Why Is This Old Man Feeling Lonely? (Part 1)
Posted: Friday, August 28, 2009
by Robert Bregman
One of the problems of being old in a place where there is no close family is that there is no one to reminisce with. When I was very young, my Grandpa Dave would come to our home every wednesday. He would sit with me and tell me stories about his life in Russia, in Brooklyn, every detail and I loved it. He told of his time in the Russian Army, training with wooden guns and then with real guns and paper bullets. He told me about the Cossacks and how they would ride through villages killing anyone that they found outside. They killed the women, children, the old, everyone (and we worry about health care). He spoke of Brooklyn and his grocery store, his neighborhood and how rough it could be, but also how good it could be. He told me everything, I loved him dearly. Wednesday was the best day of the week. My two brothers,for some reason were never there, so I had him all to myself. He would take me to the park, summer and winter. Sleigh riding or rolling down a grassy hillside. He taught me how to play cards; Go Fish, Casino, Russian Rummy. There are a few occassions that I remember particularly well, after all these years (70 to 75 years ago). One in particular, he loved the Yiddish theater of lower New York, 2nd Avenue, he would go there to see an actress named Molly Picon. He would tell me about the play, as best he could. They would tell Yiddish jokes and he would try to translate them into English, but when he got to the punch line, he would spew out the words in Yiddish and was laughing so hard that the tears were running down his cheeks. I didn't understand a word he was saying, it didn't matter because the tears were rolling down my cheeks too. He was a great guy and I miss him and I love him.
My father didn't have much time for me or my brothers in those days- "The Great Depression" was fierce. He was trying to make a living in Wall Street. Times were hard, but he hardly ever complained.
Bob Bregman is a graduate of the US Naval Academy, Class of '51. He is probably not the youngest author on SearchWarp (might be the oldest)
, just an old sea dog. He flew B-29's during the Korean conflict. He spent 25 years in Wall Street as a trader. He then went into the corporate world, a very ugly place. Cheating, lying, stealing and bribery were SOP from DuPont to Exxon. He retired in 1990 and went back to trading. Oiy! So then he went to selling computers, it was lonely trading. Selling was more fun. Then he sold Nissans, Hondas, and finally Fords. That was fun. Started to get old so he retired again. Now writing, because he's really irritated with his country's direction as personified by the Republicans & Tea Party horn blowing.
, just an old sea dog. He flew B-29's during the Korean conflict. He spent 25 years in Wall Street as a trader. He then went into the corporate world, a very ugly place. Cheating, lying, stealing and bribery were SOP from DuPont to Exxon. He retired in 1990 and went back to trading. Oiy! So then he went to selling computers, it was lonely trading. Selling was more fun. Then he sold Nissans, Hondas, and finally Fords. That was fun. Started to get old so he retired again. Now writing, because he's really irritated with his country's direction as personified by the Republicans & Tea Party horn blowing. This Article has been viewed 476 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)Robert, a great story with wonderful memories. It reminded me a lot of my own family. Thanks, JP
BobtheBear....Thanks for sharing. You've never told me these things...BUNIQUE (bfbear)
Great article, Robert. Growing up, I was not fortunate to have grandpas and grandmas visiting, they all passed away before my time. My father was a good storyteller and I enjoyed tremendously all his stories, just as you enjoyed your grandpa's. Well done. ~~NenitaNenita,Thanks. How did you happen on the article? I wrote it quite awhile ago. Grandpa Dave was a great guy. I think of him every day and he's been gone for forty some odd years.Good luckBobHi Bob. I was reading articles about aging, elderly care and caregivers, yours was one of the articles that was recommended for reading. I will read part 2 and 3 today. Good luck to you, too. ~~Nenita
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