Monthly Archives: July 2023

Reflections on Five-Oh!

IDROS has woken up in the morning 18,263 and a half times so far (an accomplishment in and of itself many of those mornings). And yes, it has certainly been better than the alternative.

If this were an anniversary it would be “Golden.” As a birth milestone, however, the shine is dulled. It’s a number better used for speed limits, interstates, prolific NBA individual scoring nights, Grant’s currency, Curtis Jackson, shades of grey and ways to leave your lover.

IDROS has now lived a year for every state in our union (though the past three have felt more like Alaska, Texas and California). But I digress.

To mark this auspicious achievement, IDROS put together a random list of top (and sometimes bottom) fours…his own Mount Rushmores (Mounts Rushmore?) of memories, truths and arcana. Follow along if you choose. Please know IDROS will not divulge the impetus or theme for any of these un-presidential stone carvings. Debate them if you must but allow this newly anointed AARP member the dignity of his own rankings. Some come from days of yore, so clearly there could be some haze, cobwebs and senility contributing to rankings and omissions you may feel are objectionable. Don’t fret. Even the original Mount Rushmore has its misgivings and predated some deserving replacements.

Before we begin, IDROS would be remiss in failing to honor and acknowledge family, friends, classmates, influences and meaningful connections he lost during his climb to the fiftieth floor. No human can make this journey alone, and IDROS feels blessed to have been part of their lives.

These will be listed in no particular order, and from left to right, meaning honorable mention on the left, then third, second and winner, winner chicken dinner moving to the right.

Here’s to 50 more:

1. Japan; Costa Rica; Italy; Israel
2. 1981 NFC Championship Game; 1987 Stanley Cup Finals Game 6; 2008 World Series Game 6; Super Bowl LII
3. Snickers; Kit Kat; Reese’s PB Cup; Reese’s Take 5
4. Franklin Field; Aiden Lair Park; Mundauk Common; Robbins Park
5. Tipitina’s; Roseland; Tower; Beacon
6. Birthday with friends at a Chateau in Cognac, France; Limo from LaGuardia with Captain Kirk; Kayaking in Glacier Bay; Skydiving in Switzerland
7. Shark; Alligator; Live Scallop; Blow Fish
8. Herbie Hancock; Dr. John; Donald Fagan; Page McConnell
9. Dalessandros; Pat’s; Dino’s; John’s
10. The Wire; Succession; The Sopranos; Lost
11. The City: Literature and Culture; 12^th Grade Calculus; International Relations; 8^th Grade English
12. Blueberries; Pears; Raspberries; White Peaches
13. Maui; Santorini; Ambergris Caye; Ko Samui
14. West Side Story; Phantom; A Chorus Line; Les Miz
15. Drakkar Noir; Eternity; Gendarme; Cool Water
16. 1991 NCAA Championship UNLV; Every Carolina Game in Cameron; 2001 Final 4 vs. MD; 1992 ERF vs. UK
17. Miss McCracken; Mr. Reif; Mr. Frankenberger; Mrs. Lane
18. Waffle House; Wild Bulls; Steak & Egg; The Biscuit King
19. Goodfellas; Original Star Wars Trilogy: Pulp Fiction; The Big Lebowski
20. All NY and NJ Pro Teams; Atlanta Braves; UNC; Dallas Cowboys
21. Gilhooley’s; Omar’s; Red’s; Maloney’s
22. Photographer’s Assistant; Valet Parking Attendant; Bartender; Camp Counselor
23. Aliens; Terminator 2; Godfather II; The Empire Strikes Back
24. Wine Corks; Die Cast Model Cars; Ticket Stubs; Baseball Cards
25. Bonnaroo; Lollapalooza; Jazz Fest; The Clifford Ball
26. Will Ferrell; Chris Farley; Eddie Murphy; Phil Hartman
27. Brunello di Montalcino; California Zinfandel; Barbaresco; Nobile di Montepulciano
28. Mount Pilatus; Mount Marcy; Masada; Mount Fuji
29. Conan; Carson; Letterman; Larry Sanders
30. Gardens; Forest; Chapel; Ellington
31. Knitting Factory; Irving Plaza; Wetlands; Tramps
32. Donna; Whitney; Ella: Barbra
33. The Glenn; Northern Lights; The Church; The Humbies
34. The Dead Sea; Lake Geneva; Grotta Azzurra; Adriatic Sea
35. Cod (at Nobu); St. Peter’s; Halibut; Dover Sole
36. Phish (all 4); Shatner; Gervais; Steely Dan (both)
37. Satisfactions; TJ Hoops; The Green Room; The Hideaway
38. Broken Collarbone; Impacted Wisdom Teeth Extraction; Plantar Fasciitis; Kidney Stones
39. Diff’rent Strokes; Cheers; Greatest American Hero; It’s Garry Shandling’s Show
40. Cherry Coke; Ginger Ale; Dr. Brown’s Cream; Classic Coke
41. 10^th Grade Geometry Class; A Recent Presidency; Covid; 9/11 (note: there have been a few deaths in the family including dogs – these all win, but can’t pick favorites)
42. Chez Es Saada; Madame X; Niagara; Belmont Lounge
43. The Flintstones; Looney Toons; Superfriends; Scooby Doo
44. Ohtani; Brady; Jordan; Gretzky
45. Wall to Wall Sound & Video Willow Grove; Napster; Columbia House; 94 WYSP Labor Day 500 Countdown Contest
46. The Simpsons; Arrested Development; Curb Your Enthusiasm; Seinfeld
47. David Gilmore; Neil Young; Trey Anastasio; Jerry Garcia
48. Tokyo; Venice; Tel Aviv; Paris
49. Erin Grey; Tiffani Amber Thiessen; Natalie Portman; Michelle Pfeiffer
50. Any Day at Camp or College; My Wedding Day; Birth of D; Birth of Z

As always, thanks for reading.

Happy 4^th!

IDROS