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The Nursing Home
Ever wish you could go back and change one thing you did in your life? Just one? My grandmother suffered a severe stroke in 1979 and after ten days in the hospital, she was transferred to a nursing home on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. We thought it was fortunate that she could be… Continue reading
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Unbreakable
By the time I was four years old, I had learned not to get caught doing anything wrong. My mom had no reservations about sending a quick slap my way if she thought my behavior called for it. And when I seemed too happy playing with my toys, my big brother was always too happy… Continue reading
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Fickler Bunch
Top 5000 Mets Fan Favorites October 2, 2024 T0p 5000 Mets Fan Favorites October 3, 2024 Continue reading
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Fickle Bunch
Top 5000 Mets Fan Favorites September 2021 4999. Vince Coleman 5000. Francisco Lindor Top 5000 Mets Fans Favorites September 2024 5000. Vince Coleman Continue reading
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How often do you walk or run? You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. Continue reading
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Concussed
They sure make a big deal about concussions these days; strict protocols in all professional sports, bike helmets for everyone, etc. It all comes a bit too late for me. It is commonly believed that after three concussions, a person has “a higher risk of declining brain function, including memory loss, later in life.” What… Continue reading
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Under Pressure
One summer day when I was six I went food shopping with my mother. My grandmother couldn’t come to watch me that day, so I had to go wherever my mother went. We walked to Nostrand Avenue, where all the stores were situated. First stop, Ebinger’s bakery for a small rye bread, then to the… Continue reading
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Jaws
I had two very different problems with my customers. First, they could spend hours hanging out in my store, bending my ear about the dumbest things. Their genius children. The weather. Religion (ugh). This made it difficult for me to get any work done. So, I made it very clear to all of my employees:… Continue reading
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A Hard, Hard Life
One Spring Day in second grade I was sitting at my desk, wondering where I was going to find the 12 cents I would need for that month’s Superman comic, when the front door opened. Some kid came in – must have been a ‘monitor’ from the office – and handed my teacher, Mrs. Levine,… Continue reading
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School Cred
By the time I was in the fifth grade, I was tall, thin and quiet. I did nothing to draw scrutiny and was ridiculously consumed with the possibility of doing something wrong. In October, I was chosen to play trombone in the newly formed school orchestra. Not that I showed an interest, or even any… Continue reading
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Ain’t That A Hit In The Head
I had a terrible stomach ache when I was 16. Started hurting around noon. I didn’t like making a big deal, so I just dealt with it all day, mostly doubled over, then went to bed. After a sleepless night I finally mentioned it to my mom. Turned out to be a gangrenous appendix that… Continue reading
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It’s Elementary (Part Two)
The dreaded Mrs. Auerbach had quite the reputation for ridiculing, belittling, and screaming at her fourth grade students. My summer recess was ruined, because the back of my third grade June report card indicated that I was to be in her class. Once fourth grade began, I managed to remain fairly invisible during school hours.… Continue reading
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Fatherhood
I was always a fun dad, but I seemed to get a bit more careless with each successive child. When our youngest, Matthew, was three, I took him to the park to fly model rockets. He was so excited! As I was preparing our first rocket for lift-off, I had to bite off, then spit… Continue reading
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What’s Going On…?
It’s great being retired. My wife and I are almost always together and we do whatever we want, all day long. Last month we were in JFK, waiting for our flight to Puerto Rico. Got there early, as we usually do. I noticed that people running late generally dash through the airport to their assigned… Continue reading
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It’s Elementary (Part One)
I am a product of the NYC Board of Education. But I’m okay. My father died when I was in elementary school. I was in the second grade. I returned to school in mid-December, after having stayed at home for a week. My classmates basically ignored me for a few days, which was behavior normally… Continue reading
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Firemen Get The Job Done!
When chasing after shoplifters began to take up too much of my time, I was forced to hire security for my pharmacy. First I hired off duty police, which was not exactly legal in those days; cops were not allowed to moonlight. Which turned out to be okay because they were mostly a waste of… Continue reading
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Kindergarten
When I was in kindergarten, I was in the morning class. I always looked forward to noon, which was when I got to go home. I felt pretty much the same way about school all the way through college. Our teacher, Mrs. Stevens, would line us up in size order, so I always brought up… Continue reading
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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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