Good day to all the lads and lassies at your various homes, and domiciles,
"Top o' the morning to ya (and your reply, me darling ones, "and the balance of the day to you".
We are all back to normal, as normal as I can be, in any event. We are awash in the mighty joy of living in this most favoured of places.I am reminded of my sainted grandmothers, one Norwegian, and one the Irish Catholic Queen of the Nerney clan, formerly of Ireland, and forever in my heart.
She was to have twelve children, and I was blessed to be one of her grandchildren. It is a matter of pride for me that she is my grandmother, on my father's side, and I am honored to be Mabel Irene Quam Green's grandson on my mother's side.
Nana (Helen Margaret O'Shea Nerney) was the matriarch of her family, and she lives in all of our hearts. Irish Catholic and then some, and always smiling, and always willing and able to play the piano. She played it at her 90th birthday party at the recreation hall in Millbrae, and she played it at her 102nd birthday party at TLC in Felton California, and she played it at the ranch house at p.o.box 2805 in Ben Lomond, California (I don't remember the street address, but the mail box on Alba Road was 2.805 miles up Alba Road and that was what I saw when I would drive onto the ranch property).
When she was born it was in New York City, and she worked for a magazine. The name of it and her title I do not recall. She was married to Officer James Clare Nerney (of the New York police department) at the age of 20, and James was 31 years old. He lived until 1955 and I was at his bedside within the last two weeks of his life on the ranch property, and I recall saying goodbye. That is my only memory of him, and then I was to bask in the glow of my love for Nana until her passing in 1989 (her age of 104 years casting a huge shadow over my life).
I would visit dad and she and I would sit at the old table in the kitchen when dad was at work, and she and I would talk. Some of my most treasured memories are of her at that table learning about her life, and her joy of life was just wonderful. We would watch the Lawrence Welk Show and she would sit at the old piano in the living room, and play the music by ear that we had been listening to. She always loved to play lively music, and she always loved to sit and talk. My friends came up and were enchanted by her. Steve and his friends would come up and me and my buddies, and she would cook us dinner, and occasionally dad would be the cook. We all enjoyed spending time with her. I have had many family members die on me through the years, and my father's brothers were among them. Jim, and Jack and Allen, and Fred, were the uncles that I spent the most time with. Especially Jim (named for his father, also sharing the same middle name) and I spent time together in Millbrae at he and his wife Viola's house on Landing Lane.
Jim and I would sit in his den and he would play his 78's with his favorite jazz musicians, and big band music, and I would talk to him of the old days. Jim and I would talk of Nana, and we would talk of Steve and my sisters, and I would discuss the Post Office (Jim had worked at the Post Office, and his father was also a former postal employee). We talked of the civil service and how it was a great job to have during the Great Depression. Jim and his brother Jack both wore the map of Ireland on their faces, and they were great story tellers. Dad told me of how Jim's job in the depression helped several families, and that Jim and Vi had been very generous with those in the family who had had especially hard times during that era.
I have never been to Ireland, but Jack and Jim went, as well as Dennis Michael Nerney, and Jack's older daughter Susan. They brought back photographs of the "old sod" and they told me stories of their travels.
I would like someday to be there in the land of my ancestors and trod upon that green land. The "troubles" are mainly behind, a thing of the past, though now and then a policeman, or a soldier will lose his life. For their families the "troubles" are today, and last week. The world knows not of what it means to be Irish. I have these shining examples of Irish Catholic nobility in my family. I am the black sheep, a "Protestant" and they sometimes cast their eyes as they roll them at me. Still and all they talk politely to my face, and as to what they say behind my back, I have no knowledge.
Actually the Nerney's and the Stack's, and the Roger's, and all the others that count themselves among the children, and grandchildren and great grandchildren of Helen Margaret O'shea have a love for all of her descendants. She was a fine, fine, woman, and a great story teller and my heart will always be filled with her and her children.
So, the old Irish toast I raise, "May the Good Lord take a liking to you, may the road always rise to meet your feet, and may the devil not know your dead for at least a fortnight, upon your passing".
Hear, hear, and pass the Guinness,
Love and hugs, and begosh and begorrah,
Larry
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Happy St. Patrick's Day...a little early!
