a) “It’s not what you know that counts; it’s who(m) you blow.” – cousin Richard
b) “General Motors, a going concern!” – brother Bob
c) “After you’re 40, they don’t want you anymore.” Alice Charbonneau, Mom’s cousin
d) “No chocolate milk, all brown cows are on vacation.” – Uncle Gerry Charbonneau to neighborhood kids
e) “Why do I always get the dirty end of the stick?” – Aunt Lida of Ouellette’s Lunch
f) “The bosses would spit on us as we went down the spiral staircase.” – Aunt Florence,as told at our kitchen table
g) “Best baseball team? The Yankees!” – brother Bob to me
h) “Best baseball team? The Red Sox! “- me to brother Bob
i) “Lui, il n’a pas mis les pattes aux mouches.” – Mom in referring to someone of little ability
j) “He’ll never make it.” – Uncle Gerry had little hope that I would succeed at U-Mass.
k) “Irish women don’t keep a clean house.” – Mom’s opinion
l) “Irish women don’t know how to cook.” – another of Mom’s opinions
m) “You go to the hospital to die.” – general agreement
n) “He’ll never make it.” – Uncle Gerry had no hope that brother Bob would succeed in the auto business as an owner-operator
o) “You like peaches? Kiss my ass, it’s a peach.” – Dad’s favorite joke.
p) “Best cowboy film star? Roy Rogers!” – me to brother Bob
q) “Best cowboy film star? Gene Autrey!” – brother Bob to me
r) “Your mother could die tomorrow.” – Claire Beauparlant to Michelle after Dad died.
s) “Oh, my God!” – my sister, Michelle, said to Claire B. in knowing the harsh truth in that cruel comment
t) “Come play on the swings in my backyard.” – Donald Bergeron’s invitation to me
u) “Oh, that hurts!’ – me to Claire B. as I walked back home with her while keeping my broken, left arm in a makeshift sling.
v) “Politics is a dirty business, little girl.” – Grandpa Charbonneau to his daughter, Claire
w) “Ted Williams? He’s a bum.” – Uncle Gerry could be openly critical of Red Sox talent.
x) “Jump!” – Dad lacked deep care when Angeline felt a public fear about Life’s inequities.
y) “You’re just a crepe-hanger like your mother.” – Dad to me since I, also, worried a lot.
z) “Life is like shoveling shit against the tide.” – Greater-Lowell philosophical observation.
A Deeper Appreciation , Perhaps?
A) On Life, the English Bard, Shakespeare, has Macbeth exclaim that:
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.