TONY AND JO ELLEN DAMBROSIO
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Blog #7 - New Years 2016-2017 at our home

1/11/2017

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aTony and Jo Ellen are living in a CCRC (that is, "Continuing Care Retirement Community").  The name of our CCRC is "Rivermead.  It has two sections, the Mead, and the Village.  The Mead came first; then. nearly 20 years later, the Village was opened, upping the total population by about 50% to some 400 or so souls.

It's interesting, living in a CCRC.  First thing to note is that it's expensive.  That's because it provides what it's name suggests ... continuing care for the rest of your life.  People generally dive in when they are in their 70's.  We bow out, for most part, in our 80's and 90's.  But don't think "morbid", 'cause most of us are having a very good time.  And, even though our cash flow may be squeezed, it's worth it knowing we're not going to become a burden on anybody if we aren't lucky enough to bow out all of a moment; Rivermead will take care of us.

Some poor souls come here with the wrong attitude; they come here to die.  That's sort of stupid; you could just as well stay home for that and save the whopping downpayment Rivermead requires.   People with that attitude seem to fulfill their unspoken expectations fairly early.  On the other hand, some people sign on with a healthy perspective.  They're here for the fun of it.  And it is fun, every day, and in innumerable ways.

One of the fun aspects is our annual New Year's Eve partying.  We start with a big dinner, with music and singing.  We follow that up with a Variety Show; about 20 acts participatiing.  Then most folk being, after all, rather elderly, retire, although it's only about 9:30pm.  Some more hardy souls stay for the 12am Champagne Toast to the New Year.

Tony participated in two items in the Variety Show; he played his violin with a newly formed piano quartet, doing two seasonal pieces.  Later in the show he sang the Ballad of Barbara Ellen.  Unfortunately, Jo Ellen, who was doing the recording on her smartphone, missed the first line or two, so I'll give them here; then you can hear Tony's wailing on Youtube if you wish.  He loved doing it although he was just barely getting his voice back from a nasty cold.  The audience loved it too!

From Tony and Jo Ellen, best wishes for a healthy and happy 2017.

The missing line is:  "In Scarlet Town, where I was born, there was a fair maid dwelling ..."
Here's the ​Link to Youtube:  Tony at Variety Show
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Blog #6 - So, here we go with President (elect) Trump

11/28/2016

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 Yes, he won; and he is going to be our President.  No, he has not changed; he is still a megalomaniac, and will certainly behave as such.

Trouble is, he's not even President quite yet, and it's already started.  You see, Mr. Trump cannot stand being shown as anything less than grand, great, the BEST.  So, to win the Electoral College vote, which is the way America works, may be enough to make him President, but it's certainly not enough to make him happy.

Lots of people are complaining about what they view as unfairness in the process of electing our President; they don't understand and certainly don't like the apparent inconsistency in what they think is right.  You get the most "people votes", they think, then you should win.  Well, they're wrong.  The Electoral College was primarily necessary to avoid problems with slave versus non-slave states; without it we'd never have had to fight the Civil War ... but, then we'd also never have been the United States either.  The compromise, which is what the Electoral College is, made unity (hence United) possible.  It continues to exist because it serves that function, of compromise, in many different situations.  After all, we are not, and have never been, a homogeneous people ... we are country and urban; we have ethnic groupings; there are religious populations; educational levels, and lots more.  But because of the Electoral College no one group is quite able by size alone to dominate national elections and force its will upon all the others.  The purpose of the Electoral College is to dilute the effect of simple majority; and it works; imperfectly, but it works.

Now President (elect) Trump has heard these complaints and, of course, has taken them very personally; and, being megalomaniacal, he simply cannot bear to not strike back.  Truly, he's such a broken creature; one has to feel sorry for him.  Anyway, strike back he must and has, claiming that millions of votes (all against him) were illegal.  This would be laughable if we were not talking about the President (as he soon will be).  You see, once he is President he will be in a position to do something about his view of things.  And that will not be laughable at all.

