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Post by ptc on Oct 12, 2019 14:26:30 GMT
My story begins with a call on a Tuesday evening from an employee who said, “I don’t care what your schedule is tomorrow, but you need to clear it”. He told me to meet him at the South Gate of the White House at 7:00 AM the next morning. As it turns out, his next-door neighbor was a Secret Service member and he had been working on getting us to meet President Reagan for six months.
We first got a tour of the White House that most would not get including the Oval Office and Cabinet Room. Got to spend about 20 minutes with the President and learned that he also loved model trains. Also got to meet Nancy and they asked me to join them as they ventured out to the South Lawn where they were departing for a trip to their home in California.
What a great couple, not matter what your politics are. They treated me as if I was their best friend. This must be one of my favorite moments. And yes, it does have a train connection.
Please share your memorable occasion with all of us.
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Post by JKP on Oct 12, 2019 17:48:33 GMT
Playing 1 on 1 with former Gov. Mario Cuomo. I used to play basketball where the Legislature and Gov played softball. He came over and asked if I wanted to play. He did win 5-3, I wasn't trying my hardest, Im sure he wasn't either. Didn't know it was in a paper until an Uncle told me. from 1988. Attachments:
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Post by ptc on Oct 12, 2019 19:24:15 GMT
Great story, Joe. I bet of asked, he would remember it.
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Post by pebo on Oct 12, 2019 20:49:17 GMT
I went to Cardinal Spellman High School in the Bronx from 1967-71.
I was in the Glee Club and played electric organ in a rock band. Our name was Albatross.
December, 1970....the Glee Club director got a call from the archdiocesan office that a rock band was needed for a teen Christmas Party at an orphanage in Staten Island (the Mount Loretto Home on Staten Island’s southern tip). Our Glee Club director asked us and we went.
We set up on a stage in a large gymnasium.....we were to start playing around 11. Right before we started, we were told someone was going to MC the event and introduce us. It was ED SULLIVAN..........”now we have right here on our stage, a great group from the Bronx, Albatross”,......we couldn’t believe it!
CBS taped it showed it on the local 6PM evening news......many of our friends saw us.......unfortunately, we were in our cars driving home.
Peter
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Post by pebo on Oct 12, 2019 21:27:07 GMT
Oops, duplicate
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Post by ptc on Oct 12, 2019 21:34:03 GMT
Wonderful story, Peter. Everytime I look at the Ed Sullivan Theatre on our layout, I will think of this story.
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Post by Country Joe on Oct 12, 2019 21:57:12 GMT
Brian, Joe, Peter, those are great memories.
I have 2 that are kind of related since they are both about baseball. When I was little in the 1950s, under 10 years old, I met Whitey Ford in Sal's barber shop in Glen Cove, NY. He was tall and very blonde. I shook his hand but I don't remember saying anything to him.
When I was 13 and in Junior High my dad picked me up from school early for an eye doctor's appointment. It was November 22, 1963. When we exited the school building there was a Caddy Limo and my dad told me it was Roy Campanella's car. My dad was a Glen Cove Police Officer and had responded the night of Campanella's tragic accident in 1957. He took me over and introduced me to the Brooklyn Dodger legend. I talked to him but don't remember a word. I only remember shaking hands with the great catcher. We were huge Brooklyn Dodger fans. My dad had taken me to Ebbetts Field a number of times and I'd seen Campanella play.
While it has nothing to do with trains meeting these two Hall of Fame baseball players, NY Icons, is very memorable for me.
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Post by josef on Oct 13, 2019 10:08:47 GMT
Memorable stories? I have in my lifetime many things that were memorable, from being at the time the youngest SCUBA Diver and was sought to play in a Sea Hunt episode because the youngster picked, couldn't swim nor dive. So I did all his diving scenes and led to off and on acting jobs through my years. But as exciting as that may sound, my greatest memorable moments were when I met veterans of WW2 that came out to view the B17s I flew to shows throughout the country. They were old, many were wheeled up in wheel chairs, or using walkers and canes. Seeing these veterans, now aged, patting the fuselage, looking up at the planes they flew and bringing them and their crew back home. Many had tears, and many had hard time talking of their time, their crew, their missions, but you could see for a brief moment with tears they were taken back to a time and remembered. They were the real heroes, not me who acted as one or tried to. I doubt we will ever again see how so many sacrificed so much.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2019 13:32:32 GMT
My two boys and I went fishing on our boat Assurance out of Hatteras. Beautiful day but I had a horrible headache so we decided to follow a grass line to the northeast. The boys ran the boat and handled the lines, caught a nice mahi, missed a sail, and about noon, got close to the edge of the continental shelf where the water drops off and the marlin are more often found.
