More about Uncle Eddie
Every once in a while I get a message that lets me know that you all are reading this blog.
Here’s a response I got from Sig Front, a friend of the Greenes in Wheeling, (I remember hearing his name all the time both from parents and from Uncle Jack) in response to the post about Uncle Eddie Carenbauer.
Enjoy! and let me hear from you if you feel so moved. . .
Dear Eddie,
It was great talking with you on Saturday. I tried several times to wish Joanie a Happy Birthday, but they were not in. It was kind of you to give me her phone number. I remember her from the time she was little more then about 8. Pig tales, that red hair and spunky. She was always an alive young person, and I doubt she has changed much. I lived in Santa Monica when she and Sam moved out there and they were very kind to me. I remember their first home quite well.
No one could beat them as a couple. We last saw Joan and Christine when they visited us one day a few years back. They were visiting you and Mary Eleanore in Ft Myers.
I enjoyed seeing that photo of you ready to hit the baseball. It was a real baseball, that you often hit into our yard across the street. I was probably about six and you about 16, or was it before that ? Is that Henri in back ? I think so. In fact, it triggers my memory everytime I see that photo, that I can recall being there. Of course as soon as I saw you with a bat, I would run over to watch. It was the perfect place to hit.
Sam Kuglen’s detailed blog about his Mom brought back so many memories for me. A lot of my world as a kid kept me in awe of all you Carenbauers. When I was 10, Johnny offered me the privilege of helping him wash the white sidewalls of his very ritzy Lincoln Zephyr that Uncle Frank had given him. I scrubbed those white walls many times, but still never got a ride in it. A guy who lived a block away on Lynnwood gave me a ride in his rumble seat. It was a coupe, but a big seat in the back. He would always have three girls in that rumble seat on a nice day, and at age 7 or 8 he seemed to me to be one fantastic guy. Andy Hardy style………
When you went off to the Army Air Corp I was sure proud of you. So was everyone else in my family. I learned of your missions flown from someone, and kept track of what was happening in the war and your air war. Nothing was better then when you came home.
Jack Greene, John and Frank were also away, and as Jack and I became good friends later on, I learned what he did in his Mountain combat team. Each of you, in my mind, played an exciting and strong role in World War II. I have much recall of my feelings for all of that. We lost a cousin when he fought as a tank commander in Italy and was killed by the German tanks, which were all 88′s and we had 60 MM. His name was David Gratz,. His mother, my aunt Anne, was Dad’s sister. The family lived in Manhattan. He was a Captain.
Funny how Sam’s in depth tribute to his Mom has stirred so many memories for me.
You sounded good Ed. I am thankful your knee is healing well. You’ll be back at it soon enough, especially as the weather warms and you get some sun on it.
We are headed out to dinner. We have friends visiting Naples from Munich. They are friends from way back, both of whom worked with Toni in Paris at the Lido. They are twins and I remember them from the night they opened the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, and they were the warm up act for Dean Martin, who loved them.
They are cooking for us tonight and another couple. They are in their mid 70′s, but play golf every day here and can really hit the ball. They love golf.
We head to Miami next week for a night, then Palm Beach to be with a close family whose granddaughter is being Christened. They want a couple of Jewish witnesses.
Then we come back, and leave Naples for Washington to see our family and grandchildren there, then to our Berkshire home in Western Massachusetts. Mountains, cool nights etc.
Thanks for sending me that wonderful family recap Sam did. Wonderful.
Keep yourself fit, well, and in good spirits. Toni sends her love, as do I..
Sig