A quick aside:  In the South American country of Venezuela a dictator (Maduro) rules.  He's a pretty bad guy and his country is in a pretty bad way.  Some months ago a coup was attempted and failed.  Dictator Maduro has struck back, imprisoning many thousands of army personnel, social workers, politicians.  It's the usual story, of course; anybody who has ever expressed anything other than rabid support for Maduro is perceived as a probable enemy; and is treated as an actual criminal.  They are no longer citizens; no, they are criminals and are imprisoned.  Soon, I am sad to believe, they will be dead criminals.  That's how these things are done in dictatorships.  You know I'm right, because we've read about it time and again in our newspapers; Venezuela is just recent and closer to home than many other examples.

Back to Trump:  What I am saying is simply that Trump is the type of person who accepts conspiracy ideas as reasonable and actual facts.  So all those fake mothers and teachers and all those news reports about the slaughter of children in Newtown, Connecticut are just a fake to try and discredit the NRA.  Trump must believe that because he believes that Alex Jones is a great guy.  Alex Jones is the conspiracy guy who denies the reality of the Newtown tragedy and that's just one of his many outrageous beliefs.  I guess if you can believe that it's pretty easy to believe in millions of illegal voters, all against Trump.

Now, I think Mr. Trump is a man of action.  So, if he believes that millions of votes against him are illegal he will, once he is President, most likely take action.  We can only wonder what the end result will be.  Venezuela may be a good example of what's to come in the good old U.S.A.

And, he's not even President quite yet.
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Blog #5 - About Hillary Clinton

8/12/2016

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An article by Dan Weeks about Hillary Clinton - plus my comments

Talking about Hillary Clinton ...

   This is a reprint (copied by me) from an election item that appeared last week in a local (to Peterborough) New Hampshire newspaper.  I've put the article in quotes, just to be clear.

   In preface: Dan Weeks, the author of the article is a former executive director of Open Democracy and the New Hampshire Rebellion.  He is also currently running for NH Executive Council in District 5.  With that, I refer you to this article regarding Dan's take on Hillary Clinton.  By the way, if you'd like to learn a little more about Dan Weeks check out www.danielweeks.com  I found him a refreshing voice.

Note:  For those who are a little dense (as was I), the hashtag in the last paragraph refers to  Mrs. Clinton's crash through ultimate glass ceiling.

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“Election 2016   -   A Look at Hillary's past decisions”

   “I've always believed the best way to size up politicians is by looking first at the decision they made before entering public life.  Did they set out to work for self or others?  Did they make meaningful sacrifices for the greater good?  How true have they remained to their expressed ideals?

   Hillary Clinton has been described as the most famous person you don't know.  Indeed, I do not know Hillary Clinton's heart, her faith, what makes her tick.

   To judge another person on those points is not my business.  But I do know what she is like across the table and how she has applied the gifts she was given from day one, and I am impressed.

   I know that during her student days, Hillary joined the Civil Rights Movement and protested the War in Vietnam, organizing teach-ins and working to recruit more black students and faculty to Wellesley (College).

   I know she served in her church and community from an early age and displayed uncommon courage for speaking up publicly to a sitting US senator in defense of peaceful protest.  The same cannot be said of Donald Trump.

   I know that instead of cashing in on her fancy law degree, Hillary joined the Children's Defense Fund, ran a Legal Aid clinic in Arkansas, and began her lifelong project of advocating for “the least of these” God's children – migrant workers, people with disabilities, abused and neglected youth.  The same cannot be said for Donald Trump.

   I know that since entering public life Hillary has fought long and hard for universal healthcare, gender equality, security and human rights around the world, earning the respect of many Republicans, military leaders and foreign heads of state.  The same cannot be said of Donald Trump.

   I know she is fiercely intelligent, listens hard, studies the issues, and shows respect for diverse people and points of view – even those with whom she disagrees and those intent on ending her career.  The same cannot be said of Donald Trump

I know she came together with Bernie Sanders, whose political revolution inspired millions of Americans like me to adopt a pathbreaking Democratic party platform that calls for rebuilding the middle class, combating global terrorism and catastrophic climate change, reining in Wall Street, ending poverty and systemic racism, rebuilding America's crumbling infrastructure, making college debt-free, reforming immigration, protecting the health and safety of all Americans, restoring democracy, and more.  The same cannot be said of Donald Trump.