Paddy was driving down the street in a sweat because he had an important meeting and couldn't find a parking place. Looking up to heaven he said, 'Lord take pity on me. If you find me a parking place I will go to Mass every Sunday for the rest of me life and give up me Irish Whiskey!'
Miraculously, a parking place appeared.
Paddy looked up again and said, 'Never mind, I found one.'
------------------------
Father Murphy walks into a pub in Donegal, and says to the first man he meets, 'Do you want to go to heaven?'
The man said, 'I do, Father.'
The priest said, 'Then stand over there against the wall.'
Then the priest asked the second man, 'Do you want to go to heaven?'
'Certainly, Father,' was the man's reply.
'Then stand over there against the wall,' said the priest.
Then Father Murphy walked up to O'Toole and said, 'Do you want to go to heaven?'
O'Toole said, 'No, I don't Father.'
The priest said, 'I don't believe this. You mean to tell me that when you die you don't want to go to heaven?'
O'Toole said, 'Oh, when I die, yes. I thought you were getting a group together to go right now.'
------------------------
Paddy was in New York. He was patiently waiting and watching the traffic cop on a busy street crossing. The cop stopped the flow of traffic and shouted, 'Okay, pedestrians.' Then he'd allow the traffic to pass.
He'd done this several times, and Paddy still stood on the sidewalk.
After the cop had shouted, 'Pedestrians!' for the tenth time, Paddy went over to him and said, 'Is it not about time ye let the Catholics across?'
------------------------
Gallagher opened the morning newspaper and was dumbfounded to read in the obituary column that he had died. He quickly phoned his best friend, Finney.
'Did you see the paper?' asked Gallagher. 'They say I died!!'
'Yes, I saw it!' replied Finney. 'Where are ye callin' from?'
------------------------
An Irish priest is driving down to New York and gets stopped for speeding in Connecticut The state trooper smells alcohol on the priest's breath and then sees an empty wine bottle on the floor of the car.
He says, 'Sir, have you been drinking?'
'Just water,' says the priest.
The trooper says, 'Then why do I smell wine?'
The priest looks at the bottle and says, 'Good Lord! He's done it again!'
------------------------
Walking into the bar, Mike said to Charlie the bartender, 'Pour me a stiff one - just had another fight with the little woman..'
'Oh yeah?' said Charlie, 'And how did this one end?'
'When it was over,' Mike replied, 'She came to me on her hands and knees.
'Really,' said Charles, 'Now that's a switch! What did she say?'
She said, 'Come out from under the bed, you little chicken.'
------------------------
Flynn staggered home very late after another evening with his drinking buddy, Paddy. He took off his shoes to avoid waking his wife, Mary.
He tiptoed as quietly as he could toward the stairs leading to their upstairs bedroom, but misjudged the bottom step. As he caught himself by grabbing the banister, his body swung around and he landed heavily on his rump. A whiskey bottle in each back pocket broke and made the landing especially painful.
Managing not to yell, Flynn sprung up, pulled down his pants, and looked in the hall mirror to see that his butt cheeks were cut and bleeding. He managed to quietly find a full box of Band-Aids and began putting a Band-Aid as best he could on each place he saw blood.
He then hid the now almost empty Band-Aid box and shuffled and stumbled his way to bed.
In the morning, Flynn woke up with searing pain in both his head and butt and Mary staring at him from across the room.
She said, 'You were drunk again last night weren't you?'
Flynn said, 'Why you say such a mean thing?'
'Well,' Mary said, 'it could be the open front door, it could be the broken glass at the bottom of the stairs, it could be the drops of blood trailing through the house, it could be your bloodshot eyes, but mostly.....it's all those Band-Aids stuck on the hall mirror.
Cousin Larry
Miraculously, a parking place appeared.
Paddy looked up again and said, 'Never mind, I found one.'
------------------------
Father Murphy walks into a pub in Donegal, and says to the first man he meets, 'Do you want to go to heaven?'
The man said, 'I do, Father.'
The priest said, 'Then stand over there against the wall.'
Then the priest asked the second man, 'Do you want to go to heaven?'
