiful view of the river and skyline and saw the parade.  It was the first for both of us and next year we’re planning to take in the Macy’s parade in NYC, the 100^th anniversary and besides, I want Meli to see the floats.  The room is already booked.

Tomorrow night, Patti Smith reading in Philadelphia.

Thank you for reading this

Turning Sixty – or as Patti Smith says, Fuck the clock

For months I had a feeling of dread, shit I’m turning sixty (Oct 7th) and where am I in life?  What have I done?  But my new job is demanding, learning new services and capabilities, working with a new manager and enjoying the new culture, but all of this has kept me away from getting too deep with the sixty milestone.    

My routine is the same, still writing – fiction – finishing the last novel.  Writing Charles Plymell biography and poems when the inspiration strikes.  I’m going to the gym more often and have noticed the change.  Running, twice a week on a good week, three times, and reading as much as possible.  But it’s the work that has taken my time.

Meli and I had lunch with some friends in Northport a few weeks ago, and both are in their seventies, you would not believe it, they are active, traveling around the world. My friend’s wife said, sixty is the new forty and of course it’s just a number.  I am grateful for where I am in life.  Meli and I have a good life in Bethlehem with friends and yesterday, my two oldest daughters drove up from Long Island to visit and brought a card and a book on bridges in Pennsylvania.   We walked around Easton and were amazed at the amount of protestors, no more kings demonstration, one truck with Trump flags, but it was a warm and peaceful day. We watched when they drove back as they passed us on 378 and we waved and I wished they’d visit more often.  As I wrote, I am grateful.  Had dinner with local friends at our favorite Mexican restaurant last night and made it home at a decent hour.  Watched most of Al Pacino in Scarface, why did they have an Italian acting in the part?  It wasn’t necessary. 

Emma is married, there was a lovely celebration on October 5^th – it was a warm Sunday like today, it’s 73 degrees outside.  Matt, my son-in-law brought tears to most of us, yeah me included during his declaration of intent.  He was weeping when Ali and I brought Em down the aisle.   We danced with Em during the Stevie Wonder song, Isn’t She Lovely which we heard when Ali was getting a sonogram – expecting Emma Tess. 

The air conditioner is packed away and we’re taking out our warm clothes.  Yet, I can go outside and take in the sun, instead I am jotting down some thoughts.

Thank you for reading this.

MG

London Calling

 

January 28, 2024

Flying to London tonight for our sales meeting.  First time traveling out of the country for the job.  First time in London since 2001 or 2002?  I’ve been at this job eight years this year and recall during my interview when the HR person asked if my passport was up to date.  There was speculation that our sales meeting would be in the UK.  So, here I go.  More later. 

Hey it's a New Year 2024 and it's time to set some goals!

 January 14, 2024

Instead of starting off that it has been so long since I wrote a blog entry, I will stop and say that it’s good to be back.  2023 was the first full year, living with Meli.  Our relationship is growing, and I am grateful each day that we are together.  Last year, we went to some concerts, Mark Anthony at Prudential. It was the first and last time I saw him.  Juan Louis Guerra at MSG which was a great show, Cheap Trick, Santana, Smithereens, and Duran Duran.  We also went to a Jets preseason game, NASCAR in the Poconos, IronPigs baseball.  Trips to Costa Rica, Mexico City and a week in Maine.  Of course, there were the trips back to Long Island.  We finally saw a CC performance, a drag show.  We went out to dinner many nights and took up hiking, bike riding, joined a gym and have been working out consistently for close to a year.  I ran a half marathon and a 5-miler last month.  I finally got into fly fishing.  We had visits from family and hung out with friends.  My second novel in the Bombastic Adventures in the Arizona Desert trilogy will be published by Imzadi this year.  Last year, an audio book of Black Market Bones was published.  And our home has a new roof and siding and lots of plants and books.  So, that is a brief summary of where we are at.

But this is a time of reflection as well.  And this is where I am.  Yesterday, I had a coaching session with John Joseph, former singer for Cro-Mags, Iron Man, a plant-based guru.  It was an intro session. We need to know we can work together and what was supposed to be a half hour turned out to be close to one hour. I told him, I’d like to get back on task.  My writing time and output has been minimal, and it’s been this way for months.  I get in maybe 10 minutes a night and consolation were that is ten minutes more compared to not writing at all.  Walter Mosely writes every day for hours and I was thinking, so can I.  I used to get up and write before starting my real job.  I finished a novel, not in the trilogy, that takes place in Ireland.  But since my wife is here, life is different.  She likes to have breakfast together each morning.  Most mornings, I clean the dishes, make breakfast, eggs, turkey sausage, we eat together, and I warm up her car and scrape the windows off of any frost.  I used to drive her to work, and I am grateful that she’s driving.  This saves a lot of time.  But what am I doing with the extra time?  I will be honest, not much.

