Update 5-29-07

Hello,

As one of my friends just wrote, saying "Happy Memorial Day," seems to lack all respect.  Maybe.  Or maybe the point is that people gladly died so that other people could be ordinarily happy.  In any case, you can see Jupiter, Venus, and an almost-full moon over LA just now, and that's humbling enough.
   
    Closer to the ground, and in answer to Barbara Blitfield Pech's question last week, a recap about Eva Cassidy from Booker Gibson:  Yes, I still talk about Eva Cassidy -- because so many Americans have still never heard of her.  She was born in Bowie, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, DC and died of cancer in 1996 at the young age of thirty-three.  Her father was a music teacher who helped their young relatives sing while in the car.  Also, Eva learned to play the guitar.
        After some very serious practicing, and singing with high school rock bands, one day Eva approached a local recording studio manager, Chris Biondo.  He didn't believe she had anything until he heard her.  Then he called in the other pros to listen.  From about ten albums she made, her most famous seem to be "Songbird," "Eva Cassidy -- Wonderful World," and "Live At Blues Alley."  Robin Seader Cottmeyer was there the historic night that last album was recorded, and now, so many people wish they were there, too, because that's the only live performance of Eva's which recorded that well.  A few record company people came to hear Eva sing, and they would have signed her up if she had agreed to stay in one style.  She wouldn't.  The most prominent producer visiting was Bruce Ludvall, from  Blue Note records, a  top  jazz  label.  He went back to New York, disappointed.  There's a famous special on "ABC-TV Nightline" about all of this.  It's been repeated at least four times, and Bruce Ludvall has tears in his eyes when he mentions Eva.
        Barbara -- and anyone else -- here are some songs of Eva's you must hear:  "Fields Of Gold," which was skated to by Michele Kwan in the 1996 Olympics.  "Autumn Leaves."  "Wayfaring Stranger."  "Songbird."  "I Know You By Heart."  "People Get Ready."  "Oh, I Had A. Golden Thread."  "Somewhere Over The Rainbow."
       The other album, "Wonderful World," is also loaded with memorable songs, but the "Songbird" album is better known.  All you really have to do to find out more about Eva Cassidy is use your computer and go right to Eva Cassidy.org.  Particularly, check the guest book section.  Every day, people from around the world add comments.  It's nice to see that more Americans know of her now.  Last year's American Idol used "Over The Rainbow" with a full orchestra.  Eva did it with a guitar, and it leaves you in tears.  Other singers have copied her, too.  Her biography is also called "Songbird."
   
    From Evelyn Roedel Read:  Now that it's Memorial Day weekend, I am looking forward to my time at our summer house in Southampton.  After I come in from fishing and clamming at night, the mosquitoes and gnats come out, so I stay in and read.
         My family has owned the place since the late 1950's, when I was still at South.  My parents bought the small waterfront bungalow and the empty lot next door and had it rolled over.  They only paid a couple of thousand dollars for it.  Imagine -- on the waterfront.  Then Dad, an insurance agent, read in "Popular Science," or one of those magazines, an article called "How to Build Your Dreamhouse for $3500."  Each weekend Dad read the lumber ads -- this was before Lowe's and Home Depot -- and we "carried the place out in his station wagon" as he would tell people.  I must say, he did a learned a lot of carpentry just by reading "How To" books.
         The view is wonderful.  We look up at Southampton College, now taken over by Stony Brook University. My late brother Walter's wife and son Paul, who's just graduating from high school this year, stay in the original place, which was redone inside and out during the last couple of years, and my Mom, who's ninety, and I, along with my friend Joe, stay in the cottage Dad built.  I have been retired since 1997, after teaching first grade for thirty-four years in the Middle Country School District, so I have plenty of time to fish, clam, garden, cook, and just plain relax.  I don't do these things in any particular order, but I could stick the word "relax" between each of the other words and be quite content.  I just thought that I would share that little of me with you.  South High sure did make some very wonderful people.
   
    From Zelda White Nichols:  Along with the Carvel Allen Moss remembers, there was also Tim Chan's Chinese Restaurant, and a Howard Johnson's in the Lynbrook vicinity.  I can still taste the egg rolls, fried rice, and spare ribs, and I have never been able to find the flavor of those items anywhere else.  I, too, was a Carvel addict, but I never made it over to White Castle, though I do remember it was near the Lynbrook train station.  There was also a deli near the Lynbrook movie theater, which made fabulous hot dogs, French fries, and potato knishes.  Mario DeSantis's dad owned an Italian deli as well, and I remember going in there for square-cut pizza slices.  The smell of all foods Italian used to have my mouth watering.
   
    From Peter Rosen to Barbara Blitfield Pech:  I'm right with you on Eula Smith from fifth grade at Harbor Road school.  She was just plain nasty, and I know she didn't like me.  I remember asking for some Elmer's glue, but mistakenly called it "Elmer Fudd's Glue," and she thought I was being a wise guy.  As punishment, I had to write some idiotic sentence 300 times.  On a much more memorable note, I suggest we start collecting remembrances from the infamous Yorker trips chaperoned by Dennis Keilly.  Anyone remember these?  They were wild.
   
    From Eric Hilton, first to Allen Moss:  Ed's Aquarium was also special for me, as Ed's son Tommy Sisco was a singer in my band.  Although Tom went to Hewlett High School -- Ed lived on the water in Hewlett Harbor -- he hung around Valley Stream because he thought his school was too snobby.  Tom also had a large tank in the store, with a sign saying, "Invisible Fish For Sale."  I keep in touch with Tom every day.  He is living in Utica New York, but I can't figure out why.
        Next, to Jean Cohen Oklan and Barbara Blitfield Pech:  The night before we were to return home, when we were in Pawling, there was a big dance.  But since I was caught, along with another class mate --  I don't remember who -- using the candy machine, I was grounded and not permitted to attend.  At the last minute. Mrs. Ward let us go.  The part that really sucked was I wanted some M&Ms, but I pushed the wrong button and got a "chocolate liver bar" or something really disgusting.  Also, to Jean:  The last time I looked at Diane Fruzzetti, a few years ago, she still had those beautiful, sultry eyes.
        For everyone:  The Carvel was on the south side of Sunrise Highway, next to the Petite Motel, which later was turned into low income, government-funded housing.  And -- as I've mentioned before -- to all the former female South students who falsely accused me and some of the guys from the shop classes and boys' gym of standing under the staircases just so we could look up their dresses:  I was going to demand an apology, as I felt it was slanderous, degrading, and hurtful.  Then remembered it was probably true.  So never mind.
   
    A reminder:  The next Alumni Association meeting is Thursday evening, May 31st, at 7:15 in the South library.  As always, everyone is welcome.
   
    Finally, notes from an idiot friend:
        We had just arrived at the bar mitzvah reception.  Herb and I were talking with the bar mitzvah boy's mother, Katherine. She and her husband Marty also have an older child named Stacey.
        Herb:  Katherine, I'm so glad that Stacey chose brown.
        Katherine:  Yes, we think it was a good choice.
        Later, I said to Herb, "What was all that about brown?  What's the difference if Stacey wore blue or yellow or lavender today?  And since when are you such a fashion maven?"
        Herb said,  "We were talking about the university."
        Oh.