Christmas with James 2022

 

The last week in December is full of anniversaries/births, not the least of which is the sixth birthday of the amazing James (December 16) and His mom, Allison (12/18), his uncle Perry (12/30), and the baby Jesus (12/25). My parents were married on December 19 in 1942 (80 years ago). So it was with pleasure that I accepted the invitation to camp out for the week in Ocean, New Jersey.

The week included an amazing dinner, on Christmas Eve (Saturday), hosted by Allison that included Grandmother Toby (The Matriarch); Aunt Randy (you can’t bee too rich or too thin); Cousin Perry and wife Autumn and kids Samson and Marlow and her mom Virginia and husband Greg; and Allison’s mom Jean and brother Ryan. That’s 14 if you’re counting. I could be missing someone who joined us during all or part of the festivities.

James and his dad were good enough to greet me at the Newark airport the morning of Christmas Eve. The short walk to Ben’s BMW nearly froze James’ digits but in spite record low temperatures below freezing, my flight only suffered ground delays related to de-icing and managing the gates.

Christmas Morning (12/25) James was careful to locate gifts under two trees: The real one has the family inventory. The other, had gifts for and from a variety of friends and relatives. Monday (12/26) was largely designed to recover in the comfort of building a race track, pretending to be making and delivering pizza, watching Spidey and Friends for Kids and making sure James focused on intermittent mealtime occasions.

Tuesday (12/27) meant a trip to Philly to drop Ryan off at the airport. An ideal opportunity for Papa Wes to wedge in a visit to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. James was not interested in lingering in gallery after gallery of amazing art by the likes of Picasso, Cezanne, Van Gogh or even the early sixteenth century man and horse armor in the gallery space just past the golden Diana atop the staircase by Augustus Saint Gaudens (1848-1907). Diana once lived on top of the original Madison Square Garden in NYC and now she's in Philly.

Wednesday (12/28) the temperatures finally warmed enough to make a trip to Shark River Park to enjoy a chilly but sunny swing set and open field games of catch with Ben and Perry and kids James, Samson and Marlow. Ben was good enough to indulge me in a visit to Lynn’s grave in Neptune. (Lynn’s final resting place continues to be adorned with colored rocks, paper flowers and now holiday garland.) I’m not gonna lie, seeing her grave next to Papa Sam and in this setting causes me to well up with emotion. Ben was the perfect person to be there for me at that very point in time, just 309 days after her passing peacefully in her sleep in Saint Louis. 

The Matriarch hosted a diner out with her helper Izzy at a local restaurant (were I enjoyed the amazing fish entrée along with a dirty martini). Allison helped Toby calculate the appropriate tip and James earned considerable praise for his good behavior during the meal for seven of us (Toby, Izzy, Jean, Ben, James, Allison, Papa Wes).

Thursday (12/29) found us at the Asbury Park Boardwalk and an afternoon fun meal at the Robinson Ale House in Red Bank, New Jersey (the home of Jay and Silent Bob) and the YESTER-arcade where James was able to sample the throw-back arcade game experience as if the Pinball Wizard never happened.   

Friday Arrived with a tentative plan for Papa Wes to scope out two Rothko paintings in gallery 919 at the Met before being shuttled to Newark Airport. The projected behavior patterns of the six year old and Allison’s ability to open the discussion to options resulted in a new plan that allowed Jean to cover James while Wes, Ben and Allison cruised via ferry boat ride from Atlantic Highlands, NJ to midtown Manhatton. We passed the Statue of Liberty and moved under the Brooklyn Bridge. After exiting the ferry, we power-walked with views of the Empire State Building, The Chysler Building and “Skyscraper National Park” to 18^th Street eatery Friend of a Farmer (across the street from one of my old haunts, Pete’s Tavern). Papa Wes’ art junky craving was more than satisfied as we made our way to the Whitney Museum of American Art overlooking the West Side. The Whitney Museum of American Art collection was a treat that included a Calder Mobile, Louis Nevelson, Jasper Johns, Marsden Hartley and Early Twentieth Century Modernism. We were running out of time but as we were about to depart the famous Dempsey vs. Firpo painting by George Wesley Bellows looking at us squarely and adjacent to a Thomas Hart Benton (as if to represent for me both Ohio and Missouri).   

My travel experience from Pennsylvania Station to Newark Airport and subsequent gate changes and holiday chaos was a perfect way to end the New Jersey excursion. So much fun.

  

 

 

Images: Marcel Duchamp's Nude Decending a Staircase at Philadelphia Museum of Art. James with Cups, Man and Horse Armor from 1507 at Philadelphia Museum of Art, Allison and Ben with James at YESTER-arcade in Red Bank, NJ, Painting of Firpo vs Dempsey by George Wesley Bellows at Philadelphia Museum of Art, Picasso's Three Musicians at Philadelphia Museum of Art, Ben's "Life doesn not have to be Perfect" canvas from his home office. Below: Jasper Johns Flags at Whitney Museum of Amerian Art.

Old North and Dave's Tiny Desk

 

One of my friends named Dave owns and operates a business exporting foods internationally. His wife Linda is celebrating her birthday in a most understated way as the Old North neighborhood is celebrating the holiday season. Santa is having his picture taken with kids and the beginning of Winter in Saint Louis is upon us. (Before I forget again --- I want to say Happy Birthday to Linda.)

Dave has orchestrated a Tiny Desk series of musical performances in his office space on 14^th Street, just a few blocks from Crown Candy and across the street from Central Print.

Marie Oberkirsch at Central Print was kind enough to run a press proof of my granfather’s book plate from an 80 years old letter press plate I had hangin on a wall in my apartment. The plate will be a Christmas gift for my son who shares my grandfather’s name – John Benjamin Morgan.   (John Benjamin Morgan,1887-1943 was born in Kinmundy, Illinois and went to medical school at Saint Louis University and was a doctor in Cleveland.)

The Tiny Desk Concert line up includes an opening act of Walter Greiner with Paul Niehaus IV. Greiner is a fan of Mark Twain and Civil War era. He himself has the appearance of being from a time in American before my grandfather was born. Paul Niehaus IV has a Leon Redbone vibe with a musical diversity moving from instrument to instrument. The balance of the day features Blues from Benbow City Shuffle, Noddin’ Dave’s OMG (Original Music Group) and Barefoot Jones (another ensemble of Dave’s bandmates).

The 5+ hours of music and periodic visits from visitors to Old North added up to a beautiful day. It was a day full of private emotion for me. Inexplicable except for maybe a few lines that come to me partially plagiarized and partially heartfelt on this chilly December 17, 2022.

I should be at an all time low, but instead I’m full of hope.

The blues ain’t nothing but a botheration on your mind;

Truth in the words at a tiny desk I find.

Saturday reflection helps me unwind.

Junk food to the Chinese;

Listening to music as we please.

Drum from Tanzania (rhymes with Lasagna);

Big Foot Boogie and good on ya.

Betwixt the Stars and the Moon I dream she loves me too;

If you go down to Deep Ellum, you better put your money in your shoes.

Sidewalk sale, two for a dollar on the tag.

Chasing rewards in the wind. Fighting a way out of a paper bag

Thought she was loving me but she was leaving all the time.

Make me an angel that flies from Montgomery
Make me a poster of an old rodeo. Just give me one thing that I can hold on to

To believe in this livin' is just a hard way to go

It's a wonderful life and teacher says:Whenever a bell rings an angel gets her wings.

I am grateful and hopeful for joy and times ahead. Thank you. 

Rise up and wipe the cobwebs from your eyes.