Last year, I made the foolish decision to go back to Facebook.  It’s different compared to when I was on it back in 2017.  There are now reels and there are the same friends who are making the same comments, sharing new pictures, happy for those who are expecting or been promoted or other positive or not - life events which should we shared.  But most of it is whining, political or religious banter, regurgitating of old garage bands, reliving the romantic past, but it was the reels that did me in.  Months later, I got off FB.  It was difficult. There were a few aborted attempts.  It’s been months since I’ve been there.  Formerly Twitter, X was back in my life as well, but again I realized I was in a place that was wasting my time.  It’s taking me away from my goals and I am encountering posts that I don’t need to be exposed to.  It all boils down to time management. 

It is Sunday morning.  I woke up at 5:00.  I want to start waking up earlier, before Meli, so I can write. One of the suggestions John made.  Mission accomplished.  It’s more than two hours since I started and I am happy.  John said many things yesterday and I will hire him for more coaching sessions, but he said, I love what I do.  He also writes and is focused on his projects, meals, workouts, and goals.  I am getting back.  I haven’t had a drink since January 1^st.  Meli and I are on the road to transitioning to a plant-based diet.  This year looks like it will be more productive and just think, my phone is tucked away in the drawer to avoid any distractions.

Thank you for reading this,

Mike

 

      

My wife is here and we have two cats and lots of books and plants in our home

 Saturday September 23, 2023

It has been almost a year since I posted on the blog.  It’s a good time to provide an update on things.  Today’s rain has something to do with it and with a new computer comes the opportunities to post a few things.  So here it goes.  At the end of last October, I flew down to Costa Rica to bring Meli and her cat, Blue back to the US.  After waiting for years, it happened, and it seems like more than a year ago when we pulled into the driveway together for the first time.  Meli and I have settled into the house with two cats and an assortment of books.  Since she came, the house has been re-sided with what looks like cedar shakes, a new roof, re-insulated.  Soon we will have two new storm doors and new basement windows before the winter hits. There are new plants and trees in the yard and the look inside our home feels warm and welcoming but call me first if you’re interested in visiting.  Since February, Meli has been working as a technician at the pharmacy department in Allentown Hospital.  She likes her job although I think she can earn more money since she is busy speaking to a majority of patients who only speak Spanish.  She is driving back and forth to work with me in the passenger seat, and she is working on getting her permit and license here.  Before you send in the cops, she has her driver’s license from Costa Rica so she can legally drive.  The kids are all doing well and I will share more details in further blogs.  My job has been very busy and I’m happy with the progress I am making on some prospects.  The job allows me time to write on the side.  Back in July, I submitted the second installment in the Bombastic Adventures in the Arizona Desert.  I am currently working on the third and final book.  The audio book for the first installment, Black Market Bones will be released soon.  So, look for more posts on my flyfishing, working out, biking, running, reading and other assorted comments about this life.

Thank you for reading.

The VISA is on-hand

 10/17/2022 07:55

 

I have to get ready for work but wanted to write that my wife has her visa.  This is after two plus years of us processing.

 

10/17/2022 22:36

Calling it a day.  Time for me to get out of the office. 

 

