YAYYY!!! Grilling Season is upon us once again!
1982…
WOW! On our own property! Can’t believe I’m actually here, in Espyville with the woman of my dreams, staying in our little pop-up Coleman Camper, in the middle of the woods on our own land!
SO…now it’s time for me to cook dinner. WHAT??? This is definitely a “man’s job”…cooking hamburgers and corn in the “wild.”
BUT…since it’s pouring a deluge outside, I must revert to the tiny propane stove top inside the camper.
So, how do I turn it on??? Oh, yeah…gotta run outside and turn the knob on the propane tank so that the gas flows into the stove inside the camper. GOT IT!
Back inside. Turn-on the stove burner…light the match…then, light the burner. POOF!!! That should have been: light the match, THEN turn-on the stove. Oh, well! Anyway, got it going finally. Placed the cast iron pan on the stove…placed hamburger patties into the pan…started the pot of H2O for the corn…then, watch carefully.
MUCH LATER…
The patties are burned. The corn is hard as rocks. But, we didn’t care. Nope…didn’t even notice.
As the rain continued to plummet down, we shared our first meal in our own “home,” on our own land. What a phenomenal “Blessing!” one which is still with us today.
1984…CELEBRATE
GOOD TIMES, C’MON!
Mom and my dear stepfather, Joe, had traveled “up” from their home in Pittsburgh to celebrate the Father’s Day Weekend with us. Although Mom had been a resident of the area with my Dad since 1953, she had not returned to the area since Dad passed-away in 1975. The home on Collins Drive was sold, and I was, then, living on the East Coast.
But, now it was Time to rekindle all the Joy within our Hearts which the Espyville Area had planted so many years previously.
Joe had never been to this area before…so, the land, the lake, the critters, were INDEED, a tremendous surprise to him (A Surprise which he too held within his Heart till he left us in 1994). He LOVED everything he saw!
Mom insisted that we grill hamburgers and hotdogs and corn that day…outside, on the grill.
But, as in 1982, the weather was much less than cooperative. I can say that I have over the past nearly 60-plus years witnessed SEVERAL incredible downpours in our Region. However, that day in 1984 holds the “record.”
I simply could not start the fire. I suggested that we abandon Mom’s request, and visit one of the area’s fine restaurants for our evening meal. NOPE! NO WAY! It was grill time, once again!
Mom’s wishes came true. Inside a Sir Edmund Hillary tent, which I had from my exploits upon the Appalachian Trail, I started a tiny propane stove upon which to grill our repast.
SUCCESS! Burgers were raw… hotdogs were burnt…corn…well, you know!
Mom was ecstatic. Joe…well, the final meal I cooked for him before his Passing was at his request: and I grilled it with all the Love of my Heart.
1985…TURKEY TIME!
Knowing how much we LOVED to grill upon our newly constructed fire-circle. Carolyn’s Father, Gene ( a professional tool and die artist), hand-formed a rotisserie spit to use while grilling. BEAUTIFUL! What artistry and craftsmanship!
Deciding that we would test the merit of his work, we decided that our first rotisserie meal would consist of a full-fledged turkey on that spit. Of course, we had NO idea of the length of cooking time which would be required, nor the amount of firewood which would be necessary to furnish the blaze for the cooking of that bird. Moreover, I had the week prior to this weekend, severed a tendon in my right hand. The tendon was stitched back together via a local E.D. staff…but, my hand and forearm were encased in a cast! SO…
Anyway, as the afternoon gave way to evening…and, the evening melted into midnight…and, midnight merged into the early morning hours…I manually continued to turn the spit, and its occupant.
The turkey was delicious! It was the basis of a “breakfast” which we will never forget!
1998…A PARTY!
Unbelievable…it’s my Birthday! AND, the foundation “hole” of what would become our permanent home here in Espyville was dug and ready for the foundation to be put into place. My sweet Mom, was with us once again this weekend to celebrate the occasion.
In addition, we invited our two neighbors from across the road, two bachelors, who had purchased the lots across from our property. Both were former educators from the eastern section of our Commonwealth, and had traveled here, and fallen in Love with of Region.
I and Carolyn had developed immutable friendships with both of these guys.
As the afternoon began, we showered the day with Spiritual beverages suitable for the occasion. Then, late in the afternoon, I lit the fire in our expanded fire circle. WOW…what a great day!
HOLD IT! WAIT A MINUTE! Who’s that walking up the roadway. What? A litany of visitors from the neighboring properties on the main roadway? YEP! Ten…Fifteen.. No, more than twenty neighboring folks have come to visit. They smelled the smoke and wafting breezes from the meal cooking on our fire.
Hey, George, do you have anything to quench our thirst? Walking the 100 yards up the road REALLY parched our throats! Anything with alcohol would be most appreciated!
To fulfill their requests, our two invited guests supplied a few cases of beer, a “few” bottles of wine…and I, after making a hasty run across the Causeway, supplied a “few” bottles of Vodka and Bourbon.
The “party” lasted until WELL after the early morning hours. The bottles were all empty, strewn about the fire circle. The hamburgers, hotdogs, corn, steaks, etc. were all completely devoured (did our invited guests have any?)
Before dawn broke upon the horizon, the four of us simply laughed, and laughed, and laughed. After hugging one another, we parted for the day. Although we have today gone our separate ways, I’m certain that the “party” still lingers in our Memories.
AND, NOW
Once again, Carolyn has requested that we celebrate the weekend with a grilled meal.
The fire circle has moved from the area which now “houses” our front porch to an are beyond the rear of our home. And, of course I have a propane grill which stands ready to serve upon the rear deck.
But, somehow, something seems to be missing from the scenario.
Time to cut the grass (really, the weeds).
Open the door to the small woodshed housing the lawn mower. It’s been quite a while since I’ve been in this building, due to all the hospitalizations, etc., over the past year.
Where is that weed-wacker hiding? Pushing my way through all the effluvia, I come across a three-part item standing upright, hidden in a corner of the shed. There, still in all its original glory is that magnificent fire-spit created all those years ago by my beloved Father-In–Law, Gene Vogel. Dusting it off, I sit down upon the floor of the shed…failing to hold-back the tears of my Memories. Yesterday, I completed a lengthy treatment for the identical disease which claimed the life of Gene. Today, he spoke to me…as he did upon his final visit to our home in Espyville. His words: “What a PARADISE you and Carolyn have! I will always be here, when you least expect it.” Then, as I stood to gather my tools, I placed them into the wheelbarrow that Joe left to me.
SO…I cut the grass/weeds…then, I came into the house, hugged Carolyn, and proceeded to help with dinner…hamburgers, corn, and the LOVE of generations.
Gene was right: it certainly IS Paradise!
DEDICATED TO:
Eugene Ross Vogel…USN, WWII
Joseph Dominic Pazzula…USN…WWII
George C. Nowack…US ARMY/Devil’s Brigade, WWII