A Ziesing Sisters enduro

 A Ziesing Sisters enduro







      When they call women "the weaker sex" they may be talking through their hat. A hat worn by many a patriarchal horse's patoot.  When you are describing the formidable Ziesing gals you may be left in the dust of one of their enduros. While Greg and I were both athletic I can't say either one of us were great in the endurance part of sports. My younger companion was overal stronger and could keep pace with his bride for the most part. On my wheezing attempts, I struggled to keep up with this "weaker sex." It amazed me to see the sisters swimming around in the middle of squam lake together, talking and laughing while I felt making it to the float was challenging. Only, after many years I realized they knew the waters of squam and there were distant parts where they could actually touch the bottom without drowning. On my earlier visits to Bear Cove social director Lissy organized hikes and even a terrific canoeing adventure that left my paper pusher arms exhausted. I may have to deal with Earl the canoe master later. However, it was the climbs up Mt. Washington, Cardigan with the tricky exposed tree roots on the trail, East and West Rattlesnake and robust Chocorua that caused this gentleman to reach into the testosterone bank to finish the trip. Greg liked to laugh at the memory of my exposed, large calves showing through the screen door of my  accustomed bedroom off the sitting room where my collapsed form rested after one of the Ziesing sister's enduros. My wimpy fear of heights kept me from climbing as high as the children did without a care but my best buddy stayed with me in the mountains claiming a hernia was bothering him. I truly believe he was protecting my male ego. The only more challenging feat than keeping up with the Z-girls would be keeping up with Emily Ryan, related to the Ziesings by her Gus connection. 






Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Paul Knowlton's White Lotus

Image
 Paul Knowlton's White Lotus \      It is ironic that this post is titled something that means nothing to the protagonist. Paul, Zeke, "the Prince," "Senor Suerte" or the Snail (I never called him that.) My old pal just created a memorable vacation on the island of Oahu where the mean old world was a far off nightmare and the closest thing to stress was choosing which kind of massage you would request. Paul was the second friend in my life and we grew up about a block away from each other. We were Catholic boys and loved sports that created a bond lasting seventy years. This connection continued from grammar school to High School, to Community College to University. We were roomates from 1968 to 1972 and our families had a solid respect for one another. Paul grew up in a family of nine kids at a tract house in South Gate when the common man lived the American dream. Then again with 11 mouths to feed the American dream can only stretch so far. It is a cliche but ...
Read more

alright mother

Image
  alright mother- “You can find poetry in your everyday life, your memory, in what people say on the bus, in the news, or just what’s in your heart.” —Carol Ann Duffy  Greg was always delighted by a story told by his mother in law about a "sortie" dinner party attended by a Doctor "Putty" Putnam who had been forced to attend an opera by his wife. When asked by a clueless guest if he enjoyed the opera, his response was  "fuck you!" When I was visiting Bear Cove and sitting next to the matriarch Greg goaded her into telling the tale. But a rum n' coke had loosened "Minnie's" tongue and when she got to Putty's answer she blurted a rather hard FUCK YOU!  Roy, hearing his bride curse thusly said across the table "Alright mother!"
Read more

Athletic Club Flower shop

Image
  Athletic Club Flower shop      This phrase is actually the telephone greeting at Greg's uncle Johnny Tassano's flower shop at 808 W. 8th street near Flower street in downtown L.A. Greg loved the place and culled many a story and line from his experiences at a place he worked and visited fondly. Even when he wasn't employed he drove around with cousin Kent (Kevin Smith) and they had a ball observing the absurdities of modern living in the Southland. The phone was answered by different employees and each had a unique turn of "Athletic Club...flowershopppp" There was owner John Tassano, right-hand man Ronald P. Lord, "Speed," a delivery man, and Carmen who cut flowers and told odd anecdotes such as the origin of pizza. I believe Greg and Kevin could go on for weeks about the people they met on their deliveries as they set forth across the city of the angels to spread floral joy. This might include places to eat, fascinating neighborhoods, cemeteries, lone...
Read more