10/28/2022 18:35 Bethlehem

Well, it’s happening. Flying to Costa Rica on Sunday.  The plan is to stay a couple of days and fly back on Wednesday.  I’ll either drive to Long Island tomorrow and spend the night at Ma Pa’s or spend the night here and wake up early and head out.  How much time am I saving if I stay the night on Long Island?  Maybe about an hour, so it may be best to leave from here and make it a day.  I’ll park at the terminal. So, instead of waiting for the LIRR and heading back to Ma Pa’s, Meli and I with her cat Blue will drive back to Bethlehem. It will be another long day.  I’ll buy a coffee at Dunkies at JFK and make the drive.  I hope we’re back here by 1 AM.  That would be incredible but being this is her first trip and immigration and Blue’s paperwork, we may not get back till…I don’t know.  I don’t want to think about it.  What will it be like to start at life with Meli?  I don’t know?  Last night I walked around the neighborhood. Saw one lit up face in a dark living room on their phone and was curious why they were in the dark, what was so engaging?  Engrossed in the news?  I’ll pack tomorrow.  Need to buy a couple of things.  There’s a small bowl of candy outside for the trick or treaters and I thought I may have missed the costumes.  Not sure if I will see any.  Need to turn on the lights outside for the rascals and animals who will happily eat the candy.  But here it is.  Meli will be here, and we can take walks together and all the sites that I see, the rivers and streams, we can share together.  We already have plans to see Tina, the Broadway show – playing in Philadelphia late next month, on her birthday, the 22^nd.   And there’s so many more plans. Travels.  Meeting my parents and eventually the kids.  What will it be like?  How about all the stores who know me and our story, when will your wife be here?  Hey, look, here she is.  It is all in God’s hands.  Until she is here, until a few weeks pass, and we settle in and know this relationship is real and it is meant to me and not something in the future, until then.  More months will pass and then years and we will create the life we want.

 

Thank you for reading this

9/11 and Covd

 9/11/2022 14:46 Covid

Last Tuesday, I woke up feeling miserable.  My brain was throbbing, coughing, fatigue and aches and the rest of the symptoms that would make anyone guess, they got it.  I heard the expression a couple of weeks after people were getting hit with Omnicom, it’s not a matter of IF you get it, it’s a matter of WHEN.  I thought I beat it.  I take care of myself.  I eat well and run and workout.  I play baseball.  But it caught me.  I made an appointment at the local Rite Aid and took a test.  The results came back Thursday morning as positive. I took a rapid test which looked inconclusive.  Wednesday and Thursday I was feeling better and thought, I beat this.  Friday, I woke up feeling sicker.  Yesterday, I woke up feeling horrible, as if I had a hold cold, but without the mucus and in the shower, I noticed my sense of smell was gone.  We played our first in a series of three in the playoffs and lost.  We were down a few players, but next weekend we will play a double-header and that will be it for the season unless we win those games.  I feel better today.  Still no smell.  I heard this thing kicks ass for two weeks.  So, I am resting and reading, Stories from the Tenants Downstairs by Sidik Fofana which came from Strand as part of a fiction Book of the month club.  I am enjoying it, the characters are in a series of train wrecks which constantly pop up.  

Received a text from my publisher and they are scheduling interviews and promo pieces.  I need to jump on marketing my book now that it’s out for a year.  It’s time.  Worked on Part II of Bones. 

It has been raining all day.  A stark difference to that day twenty-one years ago.  May those souls rest.

Thank you for reading this  

Installing Ring and Immigration frustration, Part 2

September 5, 2022

19:53

 

It’s Labor Day.  I was drilling holes in our home trying to find a way I get the Ring wires up from the basement where’s there’s plug set up high and the mystery is getting the damn wires up and through the wall to where the doorbell will be.  Let me explain. This house is solid.  Concrete. It’s not blowing over.  I may need to hire an electrician.  If you live in an older home and thinking of Ring, try the wireless.  In my opinion, it will be less hassle and less money in the long run, but you need to charge the batteries.  I ran earlier.  More than four miles, but my right knee is acting up.  A lot of walking and I had a shitty time in the humidity.  There was minimal traffic due to the holiday.  Passed a few dog walkers who scowled when I said good morning.  The attorney called Meli from Mexico.  Here’s the scoop, one of my clients works and lives in CDMX and reached out to a friend who is an attorney. The attorney thought Meli was in Mexico and a Mexican.  She said Meli needs to submit her birth certificate with a stamp.  The good news, we found that we could request the police records on-line, avoiding the trips back to the Mexican Embassy in San Jose.  No handwritten letters.  The bad news, all of September is booked, and she scheduled an opening on October 3^rd and now she needs to get a birth cert with a stamp.  Always something.  The attorney told her on Friday, we should have the police record this week, this Friday the latest.  Now that is out.  We’re back to waiting for October which will come fast.  I waited for August to breeze by since she had her interview on the 23^rd.  I thought about flying down to visit her, but that would be a waste since there is a possibility, she will fly back with me next month.  I can look back on this and say, I should have hired an immigration attorney.  If I did, we may be together at this time.  The normal process is two years for a spousal visa, and yet this is not normal.  She lived in Chile and Mexico.  More paperwork. More bureaucratic bullshit.  She went to the post office and sent for her birth certificate with a stamp.  It will take two weeks from the Costa Rican government.  I need to be patient.  We need to be patient.  I’ve been patient.  We’ve been patient.

