Abraham's Son, Chapter 3

 INT. DINER ­ DAY 

ABRAHAM enters diner and sits on a stool at the counter.

WAITRESS hands him menu which he studies.  Finally, he closes menu and puts it on counter.  WAITRESS approaches. 

WAITRESS: So, what can I get ya? 

ABRAHAM: I'll have the meatloaf with mashed potatoes and coleslaw.  Do you have White Rock Root Beer? 

WAITRESS: Yeah.  Any dessert? 

ABRAHAM: Maybe later. 

Then ABRAHAM eats his meal.  

INT. ABRAHAM'S LIVING ROOM ­ NIGHT 

ABRAHAM sits alone watching TV. 

ROBERT OSBORNE (O.S.): Hi, I'm ROBERT OSBORNE and tonight...

EXT. IN FRONT OF CINEMA ­ DAY 

It's Sunday afternoon and ABRAHAM lines up to buy a ticket to a movie.  

CASHIER: Yes? 

ABRAHAM: A senior ticket for the 2:00 PM show in room three, please. 

CASHIER: That'll be $10.  

ABRAHAM pays and CASHIER gives him ticket.  ABRAHAM enters cinema.

INT. ROOM THREE OF CINEMA ­ DAY 

ABRAHAM sits down and watches movie. 

EXT. IN FRONT OF CINEMA ­ DAY 

ABRAHAM exits cinema and walks to nearby coffee shop and enters. 

INT. COFFEE SHOP ­ DAY 

ABRAHAM enters coffee shop and sits down at table.  WAITRESS approaches. 

WAITRESS: What can I get ya? 

ABRAHAM: Regular coffee, please. 

WAITRESS brings coffee which Abraham slowly drinks. 

INT. ABRAHAM'S OFFICE ­ DAY 

Monday morning, ABRAHAM is on the phone in his office when his subordinate PETER stops by to talk. 

ABRAHAM (talking into phone): Yes, KEN, I got everything I need from Budget this morning.  My team should send the report you want in a couple of days.  (pause) Okay, bye.  PETER, what's going on? 

PETER: Yeah, KAREN and I got the Root Beer forecasts from Sales like you asked.   You'll have our analysis after lunch.  

ABRAHAM: Great! 

PETER: Also, thanks for the tip about my girlfriend.  It was right on the money.  We had a great weekend.  How was yours? 

ABRAHAM does not respond. 

INT. SANCTUARY OF ABRAHAM'S SYNAGOGUE ­ DAY

The following Saturday, ABRAHAM participates in religious services at his synagogue.  At one point he makes eye contact with his cousin SYLVIA.  Her expression is one of disappointment, while his is apologetic.  Services continue.  

INT. DINER ­ DAY 

ABRAHAM sits at counter of diner looking at menu.  When he puts it down, he is immediately approached by SARA CASEY, his waitress, a 30 year-­old ordinary looking woman. 

SARA: What would you like, sir? 

ABRAHAM: The chicken pot pie with the garden salad, balsamic vinaigrette dressing and White Rock Root Beer. 

SARA: Coming right up. 

SARA enters kitchen to relay ABRAHAM's order to chefs.  She returns to her station and approaches second customer. 

SARA: Something else, sir? 

SECOND CUSTOMER: Yeah!  When do you get off work? 

SARA: Can I get you your check, sir? 

SECOND CUSTOMER: How about your phone number.  You're kinda cute. 

SARA: Here's your check.  Please pay the cashier, sir. 

SECOND CUSTOMER: Come on.  I'm a nice guy.  Do us both a favor.  What do you say?

 SARA ignores him and goes to THIRD CUSTOMER.  

SECOND CUSTOMER pays his check and leaves diner. 

THIRD CUSTOMER: I'll have the steak sandwich, medium rare, French fries and a Coke. 

SARA: Coming right up, sir. 

SARA goes into kitchen with THIRD CUSTOMER's order and returns to counter area with ABRAHAM's food.    

SARA: Here you go, sir. 

ABRAHAM: Thanks. 

RESTAURANT MANAGER, young fat man, approaches SARA. 

RESTAURANT MANAGER: SARA, take your break at three and cover tables 9 and 10 in the dining room when you return. 

SARA nods.

Mr. Rogers

Fred Rogers was born into a rich family on March 20, 1928 (94 years ago) in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, not far from Pittsburgh.  He was an only child until he was eleven years-old when his parents adopted his sister. 

Rogers spent much of his childhood alone, playing with puppets. He began to play the piano when he was five years old.

Rogers was shy, introverted, overweight and frequently homebound after suffering bouts of asthma.  He was bullied and taunted as a child for his weight, and called "Fat Freddy".