'Certainly, Father,' was the man's reply.
'Then stand over there against the wall,' said the priest.
Then Father Murphy walked up to O'Toole and said, 'Do you want to go to heaven?'
O'Toole said, 'No, I don't Father.'
The priest said, 'I don't believe this. You mean to tell me that when you die you don't want to go to heaven?'
O'Toole said, 'Oh, when I die, yes. I thought you were getting a group together to go right now.'
------------------------
Paddy was in New York. He was patiently waiting and watching the traffic cop on a busy street crossing. The cop stopped the flow of traffic and shouted, 'Okay, pedestrians.' Then he'd allow the traffic to pass.
He'd done this several times, and Paddy still stood on the sidewalk.
After the cop had shouted, 'Pedestrians!' for the tenth time, Paddy went over to him and said, 'Is it not about time ye let the Catholics across?'
------------------------
Gallagher opened the morning newspaper and was dumbfounded to read in the obituary column that he had died. He quickly phoned his best friend, Finney.
'Did you see the paper?' asked Gallagher. 'They say I died!!'
'Yes, I saw it!' replied Finney. 'Where are ye callin' from?'
------------------------
An Irish priest is driving down to New York and gets stopped for speeding in Connecticut The state trooper smells alcohol on the priest's breath and then sees an empty wine bottle on the floor of the car.
He says, 'Sir, have you been drinking?'
'Just water,' says the priest.
The trooper says, 'Then why do I smell wine?'
The priest looks at the bottle and says, 'Good Lord! He's done it again!'
------------------------
Walking into the bar, Mike said to Charlie the bartender, 'Pour me a stiff one - just had another fight with the little woman..'
'Oh yeah?' said Charlie, 'And how did this one end?'
'When it was over,' Mike replied, 'She came to me on her hands and knees.
'Really,' said Charles, 'Now that's a switch! What did she say?'
She said, 'Come out from under the bed, you little chicken.'
------------------------
Flynn staggered home very late after another evening with his drinking buddy, Paddy. He took off his shoes to avoid waking his wife, Mary.
He tiptoed as quietly as he could toward the stairs leading to their upstairs bedroom, but misjudged the bottom step. As he caught himself by grabbing the banister, his body swung around and he landed heavily on his rump. A whiskey bottle in each back pocket broke and made the landing especially painful.
Managing not to yell, Flynn sprung up, pulled down his pants, and looked in the hall mirror to see that his butt cheeks were cut and bleeding. He managed to quietly find a full box of Band-Aids and began putting a Band-Aid as best he could on each place he saw blood.
He then hid the now almost empty Band-Aid box and shuffled and stumbled his way to bed.
In the morning, Flynn woke up with searing pain in both his head and butt and Mary staring at him from across the room.
She said, 'You were drunk again last night weren't you?'
Flynn said, 'Why you say such a mean thing?'
'Well,' Mary said, 'it could be the open front door, it could be the broken glass at the bottom of the stairs, it could be the drops of blood trailing through the house, it could be your bloodshot eyes, but mostly.....it's all those Band-Aids stuck on the hall mirror.
Cousin Larry
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Happy Sunday, and another day to follow in honor of our Presidents
Good morning and a fabulous day to us all,
We have the wind, and we have the rain, and we have the beating, breaking, breath-taking waves crashing and swirling. My house, during the wee hours of the morning and up until noon is being buffeted with high winds. Our siding, that was once guaranteed to stay in place is now all over the place (on the Western side: on the largest area per side of siding) on the side of the house, and the pieces of Styrofoam insulation are all over the place. I went out, into the wind, and rain, to pick them up and pile them in the backyard. The siding is still guaranteed, however, the siding company is not returning calls, and not responding to emails, and we do not want the legal profession to take what little money is left over after daily needs, and taxes, and well, you know, food.