  

Thank you for reading this.

Installing Ring and Immigration frustration, Part 1

 8/27/2022 21:40

Today, I installed a new Ring doorbell, clipped some wires, and tried to kick start the thing, but it’s not functioning.  I need to buy another device in hopes I get the thing working before my wife joins me.  How is that going?   Thank you for asking.  The interview we waited for was this past Tuesday.  Last week, the staff at the US Embassy reviewed her paperwork and it was all in order.  The week before that, Meli had her medical, up to date vaccinations, a check of some vitals and she passes and had to pay out of her pocket for it.  Each trip (3) my wife makes to San Jose can take up to five hours.  She had spent nights there.  Last week the interview took place and the only thing holding the visa from being approved it her police records from Chile and Mexico.  She now has Chile.  I asked her to spend the night and go to the Mexican Embassy the next day and explain the situation.  They recommended she return this Monday and wait in cue and once at the window, explain to the embassy rep that she is from Tilaran which is five hours away.  They will make an appointment on Tuesday.  That would be two nights in San Jose.  She would have to go back the next day and write two handwritten letters which will be sent DHL to the police records in Mexico City where a friend will have to pick them up and mail it back to the embassy in San Jose CR.  What happened to email?  The internet?  Chile sent her police records by PDF in a few hours.  I know what would happen with Mexico.  On the first two attempts, they will apologize and explain they lost the letters, or they misplaced the filing, and she would need to start the process again.  Go back to San Jose for the third attempt, since three times is a charm, and let’s face it, it will be a new year.  I know it.  The whole concept it too vague.  But the US Embassy promised, hey get us the certs from these countries and we will send your visa in two days!  On Monday, she’s speaking to a friend in Mexico City who will work on this request.  I asked Meli to speak to another friend whose husband is an attorney and maybe he can assist with these records.  I reached out the local congresswoman’s office who called me back mixed up thinking I was calling about my wife working at the US Embassy, nope, not me.  I reached out to an immigration attorney who explained she does not need the national police, but the state police record will be sufficient.  And other friends and clients have offered suggestions, do you know an attorney? So, for now, we are ignoring the Mexican Embassy since that will not work. 

Thank you for reading this.

Flying to Costa Rica 30May22

05/30/22 10:05 30,000 feet above the Atlantic

The sunlight is pouring through the open window.  I can pull the shade, but don’t want to.  I like looking outside, even if it is the endless ocean.  The sky is clear.  There has been minimal turbulence, dare I say none.  I was a nervous flyer.  That was before starting this long-distance relationship.  Last night, I stayed at the Fairfield Inn at JFK.  I was thinking about all the flights I made to Mexico City and Costa Rica over the past four years to visit Meli.  I flew Jet Blue, Aero Mexico which is a class act, blankets on each seat and a nice shot of spirits before landing.  They even serve a hot delicious meal and alcohol which is part of the fare.  I also flew Inter-Jet which I don’t believe exists any longer, they were cheap.  I think I bought a sandwich on their flight.  The service was minimal, flickering lights in the cabin and I thought just maybe it’s not the safest airline.  So, I stay at this same airport for these trips to CR.  It’s what I do when I depart from JFK in the morning and Jet Blue only offers these flights a few days out of the week.  But this last hotel booking was expensive, almost $250 with tax for the room…for the night?  Seems steep, but it’s supply and demand since today is Memorial Day and the first of summer for many American travelers.  I waited for the 6 AM shuttle to the airport, met an older gentleman who asked where was I going?  JFK, I answered, no, your final destination?  Oh, Costa Rica.  I’m flying down to Costa Rica to visit Meli.  Not that I mentioned my wife’s name.  He doesn’t need to know her name. 

Meli moved back there this past September, and I feel this is the third trip I made to see her there.  Once in November and flew down on New Year’s Eve and back to New York on the 9^th of January.  Haven’t been back since.  I wish she was here with me.  I wish we lived together and the good new is, we are getting closer to when the visa is approved.  There’s still a few pending steps.  My paperwork and the interview date still needs to ne arranged.  She will need to see a doctor sponsored by the embassy ten days before the interview.  On July 27^th will be two years since I submitted the spousal visa paperwork.  I heard it took that long, but somehow, I didn’t believe it.  I was fooling myself, not believing the facts, no.  Not me.  It won’t be that long.  No way.  It’s becoming that long.