According to Morgan Neville, director of the 2018 documentary Won't You Be My Neighbor?, Rogers had a "lonely childhood ... I think he made friends with himself as much as he could. He had a ventriloquist dummy, he had [stuffed] animals, and he would create his own worlds in his childhood bedroom".

Rogers attended Latrobe High School, where he overcame his shyness.  He made a couple of friends who found out that (his) core  was okay.  Rogers served as president of the student council, was a member of the National Honor Society and was editor-in-chief of the school yearbook.  

Rogers attended Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire for one year before transferring to Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida.  He graduated magna cum laude in 1951 with a Bachelor of Music.

After graduating from Rollins, he worked at NBC in New York City as floor director of Your Hit Parade, The Kate Smith Hour, and Gabby Hayes's Children's Show, plus as an assistant producer of The Voice of Firestone.

In 1953, Rogers returned to Pittsburgh to work as a program developer at public television station WQED.  He developed puppets, characters, and music for children's programs.

Rogers graduated magna cum laude from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in 1962 with a Bachelor of Divinity.  He was ordained a minister by the Pittsburgh Presbytery of the United Presbyterian Church in 1963.

His mission as an ordained minister was to minister to children and their families through television.  In a CNN interview, Rogers said, "I went into (children's) television because I hated it so, and I thought there's some way of using this fabulous instrument to nurture those who would watch and listen".

I agree with his assessment of children's television at the time.  I spent my youth in front of a TV watching such violent cartoons as Popeye and Mighty Mouse plus inane shows like Howdy Doody.  

Later, Rogers attended the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Child Development, where he began working with child psychologist Margaret McFarland, who became his "key advisor and collaborator" and "child-education guru".  Much of Rogers's "thinking about and appreciation for children was shaped and informed" by McFarland. She was his consultant for most of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood's scripts and songs for 30 years.

Ping Pong

 British manufacturer J. Jaques & Sons, Ltd. trademarked the name "Ping Pong" in 1901.  It was in reference to the game we also know as table tennis, which had apparently been developed in Victorian England.

Ping Pong was an important element in the restoration of diplomatic relations between the United States and China in the 1970s.  First, American and Chinese players competed against each other at the 1971 World Table Tennis Championships in Japan.  Afterward, the U.S. team received an invitation to visit China.  Later that same year, President Richard M. Nixon visited China as well.

Ping Pong became an Olympic sport in 1988 at the games in South Korea.  Chinese men have won six of the last seven Olympic gold medals in singles competition.  Chinese women have won all nine of the Olympic gold medals in singles competition.

Sometime prior to 1956, my family acquired a Ping Pong table my brothers and I played on in the basement of our home at 30 East Oneida Street.  We continued playing Ping Pong when we moved to the west side of Oswego.

I remember playing Ping Pong many times with my older brother Paul (7 years my senior).  He beat me every time.

I asked him to let me win...once.  He declined, saying that some day I would win and that victory would be earned.  I finally did win.

In 1958, I won the Mohawk Unit (two cabins of about 16 boys my age-13) Ping Pong championship at Camp Eagle Cove.  The following year, I was in the finals of the Siwonoy Lodge (about a dozen or more 14 year-olds) championship.  

My opponent and I were tied at two games apiece.  I was winning the fifth and deciding game, 19-16.  My opponent would be serving the next five points.  I needed two out of five to win the title.  One out of five would have created a tie (at 20) and we would have continued playing until someone was ahead by two points.  However, I lost all five of his serves and the championship, 19-21.

In August 1974 I returned to Camp Eagle Cove on a visit.  I found my name on a banner as ping pong champion in 1958.  I wonder where that banner is today.  The camp closed in 1993.

When my son Bret was a teenager, I bought a Ping Pong table for him in our basement at 69-43 Cloverdale Blvd.  At first, I beat my son every time.  Then, after a while, he beat me every time.  I haven't played Ping Pong in years.  

 

The Big Chill

 The Big Chill is a 1983 film which stars Glenn Close (nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, but won by Linda Hunt in The Year of Living Dangerously), Tom Berenger,  Jeff Goldblum, William Hurt, Kevin Kline, Mary Kay Place, Meg Tilly, JoBeth Williams and Kevin Costner (all of whose scenes where his face is seen were cut).  

The film received two other Academy Award nominations:  Best Picture (won by Terms of Endearment) and Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen (Lawrence Kasdan and Barbara Benedek, but won by Horton Foote for Tender Mercies).  