So we will soldier on and in the next few weeks we will have Lynnette's handyman remove the rest of the siding from the offending side of the house, and take out the nails, and it will be painted the same color of the siding that will remain on the other three sides. There will be no more buffeting to remove siding, and we will pay to have it repainted as time and tide, and sun and rain take the color out of it. Oh well, the siding wars, and the business that should be standing behind their product have won the contest. Again, I bow my head and ask for justice, and the ages roll and the time and tide continue and again, there is NO JUSTICE. Still, we will continue and we will shake our fists at corporate America and watch the rich and the CEO's continue to prosper as they have the lawyers and they have the wealth and they will continue to laugh up their sleeves at the rest of us (see the bankers, the Mortgage lenders, the former US Steel executives as they laze and count their filthy lucre, and again I say; you dirty bad dudes!!!!).
Dr. Stanley, before I braved the storm and straightened out the detritus of the morning wind, told us about the Grace of Jesus, and how that affects the Christian. Before I knew the extent of the evil in the world, Dr. Stanley tells us that all works out for those that Love God and obey Him. I accept the words, and I accept the Good News, and yet I still cleaned up in the rain, while the wind still blows. God's Grace, as St. Paul said, is sufficient in all situations. My house is still standing, both figuratively, and literally, and the Grace of Jesus, by the Will of the Father, by the Power of the Holy Spirit still rules the world. Again the Grace comes by the Word, and the Word by listening, and the Grace of Jesus was given on the cross, and by His holy, sinless, perfect life and the sacrifice that takes my place, and the rest of humanities. Even in the midst of Paul's stoning, ship wrecks, and loneliness, and storm tossed existence he stated that the Grace of Jesus was sufficient to meet all his needs. I have my little gripes, and I sometimes wonder why things are not better, and then I remember my part is to Obey, and I think back and that has not always been my response to the words. So I will continue to try, and think on Paul.
Tomorrow is the Monday that we celebrate the combined birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln, and George Washington. They represent all of the Presidents, and I say; thanks for my wife not needing to go to work tomorrow. Thanks, oh former, dead Presidents for being good enough to cause us to pause and reflect upon the founding fathers, and upon the 16th man to hold the office. Both great men, obviously, and Washington was the one who became the model, and chose to serve only two terms, when he could have served until his death. Abraham Lincoln knew that only as one country could we survive, and that it was going to take the death of many for that to happen, and still he soldiered on.
So with the siding, I say, oh well, and I laugh at the storm (from INSIDE the house). We will enjoy our three day weekend, and may you all do the same.
The siding will be buffeted again, and still the house will stand. That's enough for me.
Have fun, and soldier on with your siding, and the storms of life,
Love and hugs, Larry
We have the wind, and we have the rain, and we have the beating, breaking, breath-taking waves crashing and swirling. My house, during the wee hours of the morning and up until noon is being buffeted with high winds. Our siding, that was once guaranteed to stay in place is now all over the place (on the Western side: on the largest area per side of siding) on the side of the house, and the pieces of Styrofoam insulation are all over the place. I went out, into the wind, and rain, to pick them up and pile them in the backyard. The siding is still guaranteed, however, the siding company is not returning calls, and not responding to emails, and we do not want the legal profession to take what little money is left over after daily needs, and taxes, and well, you know, food.
So we will soldier on and in the next few weeks we will have Lynnette's handyman remove the rest of the siding from the offending side of the house, and take out the nails, and it will be painted the same color of the siding that will remain on the other three sides. There will be no more buffeting to remove siding, and we will pay to have it repainted as time and tide, and sun and rain take the color out of it. Oh well, the siding wars, and the business that should be standing behind their product have won the contest. Again, I bow my head and ask for justice, and the ages roll and the time and tide continue and again, there is NO JUSTICE. Still, we will continue and we will shake our fists at corporate America and watch the rich and the CEO's continue to prosper as they have the lawyers and they have the wealth and they will continue to laugh up their sleeves at the rest of us (see the bankers, the Mortgage lenders, the former US Steel executives as they laze and count their filthy lucre, and again I say; you dirty bad dudes!!!!).