The media and the pundits should know the average duration to immigrate legally into the US.  Yes, the previous administration had an impact, but this was for certain countries.  I’d like to think.  Yes, COVID did have an impact, and I believe still has an impact.  Yes, I should have hired an immigration attorney, instead of going the cheap route with Catholic Charities, but what difference would it have made?  You complete paperwork and submit and wait.  The last review, they needed additional paperwork from me for proof of my divorce and tax forms for transferring a portion of my 401K to Ali.  Meli’s paperwork is approved.  I was certain she’d be flagged.  So that put us back a couple of months and it’s where we are at.  Waiting to see if my paperwork was accepted and from there, our case is transferred to the embassy in Costa Rica.  If Meli still lived in Mexico or the Philippines, the process will be longer since there is such a backlog in those countries. 

There is a little girl in the seat in front of me and she’s stretching her hand back onto my tray.  Time for wine!

 

Thank you for reading this.

The Last Lonely Year

 

    05/23/22 Bethlehem

     Well, look.  We are here again, and you are there, and I am tapping these words onto the page and thinking of you and how much has changed since we exchanged glances.  It’s in the past.  Isn’t it nice to be separate and living our own lives?  There is much to say about distance and passing years.  You may assume I am writing about you. 

               Since the last entry I bought a small cape in Bethlehem.  I am next to a highway and am used to the traffic like constant gusts of wind or waves crashing into the shore, but there is the asshole and the hollow radiating muffler who demands attention.  The fuck.  He passes and I ignore him or her or whoever may be behind the wheel. 

               My last novel was published under a pseudonym, Roberto Picado.  Black Market Bones which is by far the best thing I’ve written in a few years.  It’s part of a trilogy and I am banging out Part II this year.

               More later

Christmas and Covid in Mexico City

December 19, 2020 2035 Coyoacan, Mexico City

I flew down here on Monday, leaving Bethlehem with the threat a major snowstorm to blow through the area on Wednesday.  For the first time I used Lyft which came in a few minutes and dropped me off at the bus depot.  Through a light snowstorm, the bus took off to pick up more passengers at Allentown airport, Easton, and another stop in Jersey before Newark.  At Newark, I checked my bag, security and had a good two hours to drink a couple of beers and have a veggie burger and fries.  I sat at the bar and had the bartender to myself and after a few minutes wanted to be alone.  The airport was eerily quiet.  A girl rode a skateboard through the terminal and glided by with ease.  I wanted to ask her if I could take it out for a spin since she looked like she was having fun, but instead I was responsible and worked - answered emails and kept an eye on the crowd that was forming at the gate.  I like a couple of glasses of wine while flying. I got up and asked the woman at the counter if there was wine on-board.  The United website was vague. Oh, yes, the woman said. Good.  I boarded and spoke with Bella Boop, grateful to Ali since Bella cannot use her phone.  And we were off.  When the flight attendants came around with a bag of snacks and a small water and soda or coffee I asked if they had wine.  Oh, we’re not serving wine or beer in economy.  I was not happy and had a ginger ale.  I watched sports which is something I don’t do.  And looked out of the window at the distant lights and was prepared for the usual bouts of turbulence.  I’m used to it.  I felt immobile in my tight economy compartment.  My knee was against the seat in front of me.  It has been more than 9 months since I flown and yet it felt good to be back in the sky even though it was night.  I prefer the day when I can see more, especially the clouds.  We landed a little early in Mexico City, after flying over buildings and cramped roads.  I sent a message to Mel that was here.  My wife was waiting for me and after taxing, immigration and recovering my luggage, and at last after 9 months we were together.  We had a late dinner and an Uber to the Airbnb where I am writing this.  The days have been filled with work expect for today.  Meli and I bought a few things at a local shop - to decorate the apartment for Christmas and afterwards went out for a bite.  Mexico City is in a code red which means the museums we wanted to go into are closed as well as the parks.  We’re smack between the Frida Kahlo museum and Leon Trotsky museum, but cannot go inside either.  The storm did hit the area.  I’m grateful for my neighbor who dug a trail for the post.  I owe her.  In Mexico City, it’s 70, in the days and there are no hints of rain or snow.  

Thank you for reading this.

