Albert and Andy

Albert (94) and Andy (92) barely knew each other but for Pop they were best friends. They had two things in common: They both served in the Army during WWII and saw each other every Sunday night. Pop knew alot about Andy, Andy didn't know a thing about Pop."He was war correspondent for the Stars and Stripes. He flew on the first American bombing raid over Germany. He's written lots of books." Pop would brag about his "old friend."

Andy's stories on A Few Minutes with Andy Rooney made Pop happy. Pop sat in his recliner facing Andy sitting behind his walnut desk. "He made that desk himself," Pop would boast.

But Pop never bragged about himself. While Andy was in the air, Pop was on the ground during Germany's relentless air raids to stop the progress of American GI's. Pop slept in fox holes and watched his army buddies die. Pop has never written a book. He's never made anything.  He has made lasting relationships, raised three daughters, married his sweetheart 59 years ago. Pop has lived his a quiet, modest life, proud of the simple things in life. He loves his family and cantaloupe.

I know Pop’s Sundays will not be the same now. So while Pop laments the loss of his BFF, Andy, we give thanks that he still has Larry (Lawrence Welk), the Daily News, the Inquirer and cantaloupe, lots of cantaloupe.

Thanks to my sister Jackie for this post!

We shared a laugh last night...

a genuine belly laugh, a good old fashioned laugh out loud laugh! This might not seem monumental but for Mom this was a major event.

I was just beginning Mom and Pops's monthly pedicures and had to borrow Pop's nail clippers. He warned, "make sure you put them back where they belong!" The key phrase is, "where they belong." You see, Pop has developed a bit of OCD as he has gotten older. If you saw the top of his bureau you would understand.  It's like a map, everything is located by latitude and longitude, a place for everything and everything in its place, and the dust makes perfect little impressions where each item belongs. I took one look at Mom, she had that old twinkle in her eye (one I haven't seen in a while) and she knew mischief was about to happen. I "innocently" put them back in the wrong place. I asked Mom to watch and let me know how long it took before Pop realized my "mistake." It didn't take long. We waited until Pop went into the bedroom and when we heard a "Hey!" emerge from Pop ( famous for his sound effects), we giggled like school girls who had just shared a secret.