A Melody And A Song

    This is a poem when I left the Blair Outlet to go over town on Hickory Street, to the typing department.


 Your kindness is a song,
and your friendship, a melody;
a sweet refrain that will stay strong.
in my heart, like an echoing rhapsody.

My thanks has no flats,
but sharps, and a natural too;
because you all are so sweet,
and that's what I think of you.

I never can say goodbye
for we shall meet again;
for now, I leave with a grateful sigh,
and may see you along life's lane.

The Reasons and Seasons of Our Lives

     Sometimes we wonder why people and events come into our lives.  It has been a mystery since time began.  Many articles and poems have been written on the seasons and reasons in our lives.

    Let's take people, for instance.  We think that once a  person comes into our lives, they are there for a life time.  But that is not always the case.  It is hard sometimes to let people go!  We have given our hearts to them and they, too, have professed their love for us.  The hardest action to do, is to let go at the proper time and let that person find happiness in their lives.  Whether or not they have forgotten us, or will forget us, it is in God's mind.  We should not make judgements of how a person may feel, because of their actions.  Sometimes we want to hang on to that person.  We think just because we want to share with them for the rest of our lives; we think they  want to do the same.They may have issues in their lives that they are unable too, or can't share with us.  It happened to me.  I loved a person so deeply and he pledged his love for me.  But, through the years, things have changed.  I do not know if he still loves me or not, but their is pain and tears sometimes, because of sweet memories.  We rationalize and try to make sense of things, listening to others and how they feel we should act etc.  It was once said that we should follow our hearts. But if we have total trust and faith in God, we should go His route  for us,and live each day with hope, joy and making new memories.  Then if we do just that, the reasons and seasons in our lives will make sense.

An Italian Boy Makes Good

     In the late 1930's, Papa worked on the Pennsylvania Railroad.  He used to get free passes for riding on the train.

     One time, for recreation, Papa took a trip to Rochester, N.Y. with a friend of the family.  Papa's friend worked in Rochester and asked Papa if Papa wanted to go with him for a beer and a show.

     "Sure, I'd like to go, I am game," said Papa

His friend heard that there was a young talent appearing at the Rochester Hotel. Unbeknowns to Papa and his friend, the crooner with the blue eyes and strong voice, was Frank Sinatra.  He had appeared in various hotels and nightclubs in New York at that time.  That is how Frank Sinatra got his break in show business, as an established singer.

     "Hey, he's pretty darn good," said Papa

     "Yes, he sure is Joe, he has got style and a good voice," said Papa's friend.

     In the years ahead, this crooner from Hoboken, New Jersey would be the heart throb of all the young ladies in Warren, PA, including Papa's sisters and all the young women in America.

     Papa heard about Frank Sinatra's success, later on in years, and commented.

     "That great, Italian boy makes good!" said Papa with pride to be an Italian-American.

     As Papa worked on the railroad, he sometimes hummed a familiar tune sung by Frank Sinatra at the Rochester Hotel

The Adventures Of My Mother Kathryn

          When Mother was in her twenties, in the early 1930's; she decided to take her friend Fanny on an afternoon adventure at Warren Airport.  The airport used to be in the spot today where Betts Field is.

          Mother found out that the Warren Airport was having airplane rides. In those days, the planes looked like Charles Lindburg's, "The Spirit of St. Louis."  The pilot that gave the rides that day, was Slip King.  He didn't have ear protectors for Mother and Fanny, nor helmets.  Fanny was afraid to go up in the plane, but Mother thought it was that more exciting!  They took off from the ground, and Warren began to look to Mother like a miniature model of the town below them.  Slip King made the open cockpit plane soar high.  Mother tried to talk to Fanny and Mr. King, but neither one of them could hear her, nor she could hear them.  The wind blew in her face, and all she could hear was the roaring of the propellers.  Mother felt like her ear drum would burst.  After Slip King landed, Mother and Fanny tried to talk, but their ears were ringing.  Mother read Fanny's lips as best she could.  Then after a while, the ringing in Mother's ears stopped and she was back to normal.  Mother told Fanny she was never going to ride in a plane that Slip King would pilot.  Mother felt that Slip King was careless with the safety of his passengers.

     Mother was not afraid of water either.  One day her friends wanted her to go to the Brokenstraw Creek, six miles from Warren; it was an old fashioned swimming hole.  All the Warrenites in Warren, PA, would gather together and enjoy the waters of the Brokenstraw on a Saturday afternoon.  Mother pretended to be a swimmer, and one of her friends dared her to dive of the diving board.  Mother accepted her friends challenge and  thought she would come up to the water's surface.  Mother dove in the creek.  She found herself struggling and coming up for the third time.  She yelled....."Help!...Help!, Help!....  One of her friends, Frankie, realized that she was not fooling.  Frankie dove in the creek and pulled Mother out to safety.  She told Frankie and her friends that she was truly sorry, and she had learned her lesson.

     When Papa, Mom and my Sister would go to the beach, Mom would always recall that story.  Mom told my sister and I not to pretend to others that we could swim when we couldn't.  Mother also liked being splashed and waded in the shallow part of the water.

Sacred Things, Sacramentals, The Use of Holy Water

     We have the Seven Sacraments in The Church, but there are also "little" Sacraments, which are called: Sacramentals.  We receive many graces from them.  Holy Water is the most popular of these sacramentals.  There is a little prayer that can be said, which I think is very effective: "Dear Lord, by this Holy Water and Thy Precious Blood wash away my venial sins."