Before the movie's story begins, Alex (Costner) commits suicide.  Many friends from his time while a student at the University of Michigan (my daughter's alma mater) gather at his funeral in South Carolina.  Afterwards, they all stay for some days, mourning and reminiscing, at the nearby home of Harold (Kline) and Sarah (Close), fellow Michigan alumni who had invited Alex to stay with them.

The film opens with Marvin Gaye's rendition of I Heard It Through the Grapevine.  Other popular songs used in the movie are You Can't Always Get What You Want by The Rolling Stones, My Girl by The Temptations and Wouldn't It Be Nice by The Beach Boys.  

There is a scene in which the group of alumni watch a Michigan-Michigan State football game on TV.   For this purpose, they used the October 11, 1980 game at the Big House in Ann Arbor won by the Wolverines, 27-23.

One day while they are all together, Meg (Place), who believes she is ovulating, tells Sarah she is fed up with failed relationships and intends to have a child on her own. Sarah volunteers her husband to be the father.  He agrees and spends the night with Meg.

"What does the film's title mean? Writer-director Lawrence Kasdan explains that The Big Chill refers to the experience of cold adult reality after leaving the “warm embrace” of true friendship during college." 

Abraham's Son, Chapter 2

 EXT. PARKING LOT WHITE ROCK BEVERAGES ­ NIGHT

ABRAHAM leaves office building and walks to his car.

EXT. DRIVEWAY NEXT TO ABRAHAM'S HOME ­ NIGHT

ABRAHAM arrives at his home, parks car and enters home.

INT. ABRAHAM'S KITCHEN ­ NIGHT

ABRAHAM broils a hamburger, boils a potato and makes a salad with lettuce and tomato.  He then sits at table and eats it all.

INT. ABRAHAM'S LIVING ROOM ­ NIGHT

ABRAHAM sits in his comfortable chair in his old­ fashioned furnished living room and watches TV tuned to Turner Classic Movies.  TV presenter is heard. 

ROBERT OSBORNE (O.S.): Hi, welcome to Turner Classic Movies.  I'm ROBERT OSBORNE.  Tonight we have a classic film from 1938 with James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, Humphrey Bogart and a newcomer then, Ann Sheridan... 

EXT. IN FRONT OF SYNAGOGUE ­ DAY

ABRAHAM arrives at his synagogue for Saturday morning services and enters it. 

INT. SANCTUARY OF ABRAHAM'S SYNAGOGUE ­ DAY

ABRAHAM, with many other men, wears tallit and tefillin, recites various Hebrew prayers during the Shabbat service.  Later, after the service, ABRAHAM greets the RABBI, a man about ABRAHAM's age, distinguished looking.

ABRAHAM: Gut shabbos, RABBI.  How are you today? 

RABBI: Gut shabbos to you, ABRAHAM.  You look well.  How's work? 

ABRAHAM: All's well.  Do you need more soft drinks?  I can get you plenty.  

RABBI: No, we don't need any more. 

SYLVIA (ABRAHAM'S COUSIN): Sorry to interrupt, RABBI, but I need a word with ABRAHAM.

RABBI leaves to talk to another congregant.  SILVIA, middleaged woman, a little heavy, leads ABRAHAM away from others and they sit together on bench. 

SYLVIA: So, ABRAHAM, how are you? 

ABRAHAM: The same.  I'm fine.  

SYLVIA: The same.  That's the problem.  You've been the same for twenty years since your folks passed away.  You go to work, sit in that house alone and go to the movies on Sunday.  You can't be happy.

ABRAHAM: You forgot I come here every shabbos.  So, who's happy?  Are you, SYLVIA?  

SYLVIA: I'm sure I'm happier than you.  I've got Morris (husband) and the children and the grandchildren.  I've got loads of friends and things to do.  You've no woman to keep you company.  

ABRAHAM: How do you know I've no woman to keep me company?

SYLVIA: Well, do you?  Surprise me! 

ABRAHAM: No...I don't.  I've told you how I feel.  I have a wife, I have Helen.  Unfortunately, she's dead, but she's still in my life.  I can't imagine being with another woman.  It would be a betrayal of her memory.  And how could I be fair to another woman, knowing I'm still in love with Helen.  I still miss her. 

SYLVIA: I know you miss her, ABRAHAM.  We will never forget her blessed memory, but you're alive and life is for the living.  L'chaim!  You don't have to be in love with another woman. But, a man needs the warmth and companionship of a good woman to be complete.  God forbid, if I die before Morris, I'd want him to find another woman. 

ABRAHAM That's you, SYLVIA, not me.  Look, I have friends at work.  I love being around good young people whom I can teach about life.  I really enjoy mentoring them.  I'm so sorry my child died along with Helen.  I miss them both.    