Dr. Stanley, before I braved the storm and straightened out the detritus of the morning wind, told us about the Grace of Jesus, and how that affects the Christian. Before I knew the extent of the evil in the world, Dr. Stanley tells us that all works out for those that Love God and obey Him. I accept the words, and I accept the Good News, and yet I still cleaned up in the rain, while the wind still blows. God's Grace, as St. Paul said, is sufficient in all situations. My house is still standing, both figuratively, and literally, and the Grace of Jesus, by the Will of the Father, by the Power of the Holy Spirit still rules the world. Again the Grace comes by the Word, and the Word by listening, and the Grace of Jesus was given on the cross, and by His holy, sinless, perfect life and the sacrifice that takes my place, and the rest of humanities. Even in the midst of Paul's stoning, ship wrecks, and loneliness, and storm tossed existence he stated that the Grace of Jesus was sufficient to meet all his needs. I have my little gripes, and I sometimes wonder why things are not better, and then I remember my part is to Obey, and I think back and that has not always been my response to the words. So I will continue to try, and think on Paul.
Tomorrow is the Monday that we celebrate the combined birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln, and George Washington. They represent all of the Presidents, and I say; thanks for my wife not needing to go to work tomorrow. Thanks, oh former, dead Presidents for being good enough to cause us to pause and reflect upon the founding fathers, and upon the 16th man to hold the office. Both great men, obviously, and Washington was the one who became the model, and chose to serve only two terms, when he could have served until his death. Abraham Lincoln knew that only as one country could we survive, and that it was going to take the death of many for that to happen, and still he soldiered on.
So with the siding, I say, oh well, and I laugh at the storm (from INSIDE the house). We will enjoy our three day weekend, and may you all do the same.
The siding will be buffeted again, and still the house will stand. That's enough for me.
Have fun, and soldier on with your siding, and the storms of life,
Love and hugs, Larry
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Nana's Birthday (January 31)
I am remembering Nana with so much love and appreciation on this day, January 31, 2009, her birthday. What a wonderful grandmother and role model she was for me. I am sending love to all of you my cousins.
Laura
Laura
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Fw: Happy Friday, of for some, a four day weekend. (ps: ttfn=ta ta for now!!!!)
Good afternoon, and it is over, for another year.
I drove to Aptos, under a cloudy sky on Wednesday. It rained, and the wind blew and the ocean was agitated. I listened to my music and had the window open and listened to the roar of the ocean between songs. My lady was at home and she had started the slow-cook-crock-pot, and I would be happy upon my return to our home, and the aromas wafting around the place.
I got to dads, the traffic was horrible once I got within the Santa Cruz City Limits. I inched along and made it to his bivouac above the Aptos Harbor where lies the "cement-boat". Time and tide have not been good and nobody will sail upon her concrete hide again. We visited in the kitchen while I walked around to get the feeling back in my legs and ankles from the 2 hour ride. He looked well and was all packed and ready to go. We left, what else was there to do?
The rain was intermittent going North and the wind still blew. We had an informative friendly chat and listened occasionally to some music and the miles passed. We arrived at home and Joey was there as I had picked him up at about 9:30 in the morning prior to getting my butt to Aptos. We had a good visit and then he high-tailed it down the stairs into the bowels of our house where he lied upon the Aero-Bed and rested. Joey had told me about 2 weeks ago that he wanted the other "poppy" to come as it didn't seem like Thanksgiving or Christmas without him. To say the least I was tickled and told Lynnette and that's when we decided that our grandson should be made to feel that it was indeed "that festive" time of the year. Dad liked that little interplay that I related to him. As I told Lynnette at the time my Joey makes life a lot more fun.
We did eat the beef stew that my lady, lefty, had concocted. It was delicious, filling, and I liked it. I decided to call Shelley while dad was over and they had a very nice conversation. Yesterday was the day of the week that we had arrived at with great anticipation of "Buon Gusto" and lefty did not disappoint. Lynnette, herself, had watched one of the cooking shows-probably on the Food Network-and we had a new way of preparation of the noble bird. She put sage below the skin and basted it in olive oil, and then added the standard salt (sea salt) and pepper (ground from our grinder of course). Well I had not had it cooked that way before and I say that I have not tasted better, and probably I will request it again. I will probably not get my way as she will have watched a new episode around a year from now and the latest version will again be a home run.
