Midnight Mass at the White's

 Midnight Mass at the White's





   A glorious Christmas tradition enjoyed by everyone in Greg's circle and mine was the traditional post Midnight Mass celebration at Sighela and Doctor White's house oat 10504 Walnut  in South Gate. It worked for many years and was the place where Sighela made her famous and effective Irish Coffees that caused us to be merry and bright. The old people, in this case the like 50 year old adults would gather in the front room where Sighela held court and the unsupervised kids hung in the back where there was a den with space for smoking, drinking and  playing a sort of pool. Night Owls from all over the Gate showed and partied on after most Christmas eve situations were well over. In my case, my family's Christmas eve gig ended well before 11 and the trip from Long Beach crossed over into the neighborhood where action continued. The White house was a warm and inviting pad with plenty of food, booze and freedom to express yourself without being judged by fake religonists. Greg was a great fan of the concoctions made by Sighela who was as fine a woman as the Gate every saw. She encouraged us all and opened her doors wide open, even if some celebrants may sometimes stay a bit too late. A writer once remarked “Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.” Greg told a story of stopping by in the morning to pick up an article of clothing and seeing Dan Bresnahan filling an early morning glass of mostly vodka with a touch of orange juice to help greet the new born king. The midnight mass scene lasted many years and was a place where you would always find the finest South Gate fellas like Ed Carroll, Johnny and Paul Knowlton, Billy Hogan, Greggo, Timo,  myself, and many others who truly celebrated the gift of life in the Gate.


                                            St. Helen where the actual mass took place

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