What are friends for?

 This is my old friend, aka the chicken!

So there we were, Revere Beach. Every ride in the world, arcades, beer joints, dance halls, beach house...the real deal. Yep, a long time ago. In fact we were both young.
Hey Max I'll go on the Cyclone if you'll go on the Ferris Wheel. Really naive too. I don't like heights, but I did like Roller coasters, the Wild Mouse, Virginia Reel, etc, repeat, we were young. But if I'm going to do this lets do the double wheel , not the kiddie one. They stop the damn thing! Left dangling, if you will...oh they are just letting someone off, why not me? After surviving and semi-conquering my phobia, it's Fred's turn...Belly's up friends. This chicken won't fly either!

Fred and I go back to being Altar boys in Everett. It took better on him than me. Truly hard for me to believe that I actually did that. Boy Scouts too. Never got past tenderfoot. Not a good joiner, tried Demolay. Remember going to a gun range. That's it for organizations and me.

But Fred and I had a couple of other adventures. One before the non-ride another later one.

Max worked for a trucking company in the safety dept. and would have to visit all the terminals regularly. On one summer occasion he took me along. We flew out of Logan on a four engine prop job, it was my first flight and we on the way to the Newark terminal. Having been aware of the plans early enough, I was able to contact Fred who was visiting his sister in Cherry Hill. We planned an excursion. Bus trip into the city! Both of us would leave early and join up at the Port Authority. Max would get us after he got off work.

Times Square, 195?, we were 14? 15? younger? What a thrill to stand in front of Gene Krupas joint listening to the music. Too young , to scared to go in. Ripley's, Empire State Building, gawking! And we were allowed to do this, didn't have to sneak off and do it. Different times, a different mind set.

Later in life I introduced Fred to my sister in law and subsequently had the late night pleasure of helping pull them out of the sand...somehow his car got stuck! Maybe she has a different slant on this story. I'll check and get back to you. I know his version varies a bit.

As always, hope the kids read and enjoy this...Fred!