The Best of Life sometimes comes early!
With our love we have happiness, sadness, joy, peace,
prosperity, quarrels, but endearing love!
So this portion is dedicated to two wonderful people,
one I barely knew, and one that I have gotten to know all
over again in life.
Although one brother is absent, he will never be forgotten.
We have caused each other love, pain, and joy!
We have shared grief and happiness in our lifetime,
but we have matured and learned from the
lessons of life and all that it brings us.
It has conveyed a revelation of youth, peace, learning, maturation,
high spirits, hope, and most of all eternal love.
It is with love, gratitude, and joy that I honor my brothers in life and forever! I only hope and pray that I will be able to do that with all those that I touch in life…
Love, Dennis
This was the time of revolution and change. Clothes became more vivid, with colors and stripes as a sign of fashion. Hats and individuality were becoming more prevalent and change was about to happen. From left to right: Ray, Nonna, and Sharron, our first cousin on Paul and Jean’s side. Ray and Sharron spent much of their teen years together. This was taken at our home on Rome Ave.
This picture of Bobby was taken while we lived on St. Louis St. A photographer would come around and take pictures, bringing his own horse. Bobby showed signs of being a model, but I guess no one told him about it back then. Great picture and it shows how sweet and adorable (Roy Rogers) was.
At an early age, Bobby began using Roy Rogers’ name in elementary school. He was fascinated with him and signed his school papers with the name of Roy Rogers, as well.
Here we see Bobby dressed up. He did not know it, but he could have been a guest on the Dean Martin Show! Notice the great hair and tan. He must have been surfing that day!
Here we see Bobby and his friend Mitchel Sampson in our back yard on St. Louis St.)
Ray, who is shown in this photo, is second on the left in a school play at Desoto Elementary School.
This was in the front yard of St. Louis. Ray and I are enjoying one of our yard toys. We used this see-saw often and it gave us many hours of fun. The car in the background must be Dad’s, as is in many pictures.
I am guessing this is Ray on Dad’s car in the front driveway of St. Louis.
Here we see Bobby in grade school and he begins taking on the look he has today. You can tell he is set to become someone when he grows up! If you look into his eyes, he has already made up his mind about something. But, he also has the look of mischief!
Ray worked hard to become the skilled horse rider he was. He spent much of his free time at the dairy close to Armenia Ave in Tampa working with Tema Grey, his horse.
I had a new camera and wanted to try out different poses. Bobby volunteered to be my “model” in our home on Rome Ave.
Ray is arriving after driving his car (probably from school). He had such a wonderful step in his walk. This picture was taken in front of our home on Rome Ave.
Let’s go back a few years for a moment.
This early picture of Bobby, Roseanne, Sharron, and Johnnie dressed up. In the background are Joe Mistretta and perhaps myself. New clothes were purchased for Easter and I am guessing this is one of those times.
Here Bobby (on the right) is playing on the swing set in the back yard on St. Louis. You can see the apartment complex behind the swing. On the other side of the complex is where Aunt Mary and Uncle Tommy Zambito lived along with Phyllis and Roseanne.
This is the front yard of St. Louis showing the old car. I remember the front railing, since one or all of us got our heads caught in-between the wrought iron railing presenting a problem getting us out.
After the sale of St. Louis, our parents had planned to rent a house until they had a chance to build. They wanted to stay in the same area due to owning the store on Columbus Dr. and Mom did not want to learn to drive or be driven in order to go to work at the store. They ended up buying the house on Kathleen St., where we lived for a few years before building the home on Rome Ave.
This shows the back of our home on Kathleen Street and our first dog Poochie.
Our parents placed a pool in the back yard. Here is a picture of Bobby getting ready to operate his boat. You can see a small shed in the background that was built to house a wood stove, which Mom loved to cook on. It seemed to be so much work, but she enjoyed it and cooked on it often.
Even though many “treasures” come early in life; there is much more to come with each passing day. “Treasures,” that includes many maps in life, including a family that will bring many years love, happiness and new explorations. Of course, those “treasures” will produce much more than gold and silver can provide. They will produce Happiness and Joy that will remain in your soul for a lifetime.
So as time stands still for a brief moment, reality has already passed us by and for the next generation; they will discover the love of family, stories that will be told, legends that will be born, and of course, “treasures” that will be lost. Use this as a tool, find your own story, write it in your mind, share it with those you love, and create memories that can be shared for generations to come!
My final message (after almost four years of writing) is that I realize much more can be said, but I leave you with this thought:
Dream my friend,
As dreams become reality.
And as you wake
Realities become dreams… (DS June 2013)
Love,
Danny!