This to shall pass, but some days it feels like this ain't going anywhere else real quick

11/15/20 21:02

Earlier today Meli and I watched a church service, Passion City Church which is broadcasted around the world through YouTube their website.  Energetic and positive.  It is our routine for Sunday mornings.  It was Meli who introduced me to the church.  She found it through Chris Tomlin.  Somehow he was affiliated with the church and I feel I wrote about the church already for my blog.  Maybe it is this Covid mindset, which I can easily slip into.  Went out and ran.  Mowed the lawn and waiting for Lowes to tell me the battery and charger has been ordered for my battery powered lawn mower.  Forty percent off, but waiting is the hardest part, especially when they don’t call back.  I borrowed my neighbor’s lawn mower and moved both of our lawns.  But here it is.  I can make healthier choices.  For instance, running, reading and what about Dinner?  I made my own from scratch and feel better for it.  I will still go out to pick up a burrito like I did last night from Orizaba on Broad Street, they make an incredible shrimp burrito and a delicious veggie taco.  If I ate meat, I would share more options, but this restaurant is a weekly place for me.  One of the owners is from Costa Rica, so I need to be there!  Buenos Tica!  Pura Vida!  Another is the pizzeria on the corner of New Street and Elizabeth, Fratelli’s – an amazing white pizza which I savor the garlic enriched topping on most Friday’s…it is across the street from where I used to live.  Thinking about the house and how barren it was and yet, it was home for over a year and the landlord was accommodating and welcoming, I was invited to their house for Christmas last year.  This year, I hope to be in Mexico City, visiting Meli.  I will be in quarantine for most of the visit.  We hope, I will make it there.   I don’t want to spend our first Christmas – married and our first wedding anniversary in Bethlehem; alone.  But Covid is the determining factor.  No news on the spousal visa.  I left a voicemail for Catholic Charities. Yes, I am grateful for the incoming Biden administration.  The current immigration policies by the Trumps is impacting all of the applications and yes, they can imply Covid is a factor – I am sure it is.   

At the end of the day – at any time of the day it is all in God’s hands and I can have faith.

Thank you for reading this.

Baseball carries Death, a Short Story (rough draft)

 

               Baseball carries death.  Ed Casey was cleaning the dishes and suddenly he was having one of those deep moments when one of the mysteries of life was clear to him.

His father was sitting next to him on the school bus.  Men were smoking in the school bus.  They laughed and cracked open cans of beers and passed them inside the school bus.  Some cans sprayed out, and a few times the cold beer showered around him.  He was waiting for something to drink.  It was hot in the bus.  There were words on the metal surface, but he was too young to read at the time.  He recognized the letters.  There was a drawing, but he could not tell what it was.  He looked back and saw one old man sitting on the edge of his seat, his feet were in the aisle.  The old man winked at him and he looked back to the front.

               “Are you having fun yet?”

               “I’m thirsty.”

               “Going to see the great Willie Mays, this is so much fun.”

               The men belonged to a club his father explained, a local rotary club, but he was not interested.  He wanted something to drink.

               He turned back around and looked at the old man.  His eyes rolled back, and he fell into the aisle of the bus.  It was the heat someone said.  Get him some air someone said.   The men were trying to get the old man to wake up, but he was not moving.

               The bus stopped and an ambulance crew came on the bus and carried the old man off.

               “What happened to him?”

               “They’re taking him to a park and let him rest next to a tree.”

               He wasn’t sure what his father meant, but he imagined the old man, sort of dazed from the heat, sitting on the ground with his back against the tree.  Alone and not sure when the bus would come back and pick him up.  Those facts were not made clear to the young Ed.

               At the game, his old man bought him a blue plastic batter’s helmet with an orange plastic band that had to be adjusted to fit his small head.  He was given an American Cheese sandwich in wax paper, a small bag of Wise potato chips and a grocery store soda wrapped in aluminum foil to keep it cool.  And remembers watching Willie Mays get up to bat.  But his mind went back the old man sitting against a tree in the park. 

               When they arrived home, his mother yelled at his father since he was drunk. 

               Roberto Clemente died in a plane crash; a few years later, same happened to Thurman Munson when he was flying his plane.  There was Donnie Moore, a pitcher for the Angels who committed suicide after he shot his wife.  Lou Gehrig.  Babe Ruth giving his last raspy voiced farewell speech.  Gil Hodges.  They all died. 

               Ed put the last dish on the rack to dry.  That day Whitey Ford died and he recalled seeing Ford throw out of the ceremonial first pitch at Yankee Stadium when the Yanks played The Mets in 2000.  The chairman lived to 91.  But back then he was just getting over cancer. 

