Happy Birthday, Geno!

Gene Kelly, Amherst College, circa 1947

This one is to convey personal birthday greetings to the memory of the very dear person pictured above.  My father, Eugene E. Kelly, Jr., who departed this mortal coil on St. Patrick’s Day Eve  four years ago after a bout with cancer, would have been 93 years young on July 31, 2016.  Gene loved music, he loved golf, he loved to write.  I guess this blog was genetically preordained.

When another great person, George Harrison,  was dying of cancer, Paul and Ringo went to visit him at the hospital on Staten Island in New York City where he was being treated.  After the visit, Paul and Ringo spoke to reporters.  One of the things that Paul said was that they each held George’s hand as they spoke to him.  Paul observed that it was the first time he could remember that he ever held George’s hand.   It was so incredibly poignant.  Those boys, then men,  had been through so much, for so many years,  and never had held each others' hand.  Not that men do a lot of that, but still.  It brought a tear to my eye, and I haven’t thought about saying goodbye the same way since.

All Things Must Pass, Indeed

Little did I know that these words, describing a Beatles’ goodbye, a member of the greatest band ever and a force in my young and adult life, would prophetically describe almost exactly my goodbye to the person I was closest to in my life.  

John Lennon’s death was heart-rending in many ways, most of all because it meant the Beatles would never be again.  Paul and Ringo will never hold George’s hand again. I will never hold my father’s hand again.  So, here’s a tribute to the great George Harrison, and the even greater Gene Kelly.  Let’s sing birthday wishes up to the heavens.  Let's also sing one of the Beatles’ greatest songs, as joy-inspiring as any song ever written, with lyrics which still resonate with deep meaning for me, and perhaps for Paul and Ringo, too.  And, please, sometime today remember to hold the hand of someone that you love, and feel happy inside.

Happy Birthday, Dad.  I love you!

Gene At His Beloved Ballybunion

I WANNA HOLD YOUR HAND

Songwriter/Composer;

John Lennon  

Paul James McCartney

Publishers: Songs Of Universal Inc.

Oh yeah, I'll tell you something
I think you'll understand
When I'll say that something
I wanna hold your hand
I wanna hold your hand
I wanna hold your hand

Oh please, say to me
You'll let me be your man
And please, say to me
You'll let me hold your hand
I'll let me hold your hand
I wanna hold your hand

And when I touch you I feel happy
Inside
It's such a feeling that my love
I can't hide
I can't hide
I can't hide

Yeah, you've got that something
I think you'll understand
When I'll say that something
I wanna hold your hand
I wanna hold your hand
I wanna hold your hand

And when I touch you I feel happy
Inside
It's such a feeling that my love
I can't hide
I can't hide
I can't hide

Yeah, you've got that something
I think you'll understand
When I'll feel that something
I wanna hold your hand
I wanna hold your hand
I wanna hold your hand
I wanna hold your hand

AMDG

Happy Independence Day!

Don't Forget Big John and his patritic fervor: