Howdy Smoky,
I'm feeling a little country right now...lol
I was absolutely sure I was going to be a Medical Doctor since the 6th grade. Graduating Valedictorian of my high school class, confirmed that in my
mind. I graduated college Magna Cum Laude, but like quite a few of my colleagues I did not back myself up with Dental School applications because
I thought I did not need them. The major pre-med test was called the MCATs which unfortunately I took early to try to apply to three 6 year Medical Schools
in Rhode Island, Virginia and Maryland after only 2 years of college. BIG MISTAKE. They had what seemed like a million question about Organic Chemistry.
I had not yet taken this very tough course that all my pre-med brothers and sisters feared.
Now, I squeaked by with average scores, but they were not stellar. I took the MCAT exam again after 3 years of college, and they were considerably better
but the new score does not erase the old score. One's best chances for Medical School was in there own state and even in there own section of their own
state. Medical Schools would rather have you pay outrageous prices for Medical School in their state, and if it was in your own area, you were more likely
to practice there. Not to mention that New York City / Long Island had hundreds of thousands of applicants for maybe 1500 spots. The Board of Admissions
in this area were nearly all made up of Italian and Jewish Doctors and I was not. One last factor- in 1977 there was a trend to not always admit the science
majors. They wanted someone who had a major like Spanish Classical Art or Political Science (and the basic science requisites, of course) who also were
able to Ace the MCATs. I got many interviews at nearly all of the local Medical Schools in New York but, I guess was not able to convince them that I was
the quality they were looking for. ( I had to admit that I worked in a bar during college which I am sure they did not like. The ones who volunteered at the
Metropolitan Museum of Art or at the local Grumman Rocket building company and who's parents were going to pay for both college and Medical School.
I did volunteer also, but it was two hospitals, one in the Recovery Room at Memorial Sloane Kettering Cancer Institute (where I later looked for work) and
in the pap smear department of a County hospital in Queens, New York.
Am I blaming and rationalizing?... well yes, but I don't think I am too far off-base to reach the conclusions I came to.
I will tell Brandon that you liked his house and are a big Freddie Mercury fan. He is too.
Thread
Posts in chronological order
RBoulain,
In regards to your speculation about Truman Capote, I got the very same feeling despite loving his book.
(Did you see our dearly departed Philip Hoffman Seymour in the movie.)
Put THAT in contrast with the way Freddie treated me. Besides, Freddie is and was way more famous than
Miss Capote. (that is said in Freddiesque speak, and is not a quote from him...LOL
In regards to your speculation about Truman Capote, I got the very same feeling despite loving his book.
(Did you see our dearly departed Philip Hoffman Seymour in the movie.)
Put THAT in contrast with the way Freddie treated me. Besides, Freddie is and was way more famous than
Miss Capote. (that is said in Freddiesque speak, and is not a quote from him...LOL
...Philip Seymour Hoffman almost did a better at Truman Capote than the actual man...lol
please take that annoying "at" out in my last reply
Thor,
This Is not a question… just an observation.
I’ve been keeping an eye on this topic to the best of my ability and what stands out to me is that, you talk about Freddie just like I’m sure you would talk about any of your dear friends who don’t happened to be world famous legends. What that tells me is that, for you, Freddie’s core personality overshadows his other attributes that have dazzled the world. In other words, Freddie the friend has mad much bigger impression on you than Freddie the Rock Star and that says a lot not only about Freddie but you.
This Is not a question… just an observation.
I’ve been keeping an eye on this topic to the best of my ability and what stands out to me is that, you talk about Freddie just like I’m sure you would talk about any of your dear friends who don’t happened to be world famous legends. What that tells me is that, for you, Freddie’s core personality overshadows his other attributes that have dazzled the world. In other words, Freddie the friend has mad much bigger impression on you than Freddie the Rock Star and that says a lot not only about Freddie but you.
thundergod wrote:
Am I blaming and rationalizing?... well yes, but I don't think I am too far off-base to reach the conclusions I came to.
