As the sole survivor of my immediate family, I often find myself reflecting onthe profound influence of certain people, places, and events from my youth.Since my younger brother passed away a few years ago, I am the sole keeper ofthe memories of my family's life and times. When Phred was alive, he and Ifrequently took pleasure in sharing our most meaningful recollections of ourdays together as kids, our reverence for our parents, and our perspectives onthe zeitgeist of the 1960s and 1970s. Apart from old photographs and afew sketchy diaries that we kept, the only mementos of the most meaningful andintimate moments in our family's history reside in my brain. Of course, that'sjust how it is with life—and its inevitable passing. Whatever tangible marks onemight leave behind, the most personal, intimate parts of ourselves simplydepart.

Thanks to my fondness for revisiting much of the music myparents enjoyed, I find myself wanting to articulate some of my most vividimpressions from the mid-to-late 1960s and 1970s, when Mom and Dad were in theirthirties and forties, if just as a little reminder to myself. So, I'm going toindulge the whim and see where it takes me.
My folks tended to be social animals. They frequently gathered with various other couples, and for me, the most memorable of these was when they hosted their regular Bridge Club at our house. We are talking a classy affair. There were generally four to six couples in attendance, and everyone dressed in their finest apparel. Mom didn't drink, but Dad was known to enjoy a few spirits from time to time. For Bridge Club (and whatever other gatherings they hosted), Mom always brought out the fancy china and drinking glasses, which had silver bands around the tops, and Dad filled the crystal decanters with bourbon and scotch. As they got themselves ready for the big event, Dad liked to put some music on our big console stereo, usually something in the easy-listening department. For a spell, his favorite was Frank Sinatra's "Days of Wine and Roses" album, which featured his version of "Moon River," otherwise made famous by Andy Williams. To this day, whenever I hear that song, whoever performs it, I think of Mom and Dad prepping for a social event, whether it be at our house or somewhere else. Even though these were strictly adult events, I always found myself captivated at those times by what I perceived as a special magic in the house. Even when I went off to college, Mom and Dad were still active in numerous social—and, more importantly—philanthropic gatherings. My parents, whether in public or in the privacy of our home, were what I can only call classy, exceptionally decent human beings. Of course, they had their faults, shortcomings, and blind spots, as we all do. But Mom and Dad held themselves to such high standards in thought, word, and deed that I despair of ever being able to truly emulate them. Now, this last bit strays from my original reflective intent, but you know, sometimes that happens, and since this is me essentially rambling...there it is.  When I inherited our old house after Mom died, I kept all the surviving trappings of those bygone days. Brugger and I now use those old glasses, the china, the decanters to preserve what we can of that "classy" aspect of my family's history.  I suspect that I'll be occasionally posting other such ramblings. Join me if you like, but if not, I quite understand. Till next time!  Mom & Dad, circa 1963