story
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The Great Escape
When I was not quite two and a half years old, my Mom informed me that she needed to go to the library. So she dressed me, put me in my carriage, and off we went. (Okay. I know. “How can he possibly remember what happened when he was two?!! That’s ridiculous!” Well, I do.… Continue reading
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What is one word that describes you? Bewildered Continue reading
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Dear 100 Year Old Phil:
Write a letter to your 100-year-old self. It’s enough already. Continue reading
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It’s None Of Your Business
What is one question you hate to be asked? Explain. “Where are you from?” I’m from Brooklyn. “No, I mean where are you from? You’re family. What ethnicity?” Why is that anyone’s business? Continue reading
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1956 BC
What are three objects you couldn’t live without? I was born in the year 1956 BC (Before Cellphones), and let me tell you, life was no picnic. When I wanted to go somewhere, I would drive around in circles because – get this – there was no voice telling me which way to turn! I… Continue reading
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Most Days…
Do you enjoy your job? I sure do. I wake up every morning whenever my eyes feel like opening. I shower, then spend the day with my wife, which is always a great way to spend the day. Sometimes my job takes me upstairs, to spend time with my 12 year old grandson, Jonathan. Or… Continue reading
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Baby Girl Redux
In 1989 we took the kids to Disney World. Mike was seven, Dana four. Stayed at a Disney resort. Mike loved it. Dana too…on most days. Dana was an adorable, beautiful little girl with ringlets of curls surrounding her face. But her eyes would turn dark when she felt slighted in any way. Storm clouds… Continue reading
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Teenagers
Actually I have had the opportunity to speak to my teenage self. Several times. I refrained from giving myself advice right off the bat, because as you know, teenagers think they know everything. So I waited a couple of weeks, then I told me I wanted to talk to me about something very important. To… Continue reading
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A Different Game
I was a big Mets fan growing up. I always hated hearing from old guys about how great baseball used to be in the ‘good old days.’ How baseball just was not good anymore. Well. One thing I knew back then was that when I grew up (which seemed inconceivable at the time), I would… Continue reading
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Road Rage
I managed a discount store on Livingston Street in Brooklyn in the late 1970s. It was a busy, crazy part of town. In the summer of 1979, I would spend my lunch hour one block north, walking down Fulton Street, which was where all the action was. The sidewalks were always teeming with shoppers, peddlers… Continue reading
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The Milk Man
In New York City in March of 1979 there was a milk strike. That’s right, a milk strike. I don’t remember what it was all about; maybe the delivery men wanted more money. Or maybe the cows wanted to unionize. All I know for sure is my Grandmother need a gallon of milk to get… Continue reading
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American Cheese
I owned retail stores. Pharmacies and greeting card stores. Worked them many hours a day, six or seven days per week. For 27 years. My kids worked whenever possible. For a few years in the early to mid 1990s there was a home for adults with mental disabilities three blocks from the store. A group… Continue reading
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Kong
One of the first deals under the Mets’ Fred Wilpon regime was to reacquire Dave “King Kong” Kingman in 1981. I suppose they wanted to add some pop to their lineup, and Kingman, a power hitter, was certainly capable of doing just that. At least 10% of the time. Kingman was a surly guy, as… Continue reading
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He’s Gonna Find Out
Think of your most memorable road trip. Driving home from Nashville on Christmas Eve with my son. Began our 16 1/2-hour trip a 11am. I drove until it got dark. By 1am Christmas day our car was the only sign of life. Everything was closed. No other cars on the pitch-black highway. My job was… Continue reading
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Observations and Grievances
–What’s the deal with all the superheroes these days? Superman. He can do it all. He’s Super! He’s all you will ever need. –Why does Rocky sound like he is suffering from brain damage in Rocky V, but like an intelligent, introspective, successful restauranteur and businessman in Rocky VI? –One thing you can always count… Continue reading
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Rascally
What is my favorite animal? This is a very difficult question for me to answer, because although there are currently no animals in my life, I sure had a lot of them growing up! Big Bird was always very friendly, and educational, too. Krypto was a very cool dog, who could fly! He even had… Continue reading
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Hard To Choose
The five things I do for fun today are much different than they were when I was in my twenties. Back then, they were, in no particular order: Going out with girls Going to baseball games Making money Going out drinking Playing four-wall racquetball Today, they are, also in no particular order: Going to bed… Continue reading
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Gram
Growing up my favorite person – by far – was my Grandmother. Never raised her voice, or bossed me around, or complained about my grades. We were always happy when we were together. She loved me. Came all by herself from Poland when she was a girl. Had to scrub people’s floors to make a… Continue reading
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Never Let Them See You Cry
Mike was our first child, and he was just what we wanted. Curly blond hair, beautiful smile which was always on display, funny and well behaved. My problem was I had to figure out a way to teach him how to handle himself once he started school. I knew how mean kids could be; this… Continue reading
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Bagel!
What snack would you eat right now? Right now? Bagel. Earlier? Bagel. In a little while? Bagel! I love bagels. A little bit of salt on them. Sometimes cinnamon raisin. Or even everything! What other snack can give you everything? With butter early in the day, otherwise cream cheese. Lox is both delicious and too… Continue reading
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Safe Streets
Come up with a crazy business idea. Not too long ago I read about a councilman’s idea to pay people for reporting obscured license plates. The plates in plastic holders, the plates with leaves taped to them, the plates that are faded. Which makes them impossible to read on toll bridges and tunnels, costing the… Continue reading
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Decapitation
Describe an item you were incredibly attached to as a youth. What became of it? I was attached to a doll I named Goggi. He belonged to my older brother before me. He was an ugly little boy doll wearing overalls, about eight inches tall, with the top of his head painted a light orange,… Continue reading
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Getting Old
artist: CliffBlank Kids are taught that there is no such thing as a stupid question. That questions are inherently smart. When I was a kid and I asked a question, the response was usually something like, “Shutup, stupid.” So I basically stopped asking. Now that I am old, people stop what they are doing to… Continue reading
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The Agony and the Thrill (with epilogue)
Tommie Agee. Five tool hero. Photo by Bernard Gotfryd. I have been to many notable Mets games over the past half century. Ditched school one Passover afternoon to go to Shea and watch Tom Seaver strike out 19 Padres. Sat in section two of the upper deck in 1973 for the Blessed Bounce game (Cleon… Continue reading
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Baby Girl
When our daughter, Dana, was little she was as happy as a little girl could be. About 40% of the time. The other 60% was another story. She could be smiling and laughing and showering me with hugs and kisses, when suddenly a thought would cross her mind. A dark shadow would come over her… Continue reading