               Ed sat in the living room and checked the apps, his email and felt the night settling in.  His parents were back on Long Island.  He was alone in his house and yet the sound of the cars rushing by the highway and the isolation was peace.  Like the old man leaning against the tree in the park, baseball carries death, much like life.

Grocery Shopping at Night

10/6/20 22:39

There is something about grocery shopping at night.  This is the time when most are home and watching TV and the few stragglers, myself included voyage into the barren store. Mask on, the cart’s handle wiped clean.  There are open lanes, except for the ones with carts and boxes of products to be shelved after midnight.  There are less hurried folks at night.  The focused fucks who are in a rush after work, who are on their own must-get-it mission and who do not give a mighty shit if you or I are in their way.  A tap?  A nudge?  Maybe an excuse me?  Maybe I am confusing these scenes with my previous shopping sprees on Long Island.  A few times, we stop in the dead zone; where lanes intersect, eyes looking at eyes not sure if the person is smiling or sneering.  I debate should I pick up a six of a pumpkin brew?  Maybe?  I debate.  I have these internal debates all of the time when I am shopping. Should I pick up Goyo product even if the COO praised Trump?  Does this shopping spree have to become a political event?  Why are groceries so expensive?  I buy vegetarian meals and organic, but spend next to nothing on my clothing detergent.  In some ways I am cheap, a reminder of my father who to this day loves a good sale, but I won’t stoop to his frugality.  The man drinks water from the tap, who would do such a thing?  Just think, I used to dread the supermarket and now at night I have found my oasis in the distance.  The lit up parking lot beckons under the October moon.

Thank you for reading this.

Twenty years ago, Kid A and Twenty Five Years Ago (today) Automatic for The People were released

 10/5/20 22:46

Twenty years ago, Kid A was released by Radiohead.  This was the new album for me and the new band since they released OK Computer which is one of my all-time favorites.  Sent a text to Jason since he is a Radiohead.  And he called me.  This led to you must listen to The Bends and Darkstar and I have a homework assignment.  Insane how we can be so passionate about our music, even decades later they stir up the dust and haunted visions.  We can share music like books and yet the songs speak to our souls in different ways.  Jason brought up Automatic For The People by REM and this led to stories about their song Drive…the album.  I looked up the listings.  The album was released on this date back in 1995.  25 years later we are talking about where we lived and what were doing.  Jason was in Arizona and listened to the album over and over and I was back in Northport, renting a duplex, married with two daughters who are now women…and would listen to that album and felt the defiance in Ignore land. My how the world has changed. 

It’s late night in Bethlehem and the house is quiet expect for Kid A playing in my headphones, Morning Bell…

Thank you for reading this.

 

Imzadi Publishing Accepts The Bombastic Adventures in The Arizona Desert

9/30/20 23:07 Home

Good news my dear friends, my novel was accepted by Imzadi Publishing.  I mailed the contract yesterday and based on the wail the mail has been moving in this country, the publisher should have it in two weeks.  The Bombastic Adventures in The Arizona Desert is expected to be published in July.  

The house is coming along.  I painted the other bedroom since Emma, Bella and Matt are planning to visit.  Now, it looks like it will be the Halloween weekend.  It will be the first time in three years since I slept in the same place with my kids.

10/4/20 20:21

Meli is working.  We are on Zoom together.  She is playing music and both of us are doing our things and yet we are together.  Earlier, I ran for 8 miles and now can feel my body slowing down and asking if it is time for bed.  Thinking about the morning light falling through the brittle leaves.  There are some maples that are still green, grasping onto the summer even in October.  Made it back home for church and I’m thinking of the miracles, praying to God for something specific, and yet I felt a little awkward, don’t put God to the test.  I am praying the spousal via 

I’d like to get back into the challenge I gave myself last year, a blog entry each day, even if they are short.  Maybe this time, I will share more poetry?  Whatever, even a stream of conscience. 

Cleaned the house.  Yesterday, I cleaned the windows and wished Meli was here to help or to keep me company.  Then today were more chores.  After a few hours or being in my sweaty clothes I took a hot shower,  the steam was flowing out the open window and the sunlight was bright in the small room, open shades, there’s no one living behind this house to peer in, so I took my naked time and got dressed.

I spoke with my brother, my sister Eileen for a few seconds, Mom and Dad and caught up for a few minutes.  And here I am listening to music my love is playing, and I am really impressed with this Spotify list. 

Reading Raymond Carver, shorts from Cathedral and Labyrinths by Jorge Luis Borges.

Thank you for reading this.