     As Catholics, before we enter the church for Mass, we dip our fingers in the holy water font and make the sign of the Cross.  Holy Water is used  in our sacred liturgies, baptisms, etc.  After Easter, we are sprinkled by the priest before Mass.  Also, in storms and certain temptations from the Devil, we are encouraged to take holy water.  It is a good idea to have holy water in our homes.  We can easily get it from the baptismal font, or holy water container in the church.  It is a metal tub with a spigot, usually, and has a cup underneath.  It is  good idea to ask a priest if the holy water in the baptismal font is Blessed.

    Holy water can be used in sickness and certain fears that one has.  I always take a sip of holy water, before I take a new perscription drug.  I ask Our Lord to take away bad side effects from the medicine.  Before I go on a trip, I sprinkle the car with holy water.

When Mother Said Yes

                                     Mother and Papa when they were engaged in 1939
                                     Warren, PA.


          Around June of 1939, Papa and Mother had dinner at Mother's parents home on Hazel Street in Warren, PA.  Papa brought the engagement ring, because he wanted to propose to Mother at Grandma and Granpa Critelli's.

          After one of Grandma's famous Italian Dinners, Papa asked Mother to go out on the front porch and sit on the swing.  They both talked together, and Mother had a feeling Papa wanted to ask her something serious.  She asked him to get to the point.  Papa pulled out of his pocket, a lovely black,velvet box, and inside was a gold, orange blossom diamond engagement ring.  Mother's  heart quickened, as she looked into Papa's eyes with Love.

     "Katie, will you do me the honor of being my wife?  Will you marry me?"

     "Oh yes!" said Mother with tears in her eyes.

Papa placed the ring on the third finger of her left hand.  She stared at it with great admiration.  Papa and Mother embraced each other, and Papa gave her a soft, and loving kiss.

       The engagement period lasted for 14 months before their wedding would take place.  Papa bought the ring from the famous James Jewelers in Warren.  Today, these rings would have been worth alot of money.  I still have the ring in my posession and will always treasure it!

      It was a Saturday Morning, August 10, 1040, that Papa and Mother tied the knot of Holy Matrimony at St. Joseph's Catholic Church on Beech Street.  Aunt Mary Rock Scalise, Papa's Sister, sang the Ave Maria so beautifully, as Papa once told me.  Uncle Louie Critelli, Mother's Brother, was one of the ushers and took a home movie of the wedding.  Aunt Mary Critelli was Mother's Matron of Honor, and Uncle Dominic was Papa's best man.  Mother wore a long, white gown with puff sleeves and pearls entwined and a long train.  She carried a bouquet of White Calla Lillies, and on her head was a pearl tiarra with a long veil attached.  Aunt Mary wore a blue moire and pink design and carried pink, Briarcliff Roses.  Papa and Uncle Dominic both looked handsome.  Father Jacobs said the Nuptial Mass.  It was a single ring ceremony, because Papa only wanted Mother to have a ring.

    Papa and Mother's Wedding Reception was at YWCA; the menu was stuffed schwabs, mashed potatoes, peas, pastries and jello for dessert, and of the course, the wedding cake.  There was dancing with a local band, and Aunt Mary caught the bridal bouquet.

  Papa and Mother changed clothes for their honeymoon trip.  Mother wore a black and white polka dot suit with a large, black brimmed hat with a white grograin ribbon and black and white pumps.  Papa thought Mother looked like she had stepped out of a fashion magazine. 

   For the honeymoon Papa and Mother went to see Aunt Julie, Mother's older sister, and her husband, in Grand Rapids,Michigan, because Aunt Julie and Uncle Willis could not make the wedding.

Papa and The Gypsies, an Italian American Tale

My Papa Joe

     In 1915, Papa was five years old.  He lived on Eddy Street on the west end of Warren, Pa.  In those days, gypies would ride with their caravans through Warren, but they were not allowed to stay and take up root.

     On one of the early Spring days, when Warren was in bloom with pretty flowers, budding trees, and emerald green grass, Papa was playing in the front yard. He saw a colorful wagon drive by the house.  A gypsy lady got out of her wagon and walked toward Papa.  She thought he was a cute little boy with dark shining eyes, and black, curly hair.  There were old wives tales about gypsies stealing children, and it was to become a reality with Papa.  He looked up at, and smiled at the woman with the gold jewelry and hair scarf.  Before Papa could finish playing in the yard, the lady snatched Papa up in her arms and brought him to the wagon.  She tied him up lightly so he couldn't fall out of the wagon.

     Three miles down the road, in Starbrick, Pa, just outside of Warren, the wagon stopped.  Papa managed, somehow, to get loose from the rope.  He jumped out of the gypsy wagon and ran fast as he could to the nearest house.  A man was on the front porch.

     "Mister? would you take me home?  I live on Eddy Street in Warren. I was stolen by a gypsy lady and I got away," said Papa, as he tugged at the man's sleeve.  The man was impressed with Papa's ordeal and decided to take Papa back to Warren.  Meanwhile, Grandpa and Grandma Rocco were pacing the floors, wondering where Papa was.  Hed could not understand that Papa could just banish from the yard.  The man pulled up in front of the house on Eddy Street, and let Papa out.  Papa ran up on the porch and yelled to Grandpa and Grandma.

     "I was stolen gypsies, honest!"

     "Figlio Mia, Guiseppe, why did you leave the yard?" said Grandpa Rocco.

     "Don't you ever scare us that way again," said Grandma, "from now on, your sister Mary will see to it that you never leave the back yard.

      Aunt Mary watched Papa pretty thoroughly.  Every morning she walked Papa to school at the McClintock Kindergarten Class.  Aunt Mary went to third grade.  After school Aunt Mary walked Papa home.

     News had spread that Papa was stolen by the gypsies.  From that day on, throughout the west end of Warren, Papa was known as "Gypsie Joe."