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BITS AND PIECES - 5/4/2008
(by Howard Ball - OpEd Columnist - May 04, 2008)
Shadow Daddow and other blasts from the past
This has been an exciting week. First I get a phone call from my old friend Frank Suter. He is still in Florida and works every day in his construction business. Frank was an outstanding member of the Pompton Lakes Class of 1947. His exploits are legendary and unless I had witnessed some of them, I wouldn't believe he could have done all that.
Frank was inventive in his various endeavors. His ringing of the Christ Church Bell with 200 feet of purloined clothesline must rank right up there with the best of them. On the other hand, the release of the Oakland Academy Horses is remembered by alums from Oakland Academy and Pompton Lakes (and the horses..) Frank and his wife Betty are comfortable in Florida, but he promised he would stop by when they come up North.
The Riverdale Fire Department Auxiliary held its annual spaghetti dinner and although it strained my low carb diet, I had a nice portion. My special caretaker Stacy brought the food to me. She takes good care of old lunks like me and I appreciate it.
The ladies of the auxiliary provide a really delicious meal and several hundred folks come to enjoy it. Mayor Bill Budesheim was there as well as Kinnelon Mayor Glenn Sisco and his wife Barbara. I missed the residents of the Boonton Fire-man's Home who always come early. The tell me Bill McColl did not make it this year as he was under the weather.
I was seated next to my friend Don Rodda. He is a very special person. He’s logged more than 60 years in the Blooming-dale Cornet Band and 40-some years as treasurer of Butler First Assembly of God. We had some wonderful conversation about the good old days. Don got up for some coffee and for the first time I saw the lovely woman sitting next to him.
She was about to introduce herself when I blurted out "You're Shadow Daddow!” She looked amazed that I recalled her nickname from our teen years. Now Mrs. Sam Adornetto, Joan is as vibrant as she was when we named her shadow. The rhyme with shadow is a given but her diminutive size was the reason for the name. Shadow was a really nice young lady and was and is respected by people who know her. We had a chance to talk about old times at Angie and Dick's store as we en-joyed desert.
Dr. Robert Wagner ordered some tests for me so I showed up at the office with my new haircut. Rita, of Ray and Rita's, resists my request for a "buzz cut" but this time she relented and now they can call me baldy Ball. Ginny Gill, who is very good at what she does, administered the test which was designed to find what is in my head. Daughter Patti said they would find nothing. I don't know how to take that!
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