I will tell Brandon that you liked his house and are a big Freddie Mercury fan. He is too.
Yep, like it but not in a position to buy, lol. I hope he gets it sold soon, and sure he will, he made a great investment there.
I agree re the conclusions you came to, these things are a numbers game even for outstanding people, and so many factors can come into play, it's not black and white. Timing is a big factor too. In any case the work you've done is something to be immensely proud of.
Shvili wrote:
Thor,
This Is not a question… just an observation.
I’ve been keeping an eye on this topic to the best of my ability and what stands out to me is that, you talk about Freddie just like I’m sure you would talk about any of your dear friends who don’t happened to be world famous legends. What that tells me is that, for you, Freddie’s core personality overshadows his other attributes that have dazzled the world. In other words, Freddie the friend has mad much bigger impression on you than Freddie the Rock Star and that says a lot not only about Freddie but you.
Wow....Powerful!
Shvili and Rainbow,
Thank you for that observation. In a much earlier page someone asked me if I missed Freddie. I answered yes but no more or less than
I miss Joe Scardilli and John Murphy. That's what we were...a group of friends that I wouldn't trade for the world. How often are you lucky
enough to find such friends as theses? I am truly blessed and I love this tribute to our friendships.
Thank you for that observation. In a much earlier page someone asked me if I missed Freddie. I answered yes but no more or less than
I miss Joe Scardilli and John Murphy. That's what we were...a group of friends that I wouldn't trade for the world. How often are you lucky
enough to find such friends as theses? I am truly blessed and I love this tribute to our friendships.
Thor,
The respect and genuine gratitude you have for your friends stands out for me. Really like a family. The fact that you have maintained those relationships over so many year shows how powerful those bonds can be.
Not surprised that getting into a med school was so competitive, but didn't realize the extent that one's "pedigree" played a role. I'm always amazed when I meet people who knew what they wanted to be from a young age. As an undergraduate, I changed my mind multiple times, then went back to grad school to get a Master's in Teaching.
Wow, your parents lived in Levittown! I was there from 86-88. Have to be honest though, I never felt at home on The Island. I think anything north of Albany to people on The Island is considered the wilderness. I bet if I had told people I had to travel by snowmobile from place to place in the winter they would have believed me. LOL. (BTW, we Northerners are amused at what others consider "Upstate" NY.) While living there a coworker once remarked that she was traveling on the Northway at night, north of Albany, and didn't like it because it was so dark. That made me chuckle inside....we call that "night", and the darkness allows you to see the stars and the moon!
Your mention of the Grumman factory brought back memories...I took a NY State Trooper examination in an airplane hanger there.
But I did love Eisenhower Park. Used to roller skate there. Liked Orient Point at the other end of the island. But mostly I loved taking the LIRR into The City and roaming around.
Just curious...from what I've read, when Freddie moved from NYC, it seemed fairly permanent. Did you realize it would be that way when he left, or did you expect that he would be returning now and then to vacation?
The respect and genuine gratitude you have for your friends stands out for me. Really like a family. The fact that you have maintained those relationships over so many year shows how powerful those bonds can be.
Not surprised that getting into a med school was so competitive, but didn't realize the extent that one's "pedigree" played a role. I'm always amazed when I meet people who knew what they wanted to be from a young age. As an undergraduate, I changed my mind multiple times, then went back to grad school to get a Master's in Teaching.
Wow, your parents lived in Levittown! I was there from 86-88. Have to be honest though, I never felt at home on The Island. I think anything north of Albany to people on The Island is considered the wilderness. I bet if I had told people I had to travel by snowmobile from place to place in the winter they would have believed me. LOL. (BTW, we Northerners are amused at what others consider "Upstate" NY.) While living there a coworker once remarked that she was traveling on the Northway at night, north of Albany, and didn't like it because it was so dark. That made me chuckle inside....we call that "night", and the darkness allows you to see the stars and the moon!
Your mention of the Grumman factory brought back memories...I took a NY State Trooper examination in an airplane hanger there.