SYLVIA: Me, too.  Sorry you don't have children.  They're such a blessing.  Can't imagine not having them in my life.  I almost can't remember when I didn't have any.  (pause) So, how are things at White Rock?

ABRAHAM: Good, real good.  You and Morris want more soft drinks? 

SYLVIA: No thanks.  By the way, do you have plans tomorrow night?  I'm having a small dinner party and I want you to come.  Please, ABRAHAM.  Please, come! 

ABRAHAM: Will there be single women there?  Are you trying to fix me up again? 

SYLVIA: I have a number of widows among my friends and I love giving dinner parties.  So, forgive me.  And my favorite cousin is a widower.  What's wrong with bringing people together.  And you know I'm a very good cook.  

ABRAHAM: I'm flattered I'm still your favorite cousin after all these years.  You are a great cook.  But, almost anybody is an improvement over what I can do in the kitchen.  Do I know these widows you're inviting, one of whom will be my date? 

SYLVIA: I believe there's one that's new.  I just met her.  Recently moved from Long Island.  She's attractive and kinda zaftig.  At least Morris thinks so.  How about it? 

ABRAHAM: Maybe.  I'll call you tomorrow.  Please don't hock me.  I promise I'll let you know.  I have to go.  Bye, bye. 

SYLVIA: Bye, ABRAHAM.  Love you.

ABRAHAM gets up from the bench and walks out of the sanctuary.

Ricky Nelson

 Ricky Nelson was born May 8, 1940 in Teaneck, NJ.  His parents, Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, were famous entertainers.

On February 20, 1949 (73 years ago) Ricky joined his parents (as their eight year old son) on their popular radio program, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.  In 1952, the program transferred to television and ran for another fourteen years to when Ricky was twenty-six.

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet allowed Ricky to become a music idol.  Ozzie realized the impact his musically gifted son could have on the series, and went on to write storylines featuring Ricky singing. 

Ricky first sang in the April 10, 1957 episode performing a version of Fats Domino's hit "I'm Walkin" and later signed a recording contract with Domino's label, Imperial Records.  Subsequent episodes that aired after Ricky became one of the nation's most successful musicians were some of the series' highest-rated episodes.

In 1958, Nelson released his first #1 single, "Poor Little Fool."  It sold over two million copies.  

Following his success on TV and as a singer, the director Howard Hawks cast him as the gunslinger Colorado in his film Rio Bravo (1959) along with John Wayne, Dean Martin, Angie Dickinson, Walter Brennan and Ward Bond.  Hawks attributed much of the film's box office success to Nelson.  In the film, he sings "Get Along, Cindy."

In 1961, he recorded my favorite of his songs, "Travelin' Man."  In 1972, Nelson reached the top 40 one last time with "Garden Party."

On New Years Eve 1985, Ricky Nelson was flying from Guntersville, Alabama to Dallas, Texas for a concert.  The plane crashed and all seven passengers were killed.  Ricky Nelson was forty-five.

  

 

Blood

Blood transfusion (from one human being to another) became a routine clinical practice about one hundred twenty years ago.  The American Red Cross, founded by Clara Barton in 1881, has been collecting blood for this purpose since the 1940s.

I was employed by Joseph E. Seagram & Sons, Inc. from 1968 until 1999.  During that time, it was involved in a variety of public service programs.  

The program I was most supportive of was the American Red Cross annual blood drive.  Seagram would provide space for the Red Cross to set up its employees and equipment on site to accept blood donations from Seagram employee volunteers.

After my first personal experience donating blood, I volunteered to be the blood drive captain for the Tax Department.  I canvassed our small group every year to attempt to get 100% participation.  I never got near that number.

As a reward for my services, I once received a purple and gold Crown Royal travel bag which I used multiple times until it wore out.  

After I started working at the Office of Sponsored Research for The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2008-2013), I again volunteered to be a blood donor.  I received two gifts which I still use.  

I have my red and white bowl out of which I eat my daily dose of oatmeal served with blueberries, cranberries, honey and cinnamon.  I also occasionally wear my white and red long-sleeve t-shirt with the inscription, "A gift that really means something.  Give blood."

Another plus for donating blood is the free beverages and food (orange juice, coffee, crackers, bagels, donuts, danish, etc.) we received after the donation in order to help replenish the donated blood.  

I found the whole process of blood donation painless and made me feel good about myself for helping others.  

However...once...I convinced a colleague, who was hesitant, to finally give blood donation a try.  Afterwards, he almost passed out.  I saved his life by making sure he had the best medical attention before it was too late.

Give Blood!  The life you save could be your own.