What makes me Happy
Having such great friends with great personalities, high values and people who are hardworking but also know how to relax and have fun makes me happy every day and this week was no exception.
When a wonderful friend, Mary Beth Hodgkiss was celebrating a significant birthday, her friend Kerry threw her a fantastic party at Murphy’s Tavern in Rumson. Not only did I meet an awful lot of great new folks I never knew before, but found Murphy’s the unique and fun place I’ve always heard it was. But actually, visiting there is even a lot more fun than hearing about it, but that’s another story for another day.
A fascinating history dating to Prohibition and alive and well in a great neighborhood even today. Mary Beth is that worker at the Little Silver School the kids all love at lunch time and you can tell she loves her work because of the stories she shares about all those kids she shares part of her day with.
The second presentation of the Joshua Huddy story known as the Asgill Affair was also outstanding, with new players involved in the presentation at the Highlands Community Center.
More cheers to Council President Joann Olszewski for the incredible amount of research she’s done to ensure the presentation is authentic and absolutely factual. It was great to see local residents, both new and old, take a new pride and affection for their hometown after hearing some of the vital roles it’s played in American history.
Sounds like there’s going to be some search into more stories about James Fenimore Cooper’s Waterwitch and the house where he lived that burned..but the remaining huge fireplace has its own story to tell.
Seeing all those wonderful folks at the Leonardo High School’s reunion was terrific as well. Former Chief Bob Letts is always a treat to see, as are other retired Middletown police officers Irv Beaver and Lt. George Freibott.
Also wonderful to meet up with Ruth MacDonald who was one of those stalwarts at The Courier that managed to get that weekly out every Wednesday night no matter what was breaking at the last minute. Ruth and I had a few minutes to talk over some of our Courier days together.
And it’s fun sitting home reading John King’s newest book about highlands. John makes it clear, as do the stories themselves, this one is definitely NOT a history book, just a compilation of a couple of hundred little stories about people, places, and things in Highlands over the years.
John identifies himself as a Storyteller, and that he is. His presentation of the book at the Highlands Historical Society meeting at the Twin Lights made the stories even more fun because of his presentation. Many of the stories are from the old Highlands Star, some are on birds, bees and bugs, and some are on famous names in the borough. You can e-mail John about them at ka21fwbdj@gmail.com.
And the Shrewsbury Historical Society certainly knows how to throw a party. Their Autumn Harvest Party was at the home of Betsy Schmalz Shaheen and Tim Shaheen in the historic Buttonwood section of Shrewsbury. Besides the elegance yet hominess of the home, the stately trees and wonderful lawns around the house, the history of the entire Buttonwood is fascinating in itself. The Shaheens are sensational hosts and as much fun as they are gracious hosts. Society president Don Burden, probably one of the hardest working and knowledgeable society presidents around and his wife, Mary Lea are some team to have working together in a historic society. Anyone had a question during the afternoon was many times answered with, “gee, I don’t know, but ask Don, he’ll know.” And he always did which is one of the reasons he was so great not only as the borough’s mayor but also as a County History Commissioner as well.
And if you attend Mass at either St. Agnes or Our Lady of Perpetual Help church, try going there to hear one of Father Gene’s homilies. He blends just the right amount of modern hints for how to live life well with a great sense of humor that makes it okay to laugh or giggle once in a while in church.
These are just to list some of the things that made me so happy this week. What a way to bring in October, coupled with plenty of sunshine and a great forecast, it doesn’t get much better that that!
There’s a news story behind each of these things that keep me happy, so continue to look at VeniVidiScripto for all the details tomorrow and onward.
