Tape title stories

 The Late Harvest ?     This is a tale from the 1970's and exposes some of my criminal history. My early years on my own were those of poverty and a hippy lifestyle that meant few luxuries and rare nights out at fine restaurants. The only time I experienced any kind of the good life was at the invitation and selection of BC. It was from my Dad that I learned of another side of life beyond the comfortable middle class scene of the Gate. In this case, the subject was wine and my education involving the fruit of the vine. At the end of the sixties my idea of fine wine was Gallo burgundy, CK Mondavi gallon jugs, Mateus Rose and Lancers wine that was distinguished by the crockery bottle. My father was starting to move from his bad martini habit to a more sophisticated quaffing of good wine. He and my Mom even visited some wineries and they kept their home in Long Beach at a temperature amenable to the wine they were buying and not the humans who lived or visited Terraine ave. ...

       Maybe it was the Irish in our blood but Greg and I spoke a common language that I hope will survive somewhat with these humble letters. Because I knew some phrases would tickle him I went out of my way to use them. One of my favorites that was used for at least thirty-seven years was calling Greg and Lissy "you kids." The older we got the more fun it was to use the expression and when I waited to be picked up for a blessed trip to Lawry's by a septugenarian couple I might make my inquiry "what time you  kids coming by?" While he did not laugh when I said the phrase I knew it tickled the old man to be called this antiquated term. We also loved to use some wording that would have been frowned on by common folk but to us it gave greater meaning and sometimes respect for the situation.  We liked to call women both gals and broads with no intention of demeaning our betters. If Greg really liked a woman he might refer to her as "a great gal." As menti...