I felt better and went on the bridge to run the boat. About an hour later, Joel, age 14, hooked, caught, and released, a blue marlin on 25 pound test line, estimated 150-200 pound fish.
About thirty minutes later, he hooked a second blue, this one on 50 pound test. I looked back and my second son, Will, age 16, was letting his line go back. “Dad if Joel catches two blues today and I get none, he will beat me in the Club tournament. I have to catch one now.”
“Will that is a small rod and 25 pound test line; we got lucky once, get the lines in and let’s catch Joel’s fish.”
He put the reel in gear, took two cranks on it, and hooked another blue. Somehow they cleared the other lines and caught and released their two fish.
They put the lines back over and started rigging baits, backs to the transom. In a couple of minutes, I noticed that line was slowly coming off a reel. “ Will, you didn’t put enough drag on that reel and now it is half empty” (300 feet plus behind the boat).
He picked up the rod and started cranking. After five minutes, I noticed that the angle of the line was going down. “ Will it looks like your line is sinking.”
“I know Dad and I think I feel weight.” About that time the rod bent over. Another blue must have eaten it and then just swam along instead of taking off with the bait. They caught and released that one, about 250-300 pounds.
Four blue marlin caught by two boys age 14 and 16 with only a boat driver on the boat with them is unheard of out of Hatteras, NC. It is the most unforgettable day we ever had.
The boat was sold a few years ago, Paula and I decided to have a train layout in its place, Will, now 42, is raising a family in the Raleigh, NC area, and Joel died ten years ago in his sleep, cause undetermined. This memory becomes more special every year.
Oh yes, Joel did go on and win the Club tournament that year. Top billfish angler in the Virginia Bluewater Gamefish Association. He went on to fish as a mate in Bermuda, Mexico, Kona, Hawaii, Cairns, Australia, and lots of other places. The two boys were world class anglers; Will still is and I have to think that somewhere Joel may still be.
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Post by dennym57 on Oct 13, 2019 14:01:57 GMT
I went to Dunbar Vocational High School in Chicago in the 70s. In my freshman year you weren't allowed to pick your shop so I was assigned Aviation class. You could learn any trade and the idea was to be able to work when you graduated. I really enjoyed that class the teachers name was Mr. Turner.
In my Sophomore year we were able to pick our shop which for me was music. I got to play in the cities number one marching band. I played a very large bass drum that was too big to carry on my shoulders so there was a stand with wheels that I pushed and played. She was called Big Birtha. When I hit that drum you could hear it for blocks. Our band director was a jazz musician who let us play the popular songs at the time. He also had us do college level routines.
We didn't just march we kind of danced when we marched. The band was called The Dunbar Acrobatic Marching Band. We even got to march at Soldier Field. My normal instrument is the bass guitar which wouldn't have worked out.
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Post by ptc on Oct 13, 2019 15:36:12 GMT
Wonderful baseball story, Joe.
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Post by ptc on Oct 13, 2019 15:47:21 GMT
That's a terrific story, josef. I was a participant in the Memorial Day Parade and the surviving crew from the Enola Gay were the Grand Marshalls. They rode in my Viper. What a thrill.
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Post by ptc on Oct 13, 2019 15:49:20 GMT
A very warm and wonderful story, Bill.
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Post by ptc on Oct 13, 2019 15:50:39 GMT
Must have been a thrill for you, Denny.
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Post by ptc on Oct 13, 2019 16:11:25 GMT
I will share another story. For several years, my wife and I hosted an Airstream rally in Newport, RI. The Americas Cup was being held in Newport in 1977. I thought it would be nice to get the Skipper Ted Turner as a guest speaker. I went down to the docks, talked my way in, and got to meet Ted. He not only agreed, but brought his entire crew to our event. He loved the fact that I was a lifetime Braves fan. Waht a terffic guy to meet. Never had to buy a braves ticket thereafter (while he owned the team).
By the way, the Courageous won the Americas Cup that year. |
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