But I did love Eisenhower Park. Used to roller skate there. Liked Orient Point at the other end of the island. But mostly I loved taking the LIRR into The City and roaming around.
Just curious...from what I've read, when Freddie moved from NYC, it seemed fairly permanent. Did you realize it would be that way when he left, or did you expect that he would be returning now and then to vacation?
Hey the Rainbow continues to shine tonight!!!
OMG, I love the LIRR. It reminds me of my childhood. Going to my Grandma's apartment in the Washington Heights area, foolishly thinking I could somehow
speed the train up so as not to be late for the Beatles first TV performance on the Ed Sullivan Show that Sunday. Also the first time that Mom let my sister and
I go ALONE to Shea Stadium to watch the Mets play baseball. My sister (in Greenlawn) always offers to pick me up at JFK, but I say NO and convieniently
take the air shuttle to Jamaica and then the LIRR to Greenlawn. She says I'll pick you up in Huntington (near Greenlawn) there are many more arrival time,
but I know that the only double-decker trains go to Greenlawn and sitting in the top deck still gives me a thrill...HaHa
Oh Rainbow, worse than saying Upstate New York is north of Albany, most NYC residents consider Upstate New York as anything north of Westchester County..LOL
The Macy's fireworks at Eisenhower Park each 4th of July made me start looking forward to it the very day school was over for the Summer. I Ice skated at Eisenhower
Park with my first brand new Ice skates I got for Christmas. It was TOO HARD and I only used the skates maybe two more times. No, I did not make the Olympic
Ice Skating Team...so sad...LOL.
Freddie explained why he couldn't live in New York anymore, but it was that tax thing which I could never understand anyway.
OMG, I love the LIRR. It reminds me of my childhood. Going to my Grandma's apartment in the Washington Heights area, foolishly thinking I could somehow
speed the train up so as not to be late for the Beatles first TV performance on the Ed Sullivan Show that Sunday. Also the first time that Mom let my sister and
I go ALONE to Shea Stadium to watch the Mets play baseball. My sister (in Greenlawn) always offers to pick me up at JFK, but I say NO and convieniently
take the air shuttle to Jamaica and then the LIRR to Greenlawn. She says I'll pick you up in Huntington (near Greenlawn) there are many more arrival time,
but I know that the only double-decker trains go to Greenlawn and sitting in the top deck still gives me a thrill...HaHa
Oh Rainbow, worse than saying Upstate New York is north of Albany, most NYC residents consider Upstate New York as anything north of Westchester County..LOL
The Macy's fireworks at Eisenhower Park each 4th of July made me start looking forward to it the very day school was over for the Summer. I Ice skated at Eisenhower
Park with my first brand new Ice skates I got for Christmas. It was TOO HARD and I only used the skates maybe two more times. No, I did not make the Olympic
Ice Skating Team...so sad...LOL.
Freddie explained why he couldn't live in New York anymore, but it was that tax thing which I could never understand anyway.
Thor,
Great memories. Hope you caught the Beatles performance that night! The only thing I recall from the Ed Sullivan show was Topo Gigio!
So how old were you when your mother let you travel on the LIRR alone to the baseball game and are you still a Mets fan? I have been to Yankee Stadium, but not to Shea.
I loved ice skating as a child, but seldom do it anymore. I remember as a young kid I tried to do a simple, one-rotation jump (Like Dorothy Hamill). After all, one jump in the air didn't seem that complicated. Well, I fell down and hurt my tail bone. Never tried that move again!
You mentioned in a post a while back that after you moved to San Diego, you and Lee tried to get Freddie to visit you several times, but he preferred for you visit him in London. Do you have any idea why? With his touring/studio schedule, I wonder it he just found it easier to have you guys fly to him, or do you think he had some hesitation about returning to the US?
Great memories. Hope you caught the Beatles performance that night! The only thing I recall from the Ed Sullivan show was Topo Gigio!
So how old were you when your mother let you travel on the LIRR alone to the baseball game and are you still a Mets fan? I have been to Yankee Stadium, but not to Shea.
