Marge and I being married in 1960
Marge’s 1961 birthday photo
Marge's 1961 birthday photo
Bob
Author Archives: R. F.
333 Snowdale Drive
Our new home for a while is at 333 Snowdale Drive, Syracuse. This is actually in an area known as Seneca Knolls and the Seneca river is nearby. In 1962, State Fair Blvd. was the access road to Syracuse … Continue reading
Posted in Binghamton, Syracuse, Syracuse University
Tagged Crucible Steel, driving, marriage, memoir, moving, Syracuse, Syracuse University
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Back Home At Last!
Hancock Field, Syracuse, NY At last! official orders had been prepared and we in the 138th TACFRON came back to Syracuse in August of 1962. Of course, we were still on active duty until the end of the month but … Continue reading
Beginning of the end
So, what next to share? No war stories to tell, and really that is just as well as there was no war. I believe I have already mentioned that there were a few deaths of pilots on training missions. … Continue reading
Posted in Active Duty
Tagged Air Force, Air National Guard, France, Germany, memoir, Phalsbourg Air Base, road travel, Switzerland
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Surprise Visit
Surprise visit The large majority of the National Guardsmen called up to man our base were from the Boston area. They, like the Syracuse unit of the national guard, were equipped with F-86 fighters, which by 1962 were of Korean … Continue reading
Posted in Active Duty, US Air Force
Tagged Air Force, Air National Guard, baby, birth, driving, marriage, memoir
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Cold Warrior A1C Bob
The Berlin Recall was part of the Cold War. A war of words and national actions and reactions, but not shooting, at least for the US. I was a part of that, a very small part. I volunteered for the … Continue reading
Posted in Active Duty, US Air Force
Tagged Air Force, Air National Guard, Cornwall, France, friends, marriage, pregnancy
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Active Duty In France
I served on active duty during the berlin recall of 1961-1962. I was assigned to the 138th Tactical Fighter Squadron (TACFRON) NYANG. our location was Phalsbourg, France. This soon became to be named Foulsburg by everyone there. With good … Continue reading
Posted in Active Duty, US Air Force
Tagged Air National Guard, apartment, memoir, National Guard
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Big Changes
Our lives moved along on a rather routine trajectory until, I think, June of 1961. It was then that Marge learned that she was pregnant. This was welcome news, of course, but it was not part of our plan as … Continue reading
Posted in Syracuse, Syracuse University
Tagged Air National Guard, apartment, memoir, New York, pregnancy, students, Syracuse
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New Dresses
We lived at the Smith Lane apartment through the winter. On quite cold weather, I would remove the battery from the car and take it inside. Then I would reinstall it before leaving in the morning. Just to be sure. … Continue reading
Posted in Syracuse, Syracuse University
Tagged apartment, clothes, marriage, memoir, misunderstanding, students, Syracuse, Syracuse University
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Transitions and Traditions
As we get into the summer of 1960 we are slowly getting used to living together as a married couple. More complex than we imagined. Marge is getting more adept at cooking and we often go shopping together. The summer … Continue reading
Posted in Syracuse, Syracuse University
Tagged Crucible Steel, marriage, memoir, New York, Syracuse, Syracuse University
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The Honeymooners
A new decade is upon us.To Marge and I, the most significant event is our marriage in May. More on this later. Marge is in her second semester of her junior year. Next year she will not be a … Continue reading
Posted in Syracuse, Syracuse University
Tagged apartment, clothes, Crucible Steel, dating in 1950s, friends, marriage, memoir, New York, students, Syracuse, Syracuse University
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Autumn 1959
“I found this tonight and somehow I wanted you to know what it says. It is very lovely. I love you very much. EBB says it much better than I can, although she spoke to a different “Robert” 1959 begins … Continue reading
Posted in Syracuse, Syracuse University
Tagged Dannemora, dating in 1950s, driving, graduation, grief, memoir, New York, road travel, students, Syracuse University
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Marge’s Legacy (1)
Christine suggested to me that Marge’s letters and papers were a legacy to me. As I was cleaning out her old files and papers, I regarded myself a best a custodian, just cleaning things up. So, what do you … Continue reading
