As the year 2004 marched on, Nonno was still in rehab and ever so slowly trying his best to recuperate. He loved to see the boys. They really perked him up. Communication was difficult but the barriers were broken down by the love between him and his boys…he called them. It was tough and slow going. Lori still making constant trips up and down to New York.
I personally was beginning to feel great. Consistently stronger and more alive. I was coaching hockey and soccer and working long hours at the store. It felt great to be back. Joey was chosen to play on a special tournament hockey team and travel to Pittsburgh to play against tournament teams of select 8 year olds. His coach was a rough and gruff old time coach. An older man more used to dealing with 20 year Olds. Not 8 year Olds. The first practice, I found Joe very upset in the locker room hallway. He was crying and said that the coach called him an ass! What! The coach saw him and said that he didn’t call him that. He said get your sorry ass moving to his drill mate and Joe thought he was yelling at him. Anyway , the coach had a bad hangover the morning that we won the championship. A little too much at the hotel bar the night before.. He slept it off while the boys handled business.
Now it was my turn. The holiday season was approaching and time to start preparing for Team Belaggio round two! Same place, same springtime, same excitement! Lots more golfers, lots more gifts and prizes and lots more work! I’ll get it done…I’m feeling fantastic! It’s good to be alive.
In closing this excerpt, written September. 5th, 2021, I choose not to lament the fact that I celebrate entering the next decade of my life…my 60th birthday today. To me, this is my 25th birthday. Twenty five years ago today. I was lying almost unconsciously in the Bone Marrow Unit at Hahnemann Hospital not knowing if I would see my 36th birthday. But here I am, in Florida, by myself, doing some maintenance on my vacation house, lounging by the pool and watching my Facebook feed kindly generate over 300 sweet birthday wishes….Thank you all. I called my wife and boys tonight just to tell them how much I loved them and how proud they make me everyday. I am blessed in so many ways. Happy 60th to me! Now back to my blog.
Next up: Here we Go Again