Greetings

I was born a little over half a century ago.

My family lived (and mostly still lives) there, and in Agawam, Springfield, Longmeadow, East Longmeadow, Chicopee and Chicopee Falls.

I had an upbringing thoroughly New England-American in nature, with a health dose of Italian and Irish cultural influences. I played baseball and basketball, was in Boy Scouts and JA, spent a lot of time at the libary and at local museums. I had lots of acquaintences and friends, but few Friends, but I don't think I was lonely.

The first love of my life has always been books. I'm thankful that my mom, dad and other family members taught me to read at an early age. I own thousands of them today, many being holdovers from my childhood.

In grade school (primary through high), I was at times a good and indifferent scholar.

In the fall of 1975 I went away to college, Norwich University in Vermont. Norwich is a military school; my Uncle Bob is a graduate and his recommendation was part of the reason I went there. I got a good education, but did fail to earn a degree.

Norwich is where I met the young lady who became my wife. Anita grew up about 11 miles from me.

What can I say about her?

She's my heart, and home is where the heart is, though I do miss my birthplace: the Land, my Family, the sense of History, but not the modern statist bent to the politics...Nuff fer now.