   And I know that last year when I sat down with Hillary and other candidates on behalf of the nonpartisan NH Rebellion, she listened attentively and committed to support real campaign finance reform.  More than that, she instructed her team to work extensively with us to fashion the most comprehensive #FightBigMoney agenda ever released by a presidential candidate.

   Although she continues to receive support from big money doners in her campaign, her position is firm and I will do all that I can to hold her to it once she is elected.  Donald Trump refused to meet with us.

   Hillary has made mistakes along the way, as she admits.  So have I.

   She has made compromises I wish she never made.  But that does not stop me from celebrating #HistoryMade in Philadelphia and believing fervently that Hillary Clinton, not Donald Trump must be the next President of the United States.”

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That's what Dan Weeks had to say.  Here's a little postface: (which I just looked up and is the opposite of preface)  ---

   I would like to conclude with my own take on all this.  Please don't jump to a wrong conclusion; I do not think Clinton is a darling girl and a Saint. Far from it.  I'm sure she has lots of faults and has pulled her share of boners. But, I also think she has done nothing truly BAD ... as in EVIL. That's why she's still around, you know.

   All that crap about murdering Vince Foster, setting up for the deaths at Benghazi, and etc. Talk about politics gone bananas.  All that is just BS, pure and simple, and is created by politicians that want to bring her down. They shape the stories to suit their purposes. They use people who are hurting, convincing them that it's all HER fault.  They say, ”Attack her. Hang her. Shoot her.”   “Right”, they say; “You need to let it all hang out. All your hurt; your frustrations; your anger.  Here's who you can direct it at.  Here's who you can blame.”

   You know what that's called?  It's called scapegoating, and its an old, old trick.  It works, because it's natural to our human nature.  It works, if you can only focus it.  And, it doesn't require anything like truth, or proof; totally unnecessary.  Sometimes it's done innocently, just because as humans we often feel the need to have somebody to blame.  Still bad, but you know what's worse?  The way it's been done over the latter years of the Republican Party, that's what's worse.  They're still accusing President Obama of being a traitor; of being a Muslim; of being born in a foreign country (and hence an illegal President, never mind alien), of plotting terror attacks.  Trump just did it again a few days ago.  You name it, and if it's bad, Obama's done it.  It's enough to make any sensible person sick; and it's been more than enough to get me voting as an Independent.  Oh, I'm still ready to vote for fiscally responsible candidates; but I will NOT vote for people who believe taxation is of itself evil.  How stupid can you get?  I will not vote for people who are blind to reality and direct all their fear and hurt and hatred at convenient figures to which they've been guided by ill-intentioned power seekers.  And, I will not willingly give up America's ideals, America's real democracy, America's moral conscience, to anybody whose system for winning is primarily to demonize their opponents and anybody else they feel they can victimize.  And I am definitely talking about Mr. Trump.

   Here's the scoop.  So long as we can hang on to law and order, the demagogues won't get what they want; because once you go to due process (that is, investigations by independent, bi-partisan panels, courts, and such) you find that there is no evidence warranting criminal prosecution. As I already pointed out, THAT'S WHY HILLARY CLINTON IS STILL AROUND.

   Do I like her?   Not particularly. But I certainly do like her track record. Over her entire life, she's put her butt on the line for causes she believed in, and that includes her entire professional life as well.    Yeah, that"s what I like.
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Blog #4: Compromise, Conspiracy, and Climate Change

8/4/2016

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The United States of America was born, back in the 18th century, of compromise. Many of us seem to have lost sight of that fact. Compromise is not a bad thing; it is simply a way of overcoming the fact of disagreement. The results of compromise are not always pretty … but they are always a way to move forward. If the founders of our country had not been able to compromise we would not have come into being. It took a united front against England to earn our independence.

The most egregious failing of the conservative/extreme rightist/Republican movement (choose your segment) is its inability to compromise. I use the word “movement” in preference to Party because it is essentially a movement, incorporating into itself the Republican Party, the Tea Party types, and numerous “extreme rightists” … this last including those who espouse “no government”, even to the point of anarchy. Taken together, you can readily see how rough the edges are where these different ways of thinking rub up against each other.