I loved ice skating as a child, but seldom do it anymore. I remember as a young kid I tried to do a simple, one-rotation jump (Like Dorothy Hamill). After all, one jump in the air didn't seem that complicated. Well, I fell down and hurt my tail bone. Never tried that move again!
You mentioned in a post a while back that after you moved to San Diego, you and Lee tried to get Freddie to visit you several times, but he preferred for you visit him in London. Do you have any idea why? With his touring/studio schedule, I wonder it he just found it easier to have you guys fly to him, or do you think he had some hesitation about returning to the US?
Hi Thor!
On your visits to Garden Lodge, has Freddie ever walk you around the house and show you his new acquisitions?
Has he explained his rationale behind each purchase of certain art pieces?
He must have have a picture in his mind on why he want it and where he would put it.
I was re-reading one of the books based on Freddie and his purchase of the Jacques Tissot painting, "A Type of Beauty" in which the artist featured his lover while she was near the end of her life, her fragility apparent. In context this painting was purchased at a very late stage of Freddie's life.
Link: https://www.jamestissot.org/Type-Of-Beauty-Or-Kathleen-Newton.html
On your visits to Garden Lodge, has Freddie ever walk you around the house and show you his new acquisitions?
Has he explained his rationale behind each purchase of certain art pieces?
He must have have a picture in his mind on why he want it and where he would put it.
I was re-reading one of the books based on Freddie and his purchase of the Jacques Tissot painting, "A Type of Beauty" in which the artist featured his lover while she was near the end of her life, her fragility apparent. In context this painting was purchased at a very late stage of Freddie's life.
Link: https://www.jamestissot.org/Type-Of-Beauty-Or-Kathleen-Newton.html
I can't believe this is at page 78. By far the longest thread ever on this forum, full of excellent dialogue and insight. Keep it coming, friends !
Anyone have some Skittles, I think I "Feel the Rainbow"
Hey there Rainbow,
Mom allowed us to go to the ballgame alone when I was 13 and my sister was 16. This would not happen in these days...lol
Sorry about the Dorothy Hamill bump to your derriere...ain't skating fun? NOT!
Yes, Freddie was more comfortable at home at the Garden Lodge after the Munich days and was not interested in traveling
other than for work. He felt it was better for us to come there. He became the ultimate homebody after Germany...and who
could blame him...at least the Garden Lodge was REAL.
Hey there Rainbow,
Mom allowed us to go to the ballgame alone when I was 13 and my sister was 16. This would not happen in these days...lol
Sorry about the Dorothy Hamill bump to your derriere...ain't skating fun? NOT!
Yes, Freddie was more comfortable at home at the Garden Lodge after the Munich days and was not interested in traveling
other than for work. He felt it was better for us to come there. He became the ultimate homebody after Germany...and who
could blame him...at least the Garden Lodge was REAL.
Hi conundrumme,
Freddie was not into bragging about his possessions. We basically went on self-guided tours of the Garden Lodge and if we particularly
liked a piece of artwork we would just ask him. He never talked value or price. So, since I did not take notes...lol, I unfortunately do not
remember names, history nor meanings of his artwork. Now, if he owned the Mona Lisa, I would probably have remembered..lol
I looked at the page you directed us to and although I think the piece is stunning, I'd be lying if I said I remembered it hanging in his house.
Sorry I don't have more for you about this.Somebody must have cataloged all of his collection, or maybe Mary owns them now.
Freddie was not into bragging about his possessions. We basically went on self-guided tours of the Garden Lodge and if we particularly
liked a piece of artwork we would just ask him. He never talked value or price. So, since I did not take notes...lol, I unfortunately do not
remember names, history nor meanings of his artwork. Now, if he owned the Mona Lisa, I would probably have remembered..lol
I looked at the page you directed us to and although I think the piece is stunning, I'd be lying if I said I remembered it hanging in his house.
Sorry I don't have more for you about this.Somebody must have cataloged all of his collection, or maybe Mary owns them now.