Greendale Ave in the late 1970’s to the mid 80’s yielded a statistic improbability that can only be attributed to “something in the water”. For all the kids born in that stretch and graduated late 70’s-mid 80’s 68 % were boys Great Plain to Grosvenor Boys Girls Leo Parlato Cecelia Brinkhaus Stevie Parlato Denise…
Remembering the boy that died behind Pollard
On August 31, 1980 three boys were digging a tunnel behind Pollard Junior High School in Needham, MA when the tunnel collapsed killing one of the boys. If you walk to the back of the field behind Pollard Middle School to the archway that brings you to Defazio field,you’ll see that access to the railroad track…
An Open Letter of Apology to the Needham, Massachusetts Department of Public Works
Long before Defazio Field became “Defazio Field“, it was where the Needham DPW stored Town supplies of dirt, rock, pipe, curbing, broken up cement and other bits and pieces that make up Needham’s infrastructure. For a 12 year old it was a post apocalyptic playground. With mounds of dirt, sand, and broken concrete, there was always…
Email circa 1977
When you live in the void of middle school….too young for a car, old enough to work, you hustle when you can. I collected cans, shoveled snow, had a paper route, and babysat. I don’t know how many guys babysat back then, but it was across the street, nice family, and they always had ice…
Tabor Rink and The Brine Sports Dumpster: How I got my school wardrobe for free
Remember when you were a kid and you knew something, something so great that it could change the course of middle school? I had two……and I couldn’t tell anyone because it would inhibit my ability to “appropriate” things. Many (including the Bible) say don’t judge (lest ye be judged). Please read the following and judge:…
The Power of an Innocuous Photograph
Life wasn’t better when I was younger, it wasn’t worse, it was just different. We often see the past through the lens of the present. As Herb Caen once said, “Nostalgia is history with the pain removed.” As much as there has been said about social media and its effects I wouldn’t have the opportunity to…
How I ended up working at Club Med
I have never been a team player. Not that I am “anti team” but as a middle child of 5 (with two older brothers) I always was …next in line. I did what my brothers did, Little League, Boy Scouts, Alter Boy, band, all fine organizations but I never really excelled at any role because what…
A night with a girl in St. Barts………………………the church………… not the island
After an amplified day of teen angst in 1980 I decided I wasn’t going to the party everyone was going to that night. I drove around with my brother for a bit but I was still restless. I grabbed my basketball and headed to the courts behind St.Bartholomew’s church in Needham, MA. St Bart’s, as…
So my daughter and I went to Roller Derby
At Comic Con I was handed a card from some young women representing Boston Derby Dames, which is Boston’s local Roller Derby league. So I asked my daughter if she was familiar with Roller derby, she said, “No”. So a road trip was born. First off, this is not the theatric roller derby from some…
What I learned at my first Comic Con
I brought my 8 year old son to Comic Con Boston last weekend. He is not really a Comic fan or remotely aware of most of what was displayed there, In fact he never asked to go. I found it surprising as we walked towards the venue that he did not point out that…
Venezuela, Florida 1996
While living in South Florida I learned that the Latino/Latino American culture Is more intricate than the marketing folks make it out to be. I supported the admin staff at Nortel CALA (Caribbean and Latin America) I provided network and graphics support to a building that combined eight smaller offices. Since I was new, I…
Revere Beach 32 years later
My first visit to Revere Beach was in 1982. Growing up in Needham, I scoffed when I first read the claim of “World Famous” Kelly’s Roast Beef. As I went through college on the North Shore I found that Kelly’s claim said more about me than it did about Kelly’s. When I graduated High School,…
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