Thursday morning my sister, the brilliant chanteuse, Susan Jean, called to wish our house-hold a Happy Thanksgiving. I inquired as to her plans and they were going to Fred's sister Barbara's for the feast and were bringing some stuff with them. I suggested that she talk to Francis Nerney, himself, and she agreed and they had a fine conversation. My father was a very happy man, having talked to two women that he loves. I went and picked up Ms. Mary Ann 2'ish, as that is always the correct time to bring her over. It is written in the stars that shortly after 2 pm is when the visitor is supposed to show up-and so it was. We had those savory snack thingies that are mouth-watering and I had my fill as well as Joey, Dad, and the rest of the usual suspects. Dinner was legendary and I ate as if it were to be my last meal and the Governor had not said that I was to be spared. I did not even have a piece of one of two fine pies that Mary Ann had brought to us from Marie Callendar's. Marie may or may not wonder where they were-they are mostly gone as of this moment, and I have yet to eat even a slice.
Today I drove home the visitor from the south, and he sends his best to all and sundry. As do I, and as do all who speak well of you.
So until the next time, love and hugs, and ttfn,
Larry
I drove to Aptos, under a cloudy sky on Wednesday. It rained, and the wind blew and the ocean was agitated. I listened to my music and had the window open and listened to the roar of the ocean between songs. My lady was at home and she had started the slow-cook-crock-pot, and I would be happy upon my return to our home, and the aromas wafting around the place.
I got to dads, the traffic was horrible once I got within the Santa Cruz City Limits. I inched along and made it to his bivouac above the Aptos Harbor where lies the "cement-boat". Time and tide have not been good and nobody will sail upon her concrete hide again. We visited in the kitchen while I walked around to get the feeling back in my legs and ankles from the 2 hour ride. He looked well and was all packed and ready to go. We left, what else was there to do?
The rain was intermittent going North and the wind still blew. We had an informative friendly chat and listened occasionally to some music and the miles passed. We arrived at home and Joey was there as I had picked him up at about 9:30 in the morning prior to getting my butt to Aptos. We had a good visit and then he high-tailed it down the stairs into the bowels of our house where he lied upon the Aero-Bed and rested. Joey had told me about 2 weeks ago that he wanted the other "poppy" to come as it didn't seem like Thanksgiving or Christmas without him. To say the least I was tickled and told Lynnette and that's when we decided that our grandson should be made to feel that it was indeed "that festive" time of the year. Dad liked that little interplay that I related to him. As I told Lynnette at the time my Joey makes life a lot more fun.
We did eat the beef stew that my lady, lefty, had concocted. It was delicious, filling, and I liked it. I decided to call Shelley while dad was over and they had a very nice conversation. Yesterday was the day of the week that we had arrived at with great anticipation of "Buon Gusto" and lefty did not disappoint. Lynnette, herself, had watched one of the cooking shows-probably on the Food Network-and we had a new way of preparation of the noble bird. She put sage below the skin and basted it in olive oil, and then added the standard salt (sea salt) and pepper (ground from our grinder of course). Well I had not had it cooked that way before and I say that I have not tasted better, and probably I will request it again. I will probably not get my way as she will have watched a new episode around a year from now and the latest version will again be a home run.
Thursday morning my sister, the brilliant chanteuse, Susan Jean, called to wish our house-hold a Happy Thanksgiving. I inquired as to her plans and they were going to Fred's sister Barbara's for the feast and were bringing some stuff with them. I suggested that she talk to Francis Nerney, himself, and she agreed and they had a fine conversation. My father was a very happy man, having talked to two women that he loves. I went and picked up Ms. Mary Ann 2'ish, as that is always the correct time to bring her over. It is written in the stars that shortly after 2 pm is when the visitor is supposed to show up-and so it was. We had those savory snack thingies that are mouth-watering and I had my fill as well as Joey, Dad, and the rest of the usual suspects. Dinner was legendary and I ate as if it were to be my last meal and the Governor had not said that I was to be spared. I did not even have a piece of one of two fine pies that Mary Ann had brought to us from Marie Callendar's. Marie may or may not wonder where they were-they are mostly gone as of this moment, and I have yet to eat even a slice.
Today I drove home the visitor from the south, and he sends his best to all and sundry. As do I, and as do all who speak well of you.
So until the next time, love and hugs, and ttfn,
Larry
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