Fairytale of Boston – Introducing Shane MacGowan onstage

When it comes to Christmas classics few songs warm the cockles of this cynical old heart like the Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York.” It’s simply the best! The song is almost 30 years old and still speaks volumes to many of us irreverent revelers. Too many Christmas Carols are just too damn sappy. I love … Continue reading Fairytale of Boston – Introducing Shane MacGowan onstage →

Dad’s Letters Home from WWII – Volume 18 (The End)

This has been an incredible journey discovering and sharing all these letters. I have so many questions that I wish I found them when my Mom was still alive. However, this is the last letter I have and, fittingly, it’s not complete. The last page is missing. As I said before I never got to … Continue reading Dad’s Letters Home from WWII – Volume 18 (The End) →

Dad’s Letters Home from WWII – Volume 17

Posting this letter on the 75th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor seems so appropriate to me. That was such a defining moment for my Dad's generation and a catalyst for countless who joined the Armed Forces during WWII in the same way that those who joined the service post-9/11. FDR stated that it was a day that … Continue reading Dad’s Letters Home from WWII – Volume 17 →

Dad’s Letters Home from WWII – Volume 16

This letter came six months after the last one I posted, I’m guessing there were others but they seemed to have gotten lost over the past 70 years. My Dad was back in the states and hitting his folks up for cash. It’s interesting to think about how these servicemen moved around and the chaos … Continue reading Dad’s Letters Home from WWII – Volume 16 →

Dad’s Letters Home from WWII – Volume 15

I found a third letter from 1944. My Dad was stationed overseas at the time he wrote this letter. He didn’t go into much detail about his missions, I’m guessing he wasn’t allowed. He spoke about friends and acquaintances from back home and a lot about track, again, especially his brother, George, breaking the two-minute … Continue reading Dad’s Letters Home from WWII – Volume 15 →

Dad’s Letters Home from WWII – Volume 14

Wow! I have only two letters from 1944 and if finding all of these letters has been like finding a gold mine, this was the nugget that made it all the more worthwhile. My Dad was about to ship overseas and made it pretty clear that he wouldn’t be able to write as much as … Continue reading Dad’s Letters Home from WWII – Volume 14 →

Dad’s Letters Home from WWII – Volume 13

This letter was quite interesting. My Dad spoke of trying to acclimate himself back in to the army after his furlough. Clearly, he enjoyed being home and may have “lifted” a picture of his girlfriend Rosemary, my mom, from his mother. It’s nice to see they were putting the “fun” in dysfunctional as far back … Continue reading Dad’s Letters Home from WWII – Volume 13 →