Our family took a two or three week summer vacation every year. We would take a 300 mile car trip to the Thousands Islands on the St Lawrence River. We rented the same cabin every year on the Lake of The Isles on Wellesley Island. We were a mile or so away from the Canadian border. The cabin was a fishing cabin with no insolation or hot running water. However, we loved it there and spent a lot of time running in the woods or swimming. I always preferred the country to the city, so I was in seventh heaven. Dad fished every day and Mom watched the kids and cooked. Although she still had to do mother type things, she also got to enjoy the outdoors. She especially enjoyed our day trips to Canada. Our home life was pretty much typical of those days. Dad went to work, Dorothy and I went to school and Mom stayed home. Briefly, Dorothy went to Holy Trinity Elementary School and later to Holy Trinity High School. I went to Our Lady Queen of Peace Elementary in Maywood, NJ. I later went to Hackensack High School. Queen of Peace was run by Filippini Nuns from Itay. They were very strict and able educators. I often say I look German, but think like an Italian! Holy Trinity High School was a failing institution when Dorothy went there, but she had many friends and enjoyed her time there. When she went to Immaculata College, she caught up with her education and successfully completed her Biology degree. My time at Hackensack High, “HHS”, was very rewarding. I grew about a foot and became involved as a soccer player and played in the NJ State Tournament! I did very well in my studies and got accepted at the University of Vermont. Our parents always emphasized academics and it paid off. Overall, we had a happy home life! There is a difference of five years in age between Dorothy and myself, but we have always remained close. We both enjoyed our family during the holidays, especially Christmas. We enjoyed our gifts and the “grab bag” Dad would bring home from the Hoboken Chamber of Commerce. It was filled with logoed notebooks, pencils, pens, and other everyday items. Summers were hot in mosquito filled in NJ. We obviously had no air-conditioning at that time. Mom cooked great American, German and Italian food! The family was well fed! Dad worked hard and came home at 6:00. I was a typical 1950’s lifestyle.