Still, were these politically disparate groups able to compromise with each other it is conceivable they might have evolved into a new party … even if they simply adopted the name of the old Party. As it is, many Republicans, myself included, are simply jumping from a badly fragmented ship. It seems to many of us that the movement, as I have styled it, does not represent the brand of Republicanism I grew up with; worse, it does not represent traditional America. Instead it demands its way on everything, no compromise permitted on anything. Taxes will not be raised; social programs (such as health care, for example) will not be expanded or even supported, immigrants will no longer be accepted unless they have acceptable religions. It would be easy to go on, but it's simpler to just say these folk apparently believe that we ought all to carry on by our own devices, somehow without any involvement (especially financial) of government.

This actually sounds sort of good, you know? How nice it would be to not have to pay income tax. Not only does it take a heck of a lot of time and effort, but that's MY money and they are giving some of it to the unworthy and wasting the rest of it on government corruption and inefficiency. So, stop taxes. Period. At least, that's the thinking, best I can make out.

OK. Stop bridge building; infrastructure (sewage systems and the like), road construction and maintenance, loans for students, police departments, sanitation workers, mental health services, all manner of health care (including veterans, but also including disease control, emergency services and a lot more.

Is this really a good approach? Do we really think roads and bridges last forever, or are maintained by God? Or leprechauns? When the sewage overflows in our streets (as in our country's early days, before the evil scientists got the upper hand) what Harry Potter magic trick will keep the plague from putting us six feet under?

Talking of evil scientists: you know, those evil scientists that have been predicting global warming … aren't they being paid, often enough, through government grants? Don't we realize it's all a grand scheme to …..? To what? To pay scientists to pretend? Why? Who wins? Just to scare us? Again, why? Well, heck, we're too smart for that; we're not going to be scared of such a ridiculous idea. How dumb to believe that humans could have such a dramatic effect on the world. Of course, we could just blow it all to hell in 5 minutes with nuclear weapons … that we understand. In fact, we almost did that once, and maybe we will yet. In any event, you may have noticed that, despite all the ludicrous denials of climate change by people (mostly politicians who have staked their political future on such denials) we still have the new, and increasingly scary, weather to contend with; and it ain't good. Yeah, you can still find the solitary scientist (some on coal's payroll, but many just lousy scientists) who still denies it all. But, do you really think it's a good idea to bet on the odd man out? Do you really want to believe the questionable figures of a handful of contrarians when matched up against a world-full of scientists? Unless, of course, you do truly think that scientists are in fact evil and all caught up in a world-wide conspiracy. In fact, many of us know people who think that way. To them the Nazi's didn't kill the Jews; rather, it's all just a made up story, a Jewish conspiracy. To them America's slaves were happy being slaves; and, they liked being beaten, and their children sold away and their mates taken; and the Civil War certainly shouldn't have been fought, especially since it had nothing to do with slavery; that's just a made up story, another conspiracy. People who think this way believe President Roosevelt conspired (with the Jews, of course) to bring about World War II by causing Pearl Harbor; yeah, the President was part of the plot. And, 911 was committed by our government, and by our military, just one more secret plot. With people like this you can't reason, you know? I even know somebody who chalks unusual cloud shapes up to government secret weapons. Can you beat that one? Now, that's real science.
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I seem to have wandered from my central premise: willingness to compromise with those you disagree with is an essential component of political machinery. So, let me wrap up; compromise is what makes the political world go 'round. Without it you have either anarchy or tyranny. I don't know about you, but I prefer democracy. Let's compromise on that. Republicans, take heed.
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Blog #3 - Something unpleasant

6/21/2016

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​Who knows what a demagogue is? The dictionary knows: In the rough: “A political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular passions and prejudices.” The idea is not a bad one. Talk to people about the things that mean the most to them and you'll get their attention. Right? Right!
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Donald trump is a demagogue. What passions and prejudices does trump work with? Essentially fear. Some people say Hatred and Fear, but that's redundant because hatred is always the product of fear. So, we fear being put out of work by illegal aliens and the next thing you know we hate them. It's that simple and pretty much that quick.

Same with Muslims. We've all been lied to about Muslims. We've been shown selections of their holy book that talk about killing heretics, and we've been told this is what their religion is all about. Well, if you are a Christian or a Jew you must know that your holy book is chock full of similar awfulness. Trump only attacks them because they are a small group we can learn to fear and hate, and because they are at the focal point of a holy war that frightens us all. They represent the problem; but they are not the solution, even though trump pretends otherwise.

