This is a short tribute to my uncle, Brother George Ernest Bernard, who played a dominant role in my upbringing, and left me with so many sweet memories. Read More

One day, an odd-looking bus pulled up in my French Canadian ghetto, near the corner of Kinsley and Liberty streets...it was labelled "Bookmobile!" This was to be my weekly oasis, my ticket to reading freedom, for much of my childhood. Read More

The late ’60s were exciting, turbulent times, especially for a young man growing up in a Catholic seminary.  When I entered the Juniorate of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart in Pascoag, RI in 1966, there were 24 of us guys (most of whom were gay, I now realize), from all parts of New York/New… Read More

These were a few of our favorite things: “Gortons” [grotons–ground pork pate] “Tourquee” [tortiere–pork pie] “Boudin” [blood sausage–really yuk] “Crepes” [Memere’s fat crispy pancakes cooked in light oil–the recipe faded away with her Alzheimer’s] “Rhubarb stalks dipped in a cup of sugar” [great for walking around with] “Pepper steaks” [thin beef grilled with sautéed onions and… Read More

St. Joseph’s school in Nashua, NH, no longer exists. Today it’s a Catholic Charities office building, and back in 1958 it wasn’t much to look at, either.  But it was just six blocks from my home in the back of Hebert’s Market at 189 Kinsley Street, just two blocks from my Mom’s birthplace at 9 Wason Ave., and… Read More

I’ve had numerous occasions during my life when I dreamed something fantastic…breakthrough…life changing…only to forget it when I woke up (cry cry).  Is it possible, I’ve wondered, to dream something important and useful, and actually realize it? Well, amazingly, I’ve heard of two instances where that really happened, if the interviewees are to be believed–one Beatle… Read More