Yet another question that compels me to take a trip down memory lane, since I obviously have time on my hands. I’m convinced now that the purpose of this weekly exercise is to catch me at the first sign of dementia so I could quickly be put out to pasture. As it should be, I suppose.

I have been blessed to experience so many happy occasions and events, far too numerous to enumerate in one essay. I’ll leave out my years in the seminary and the peace corps and focus on my years in the secular and undisciplined world. Taking a cue from my peer, David Letterman, here is a top 10 list of my happiest times:

10. Nickel Day at the Glen – Rocky Glen Park was an amusement part about 3 miles down the line from Scranton. It would pale, of course, against the massive theme parks of the late 90s and the 20s, but to me as a kid in Scranton it was so joyful. It had all the important rides – the Dodgem, the Whip, the Roller Coaster, and my favorite, the Caterpillar, and the marvelous Penny Arcade. Best of all, every Tuesday and Thursday was Nickel Day, allowing one to savor any attraction all day long for 5 cents a ride. I was a happy camper every time I was able to go there.

9. The St. Pat’s Festival – St. Patrick’s parish hosted a Block Party each summer. The event itself was held on three nights, but the preparation for it made it almost a week long activity for any parishioners who were actively involved. My Dad held fort at the Big Six Wheel and Uncle Bill worked in the concession area. There were games of chance, bingo, pony rides and a hayride. To open the Block Party each night there would be a parade which marched right in front of my front porch. It was for me always an exciting mid-summer happening.

8. The Diving Horse – When I was 11 years old my Dad took my sister and two of her high school girl friends and me to Atlantic City for a 4 or 5 day vacation. It was the first time I saw an ocean and a beach . It was the first time I stayed at a hotel (the Hotel Dennis, right on the boardwalk). Dad bought what one would call a cabana suit for beachwear, and it was the first time I saw him don anything so casual (or, in those days, hip). Spending time with Dad that week and seeing a totally other side of him is a happy memory. And in addition, as icing on the cake, I saw the famous act of the horse who dived off the Steel Pier on the boardwalk into the waters below.

7. The M&M Boys – My Aunt Mary (who was my Godmother) lived in the Bronx. In the summer of 1961 my Dad and Jackie and I visited her and saw quite a bit of New York City. The real reason for the trip, though, was to catch a couple of games at Yankees Stadium. It was the year that Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris were chasing Babe Ruth’s home run record. We saw two games. Mickey hit a homer in one (which greatly pleased Dad because he was an unabashed Mantle fan) and Roger (my favorite) hit a homer in the other. That was thrilling and I have to put that trip on the top 10 list of happy times because it was the first time I saw the Big Apple and I was enthralled by the sights.

6. Ten Pins Competition – If I may, I would like for a moment to be a bit immodest. I was a pretty good bowler. While in the last two years of high school and my four college years I bowled in up to three leagues, a boy among men. I had a ball with yellow steaks on it which my competitors called a “banana ball”. Also, my style was atypical. Instead of keeping my arm close to the body during delivery mine flung out, giving rise to others jealously describing my approach as “flying elbow”. Let them have their jollies. My flying elbow banana ball rolled a 653 series in the championship match of the Servicemen’s League in 1965. Why is this on a top 10 list of happiest times? Because I won, man.

5. My first AA Involvement – Staying on script now with NYC. In January 1966 I was one of ten accounting majors at the U of S to be selected for a 3 month internship with a Big 8 international accounting firm (Arthur Andersen & Co.) in New York. Since I had attended my hometown college this presented my first opportunity to be on my own. I stayed at the Hotel Bedford near Grand Central Station and worked on audits of major companies with offices on Madison and Park Avenues. The social life was enjoyable. I loved living in New York and the emancipation I felt. As I look back on it now the internship experience was a happy time that more importantly helped me grow up.

4. Across The Pond and Down To The Caribbean – I have to include my two trips to Ireland (with my sister and brother-in-law, and years later with all of my sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren), my trip to Italy, France and England (with PJ and Jake), and to Puerto Rico (with my Dad, and years later with Chris and family) as among the happiest times of my life. I thoroughly enjoyed being with family on those excursions. My regret, of course, is that my wife was not on any of those trips. She would have loved them. But, hey, we did do Hawaii, Vancouver and Montreal, and see # 1 below.

3. The Eastern Shore – I so looked forward every year to the vacation time at Ocean City and/or Bethany Beach. It was such a welcome respite from my work and a treasured opportunity for family time. I still have fond memories of the Ocean City boardwalk, the Jolly Roger, the Chantilly Cream at the Bayside Skillet, the miniature golf competitions that I always won, the Fenwick Crab House, the Bread Lady at Harpoon Hanna’s, the ducks at BJ’s on the Water, the Rehoboth Sports Complex, and the movies on bad beach days. At my wife’s insistence I was always put in charge of the daily schedule of activities and I think I did a pretty damn good job. At least I never heard anyone complain about it. I wanted to teach my sons that structure is a good thing.

2. Weekends Near Walnut Hill – Hopefully this is not too trite or pedestrian, but truth be known weekends at 8943 were consistently happy days for me, so they deserve a high standing on this list. They were surely a relief from the work week (although I often went to the office on Saturday morning). It was the big breakfasts, the Sunday papers on the screen porch, the sunrise tennis games with neighbors, the water slides in the backyard, the movies in the afternoon, the dinners out, the baseball, football or golf on TV, and sometimes even shopping. Plus, I only had to mow once or twice a season after my wife accused me of indiscriminately mowing over plants.

1. Trips With My Betrothed – My wife busied herself with raising spoiled brats and I busied myself with serving spoiled clients. So when we had the chance to get away it was always so welcomed and delightful for me. I hope it was for her as well. Nothing, of course, can surpass our cross country blind date. But in addition to the Eastern Shore trips, we had during our married life wonderful times traveling to and visiting Colorado, California, Atlanta, Florida, Maine, Seattle, New York City, and Boston (not to mention Pittsburgh, Scranton and Johnson City). Certainly, the time I got to spend with her away from the stresses and pressures of everyday life has to rank at the top of my happiest times list.

While perhaps not qualifying as happiest times, I do want to mention in passing a few delights that provide me with happy moments: a black and white cookie, a tray of Maroni’s round pizza, a pinochle game, eight ball pool, a Krispy Kreme donut, a pedicure, a Neil Sedaka mini-concert, and any movie featuring Geena Davis, Diane Lane, Leslie Mann, Amy Adams, or Emma Stone.