Lots of men (sometimes myself included) wonder whether women are going to take over the world. You think it would be a good thing? Well, I'm not so sure … leadership, moral courage, intelligence; women have no special handle on these attributes. Lust for power? They're just as susceptible as men, I'm quite sure. Regardless, lots of men feel their traditional role as “the boss” is being diminished (and so it is). This is scary. Fear again, and trump appeals to this particular fear by making outrageous jabs at women, in ways that make some men feel like maybe he's the guy who will protect them from this truly dramatic change in our modern societies. With trump's references to the size of his penis, and to the implied weakness of a woman who bleeds on a cyclical basis, he doesn't pretend there is any actual significance in this harsh talk … it's just to make the men feel better, to make them feel there's somebody on their side in a very unstable and increasingly less male dominated world.

Gays and all the related types are another great focal point for fear. First of all we need to consider that most men have a little hidden away fear that they might not be seen as wholly masculine as they want to. Myself included, once again, we want to be seen as absolutely MALE. Me MAN and you know it!!! So, trump has his opportunity. Here's a group we can all be a little afraid of (if for no other reason than we can't understand them). With a little help from trump we can hate the lesbians, the homosexuals, the bi's. It doesn't really matter that they are just people trying to live with body-spirit mismatches, not to mention that people's basic sexuality is really none of our business anyway. Notice though, like most demagogues, trump is also a convincing liar. To one audience he claims to be friend to the LGBT community while to another he says he's going to make gay marriage an entirely states-rights issue (by appointing the proper justices). You see … he's not about truth, and he's not about moral courage. No, what trump is about is getting our votes because he believes we will each hear his message the way we want to hear it. This gives him the latitude to change his lines to suit the audience of the day.

There are a lot of such examples that trump has provided us with, but I think these will do to make the point; trump is only about getting his way, which means getting our votes.

You may think all politicians are crooks; well that's your opinion. I think most politicians are people who want to impose their beliefs on the world they live in because they feel their beliefs are better than everybody else's. They're hungry for power simply because that's the only way they can possibly get what they want. There's no doubt that trump is a politician; but he's also a person who stands for absolutely nothing except his own power. And it's beginning to look like trump's going to get his own way. God help us all if he does.
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One more truly frightening point. I hope I've made it clear that trump is not about right and wrong, good and bad, law and order. I don't think he cares two hoots for any of that. So, consider, in a land where a significant number of people who are his ardent supporters also have AK47s (and not just one, but arsenals) and where the man that is trying so very hard to get his way also has a few billions of dollars to spend on buying carefully placed anarchy, disorder, mayhem, and chaos … do you ever wonder what the next election might shape up to be? I am very worried. I would not like to see those millions of private gun owners who think they can protect their country and selves and loved ones, matched up against hired, organized military. You think he won't do that? Maybe not. But think what kind of man he really is. Is he honest? Is he respectful of the law. What does he really care about? Just one thing matters to trump.    trump.
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Blog #2: Are we having fun yet?  YES, YES, YES.

1/8/2014

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Well, on June 26, 2013 Jo Ellen and Tony moved from their happy home in Rindge, New Hampshire, to an uncertain, foggily unclear future in a nearby retirement community by the name of Rivermead Village.  Located in Peterborough, just 2 towns (21 minutes) away from Rindge, Rivermead Village is what is referred by the know-it-alls as a CCRC ... which stands for Continuing Care Retirement Community.  A good friend, when I sprang that term upon her, asked me, with some trepidation, "And which of you two is in need of continuing care."  Clearly, the designated title does not convey the nature of the place very well.

Continuing care is not what we get .... it's what we're going to get, someday, if we aren't lucky enough to do our final conk out while sleeping or in a train wreck or anyway in some sudden and conclusive way.  The rates to stay in a CCRC are high, because once you're there you are assured of good care right through to the very end, and that's a nice thing to not have to worry about any longer.