204 Cannon St.
After I completed Basic Training, I came back to Syracuse, of course. I stayed for a very short time at James and Lodi. Our old flat had been taken, but the landlady had a little one bedroom place that was … Continue reading
Posted in Syracuse, Syracuse University
Tagged Crucible Steel, Dannemora, dating in 1950s, driving, memoir, New York, Syracuse, Syracuse University
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Summer 1959
Nothing all that memorable this summer. I started work at Crucible Steel after I graduated. This was entirely new to me, as all I knew about the world of work was the work I did in the resorts. I knew … Continue reading
Posted in Syracuse, Syracuse University
Tagged Basic Training, Crucible Steel, Lackland AFB
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Last Semester
I was, in spring 1959, approaching the moment of truth. I had two major decisions to make. One was getting a job, and the other what to do about my military obligation, as the draft was still in effect. The … Continue reading
Posted in Syracuse, Syracuse University
Tagged dating in 1950s, graduation, memoir, National Guard, New York, students, Syracuse University
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James and Lodi
Once upon a time, long, long ago, there was a large handsome brick home on the corner of James and Lodi streets in Syracuse. It might have been owned by the president of a local bank or someone like … Continue reading
Posted in Syracuse, Syracuse University
Tagged dating in 1950s, driving, friends, memoir, New York, Onondaga Park, students, Syracuse University
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Thanksgiving 1958
It was a dark and stormy night. All right, not stormy, but certainly dark. Nothing too dramatic this term. Marge and I had become quite attached to each other and we often went for little drives just to be together. … Continue reading
Posted in Syracuse, Syracuse University
Tagged clothes, Dannemora, dating in 1950s, dining, driving, memoir, New York, road travel, students, Syracuse University
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Lake Placid NY – 1958
Welcome to Lake Placid, NY home of two winter Olympics. Lake Placid is a really nice place in summer. Pleasant days and the evenings are usually cool enough to wear a light jacket. Winter’s a different story with below zero days even … Continue reading
Posted in Syracuse, Syracuse University
Tagged clothes, Cornwall, dating in 1950s, driving, Lake Placid, memoir, New York, road travel, students, Syracuse University
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Graduation 1958
Graduation day at Syracuse University for the class of 1958. ” We’re the Class of ’58, we’re the class that’s really great!!” as we were taught to chant at orientation in 1954. A lot of bull to me, but it … Continue reading
Posted in Syracuse, Syracuse University
Tagged clothes, dating in 1950s, driving, New York, Onondaga Park, students, Syracuse University
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Self Reflection
Following is a highly abridged article by Steve Kalas, from the LV Review Journal. – “Couplehood provides the missing pieces and psychic injuries we sustain in our upbringing. Our parents are imperfect and we bring with us into any relationship … Continue reading
On The Beach
No, not the 1959 movie with Gregory Peck and Ava Gardner, your own private beach. ( Image from Wikipedia) Imagine, or better yet remember, the following scene: You and a favorite friend are alone on a really remote lovely beach. … Continue reading
Posted in Syracuse, Syracuse University
Tagged dating in 1950s, New York, students, Syracuse University
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Sentimental Journey
There used to be a ballad with the name of Sentimental Journey. As in any journey it has to begin somewhere and, naturally, this begins on the campus of Syracuse University. I enclose a plan map of S.U. that I … Continue reading
Posted in Syracuse, Syracuse University
Tagged Cornwall, dating in 1950s, driving, road travel, students, Syracuse University
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Parental Debris
What was your face before you were born? I think that or something very close to it is a Zen koan, designed to get us out of the thinking patterns we have become accustomed to. Here’s something of my own … Continue reading
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Marges Stuff
The photo above is a composite I made of some of the blouses and T shirts that were left after Marge died. Who would have thought that such a simple task could be so gut wrenching? I suppose I did … Continue reading
A Tale of Two Candles
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” I figure, if I am going to imitate, might as well do so from a writer of note. And so, Charles Dickens seemed to fit, just a little … Continue reading
Our First Big Date – Cinerama
Here it is, almost Valentine’s Day so I guess it’s appropriate to post a blog about the first date Marge and I had. Falling in love and all that. In the late ’50s there was a rather cheesy song “Why … Continue reading
Posted in Syracuse, Syracuse University
Tagged Cinerama, dating in 1950s, New York, Robert Benchley, students, Syracuse University
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Our First Date
Starving Student – Sounds very Dickensonian doesn’t it? Well, not quite starving but actually enjoying my current living arrangement. But wait, there’s more, as they used to say on TV. If you were around in 1957 You may remember the … Continue reading
Posted in Syracuse, Syracuse University
Tagged dating in 1950s, students, Syracuse University
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Music – A Metaphor for Life
On Dec. 13, 2013, the Nathan Adelson hospice in Las Vegas held a “light up a life” memorial for patients who had died in the previous year or 2, my late wife, Margery, who died from cancer, was one of … Continue reading
Marges Own Story About Her Cancer
I have created this post to keep friends and family updated about Marge. You can find more about the post by clicking the (About) button on the top of the page. Get started by reading this introduction to our website, 55 … Continue reading
55 Years Together 