Dad part 1 in The Whole Fam Damnley

My dad was a character, that’s for sure.

Born in 1932, he grew up along with his six siblings in Salem MA. Things were tough for the family, the Great Depression was in full swing, and with so many mouths to feed my grandma had to send them to an orphanage for a time so she could get back on her feet (she was a single mom. Long story there). But they all stuck together.

They fought to get by. My dad and his brothers would work on a few farms to bring extra money into the home, plus food from the farms that they couldn’t sell on the market. It all helped. They had to make it work, y’know?

One of the things they couldn’t afford was real butter. They had “oleo” , or margarine . You used to have to mix in yellow food coloring to make it look even a little bit edible. Up until the day my dad died he wouldn’t allow margarine in the house.

My dad worked in the kitchen along side his sisters. He loved to cook, even as a kid. But things could get ugly in there. My aunt once threw a knife at my dad because he was being an ass to her. He ducked just in time, the knife sticking in the door behind him.

As he got older he was known for being somewhat of a trouble maker. He and his brothers were a gang of sorts. They protected their family and their side of the street. Fights between them and the McDonald’s happened frequently. When I got into high school my history teacher called out my name. Then he asked what my dads name was. He remembered my family and I swear he was horrible to me in class because my dad and uncles beat the crap out of him.

When he was about 18-19 years old he met my mom… well, he stalked her. She worked at a soda fountain and he would grab a comic book to hide behind while he watched her work. My mom thought he was damn creepy. I don’t blame her.

Back then, dance halls were common. My mom went to a dance with friends where her friend said “you have to meet Phil! He is the sweetest guy!” When he came up to the group my mom just about died to see who it was. But it was love at first sight.