Well, anyway, here we are and, guess what.  We're happy.  Not only are we busy, engaged, active, energetic, etc., etc.  We are part of a congenial circle of folk, friends all, who daily share our lives.  We sup and sip with them most every day.  Some of us, the younger, and more vigorous, chat and exercise together, and hike and snowshoe the local trails.  Others play bridge, do jigsaws and crosswords, play chess and checkers.  We hear lectures on all manner of topics (global warming; local geology; faith and its failures; etc., etc.), attend concerts, go to movies.  Believe me, it's not a dull life.  Also, the food is very good and that counts for a lot.

This was our first New Year's celebration in the Village.  In fact, it was the Village's first New Year's as the Village is a new addition to the main campus (called just plain "Rivermead"). and we, all of us here, are the very first to take up occupancy. We're just across the street (oh, 5 minutes walk) from the main  campus, but we have a separate identity in many ways, not least in the average age since the original Rivermead has been around for 17 years or so.  By the way, this is a non-profit outfit, so all the payments go to our benefit, not to some wily investor.

Again, this was our first New Year's celebration here and Jo Ellen and Tony agreed to take part in the Variety Show planned for New Year's Eve.  Jo Ellen hadn't been doing music actively (she's been an accomplished pianist and organist in her day) for over 25 years.  Tony is luckier, having participated in singing and music making most of his life, although never with any great ambitions in that direction.  Regardless, we thought this would be fun, and it was.  I'm including a link here for you to check out our offering on Youtube.  I hope you enjoy it.  You'll see that we did.   Since this camera video has gone through a couple of processes, it doesn't work too well on Youtube, so for best results just view it without going to the full screen mode.  Just click HERE.
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Blog #1 - Time to sell the house

5/4/2013

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Picture
Blog #1

Hello, World.

Selling the house was my aim, and using a blog was my game. Have you ever sold a house? Most of us haven't. I'd sold 4 (5 now) and every one was a world apart from all the rest. Only one thing ties all the sales together … in every case I was so very happy when it was all over and done with.  The picture above is the house my wife and I retired to in Rindge, New Hampshire.  Sold, now.  And Mary Alice has gone to God.  My new wife and I live elsewhere.

Talking about selling houses, I particularly remember the brownstone in New York City. That was really different. Grandma had left it to my Mom and so when Mom passed we 3 brothers found ourselves owning a house that none of us wanted. I handled the process and it was not that hard. That's because everybody wanted it to work. The buyer was an old acquaintance of Grandma's, a heating oil guy in the neighborhood. We offered; he accepted.

My brothers were fine with it going, of course; we all had lives away from Manhattan by then and didn't need to worry about being landlords to 10 tenants on 5 stories, all with inevitable complaints as things inevitably didn't work the way they desired, whether the heat not coming up, or the water coming down, or the noise upstairs, or … it never stops. These were all good people. It's just the nature of the relationship that makes tenants seem like ogres. Consider that Grandma had 5 of these buildings under her belt, and kept everybody in line. What a gal!

Grandma came, age 17, from Italy to join her 3 brothers in the Bronx. She was at their beck and call and got many a slap and unkind word while being the obedient younger sister. But, that's the culture they brought with them from “the old country.” That changed, little by little, year by year. By the time Grandma left us she was stronger, and better off money-wise, than all of them. Those 5 brownstones were all in what is now considered “yuppieland” in the mid 70's of the West side of Manhattan. Grandma's will specified the funeral entourage travel through the neighborhood passing in front of every one of those brownstones. Somewhere, up above, I do believe, she grimaced down upon us. “See. See. I did it. I worked hard, and slaved, and mopped the floors, and raised my kids, and improved the houses, and all without my dead husband, and I did it.” At least, that's how I imagine her. Loved her, the tough old gal. Miss her still.

So, with Grandma's house as my first venture into realty, today I'm selling, or trying to sell, as my final real estate act, my own house. My own home in Southern New Hampshire. The home where my beloved wife, now gone, and I moved in 2002. It was to be our last home, and so it was for her. We loved it, and it's hard to let go, even now, even knowing I've got a good situation ahead in a good community with good services, and even with a good new wife to be my friend and companion, day by day. It's still hard to let go. Memory is sometimes good, sometimes not so good.

Blogging is still a new thing to me.   As brand new programmers used to say, I've never did one; now I is one.   Well, now that the house is long sold, I'll continue to try blogging from time to time, as the spirit moves.  If anybody reads them, that would be a plus.

Tony D'Ambrosio


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