MOM'S GOLD RING by John W. Cassell

JULY 8, 1962 ....my mom took my brother and me on a train trip around the country.  Looking back on a rather full life I truly doubt any event was more significant.

As we eagerly awaited the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines train to pull out from the station in Atlantic City, she told us of the Lebanese custom of the father giving his son a gold ring to give him a start in life.

"This is my gold ring to you," she said.  "Knowledge as only travel can teach it.  Use it well and it will bring you countless blessings throughout your life."

I was a neurotic fourteen year old at the time.  Yet despite my best efforts, I was captivated by the diverse experiences encountered along the way.

--I sat next to a correspondent to Washington from the Kansas City Star.  He told me many stories of Kennedy's philandering.  Since he always presented to the voters as the "good Catholic family", I asked him how come the people weren't told.  "It's the president's private business," he replied.

--Chicago's Italian food was truly fabulous...and I enjoyed being in the land of Al Capone and Frank Nitti...being a faithful viewer of The Untouchables at the time.  Thoroughly enjoyed seeing a White Sox game at Comiskey Park.  Early Wynn was on the mound for Chicago.  Umpire Hank Soar made a VERY unpopular call. 

--In El Paso I saw my first "western lightning", was fascinated by the black alligator in the central plaza and thoroughly enjoyed Mexican food.  We didn't have stuff like that back home [only the finest deli food in the world].

--In Tucumcari, NM I was bug-eyed at all the unoccupied land!  All the men wore cowboy hats, and the only time they removed them was when in the presence of Mr. McCoy, the cattle buyer.  I bought a cowboy hat.

--In Albuquerque...home of Ethel Mertz...I enjoyed the shade and ambience of the Alvarado Hotel and looking at the mountains they showed on I Love Lucy when they all went west and stopped at Ethel's home town.

--In Salt Lake City I had a fascinating talk with an old farmer who told me in great detail of the sins of Vice President Wallace and the New Deal.  I marvelled at the Tabernacle and saw a lot of signs for a guy named Bennett who was running for the US Senate.

--Salt Lake was amazing...you couldn't stop floating no matter what you did.  You wound up with a crust of salt on eyebrows, hair and other exposed surfaces.  I gazed at the huge mountainous island in the middle where resided the last herd of Buffalo.  I appreciated the absence of seaweed and sharp shells to step on....learned that the tiny creatures all around me were brine shrimp.

--On the Santa Fe Railroad's El Capitan I saw my first desert by the light of a full moon.  The whole world was black and silver. I thrilled to the cactus and all the cowboy scenery....it really did exist!!!!

--In Los Angeles I thought everyone I met was a movie star, particularly those driving convertables wearing red sport jackets...or at least a talent scout.  I hammed it up at poolside but alas went undiscovered.  I did see Davy Crockett eating lunch at the Brown Derby...no foolin'.  I saw 77 Sunset Strip!!!  Unfortunately Jacqueline Beer wasn't there at the time, nor was Kookie, nor Bailey or Spencer.  But what the hell, I saw it!  There was a fantastic Mexican restaurant on Olive Street.

--San Francisco was amazing...from the thickest malts in the world at Townsends on Union Square to those amazing cable car rides.  Alcatraz Federal Prison right out in the Bay. I spent hours at Lefty O'Doul's place.  I was a fan of old time baseball and they were impressed I could identify most of the pictures he had hanging up.  I met Lefty himself and got his autograph.  Very friendly people.  Our hotel on Grant Avenue was a trip in itself.  I would enjoy spending evenings in the lobby listening to all the different foreign languages being spoken. I saw the Phillies play at Candelstick Park.  Willie Mays made his basket catches...Art Mahaffey in relief for Philly.  I was there when Marilyn Monroe died.  "Good night, honey," were her last words spread across the tabloids.  Saw Alfred Drake, Marian Kirby of Topper and Sergeant Garcia of Zorro fame in Kismet.

--the Grand Canyon....the bus driver had a rifle mounted over his seat on the ride up from Williams...real Wild West stuff!  Never saw anything so magnificent.  Never knew it got so dark at night.  Never knew the sunrise was so beautiful.

--Saw the Pittsburgh Pirates play at Forbes Field.  Gawked at the Pennsylvania coal mines, having read the biography of John L. Lewis earlier that year.

--Met President Harry Truman.  Wotta neat guy!  Let a neurotic 14 year old talk to him all through his breakfast.  Gave me his autograph.  Our whole car burst into applause as he and Bess made their way back from the dining car.

*******

Three years later I chose to go to college in New Mexico.  Married a New Mexican girl. My kids were born there, and now I live there in retirement.

Guess you could say Mom's Gold Ring gave me quite a start in life after all.....

John W. Cassell is the author of eight books from autobiography to novels