Six Months since I saw my wife due to Covid

 

9/6/20 19:13 Home

Tomorrow will be six months since my wife and I waved goodbye at the airport in Mexico City.  I planned to work in Mexico City last month, my director gave me permission, but the cases of Covid in Mexico were too high.  The plan also involved me staying in quarantine for at least ten days in an Airbnb and then staying at Meli’s apartment with her roommate.  The three of us would work, using the apartment’s Wi-Fi which let’s face it, is not the best.  But it was an opportunity to be with my wife.  We both want to see each other.  We scrapped the plan and have tentative plans for November or Christmas.  Everything depends on the Covid status, both here in Pennsylvania and in Mexico.

In some ways, the distance and the lack of travel has had a strain on the relationship.  And yet, we are committed to each other and to the marriage.  Neither of us is wondering what did we get ourselves into.  But the Covid factor has brought bouts of anxiety and depression.  We have survived six months and can go longer if necessary, the saving grace if the spousal visa is being processed and more importantly we have faith.

We have attended church on Sunday, Passion City Church and we have heard messages that have touched our hearts and souls and have given us the strength to keep going.  Life will be rough, but we will survive and be stronger for it.   

This has also been a good time to discuss our relationship.  There are some key differences, age, culture, height and my wives’ taste for mindless movies.  We are making plans for the house, plans for our weekends, growing a garden and even getting a dog.  To give you an example, each time I am out on a run and see something beautiful, I wish my wife was with me.  I am saving these places in my memory and want to share all of them when we are together.  There are a lot of beautiful places in this area.  I just hope I can remember how I got to them. 

The house is coming along and I am taking it slowly since we own the house and no one is making me do anything.  You know what I mean.  I want to convert to gas, redo the floors, new windows, and I have to take it one project at a time. Today I installed the toilet paper holder, some painting outside.  Maybe I can take a full day off tomorrow?

Thank you for reading this.

Nuestra Casa!

7/30/20 19:58 Bethlehem, PA

I am writing this from our home.  On July 17

On Monday, I submitted the spousal visa to homeland security through Catholic Charities and was told to be patient.  It’s going to take four months to process, and only then will I receive an update, and yet I wanted to check their site since this case is going to be different. This is my case.  Sure.  Meli and I have accepted that she won’t be here for at least ten months. 

With some reluctance, Meli and I decided to hold off till maybe November before my next trip to Mexico City.  Does anyone really know what the future will be like?  I don’t want to speculate, but I hope to see her before the year is finished. 

There have been thousands of couples who encountered longer separations, through wars, disease, immigration, yet their love continued.  The relationships survived.  Meli and I are very close.  We laugh, get frustrated, share our goals and develop a unique bond like nothing I experienced before.   We are working with what we have, WhatsApp, daily and nightly routines, sharing our distant lives.  We attend church regularly, watch shows on Netflix or Amazon Prime and have our routines which help get through this time.  I don’t want to compare our relationship to others since it is so different.  But the connection we have is also different from anything either of us had previously. 

Cultivate the gratitude.  Look at the miracles and be patent for God’s blessings.

 Thank you for reading this.

A New Home

6/22/20 21:19 N New St. Bethlehem

Last week, I made an offer on a house and it was accepted.  It is exciting.  For years I thought I would never own another home.  It’s a long story and if you’re really curious, please let me know.  I will be closing on July 17^th, which is almost three years to the day when Ali and I split.  It’s amazing to think it has been three years. Three years later, I am married to the love of my life.  Moved into a new house in a new state and starting over.  As you know, Meli and I are working on the visa and I will provide updates; but for now it’s one of those entries.  The heat is stifling in the room and the only break is the tapping of the keys.  You ask, where is your house?  It is in Bethlehem, it is a single and it has a yard.  It is on a dead end street, so to speak.  It has a driveway and a garage and basement and three bedrooms, so the kids can come up and visit.  There is work to do, like pulling up the carpet, throwing out some furniture, painting, floor finishing and tackling the outside.  Looking forward to the project and thinking about what needs to get done.  One room at a time.  Start in the living room.  Order a new mattress.  I will write down a list or maybe not since a list may be too much for me.  I need structure and I like projects.  I need to buy a lawn mower.  I will buy a lawn mower.  Tomorrow an inspector is heading over at 4 PM and it will take two hours for the inspection.  I think it will be less time.  Like I said, it is hot.   I just finished a beer in seconds and I may have another.

Thank you for reading this.