For Father’s Day, I thought I would share some of my father’s sayings and pearls of wisdom.
As the oldest child, I have been exposed to these the longest of my siblings and thus they are part of my DNA.
What follows is a blend of Borscht Belt kitsch and Old World philosophy.
Think of it as the World According to My Dad.
About his mental health:
I’m not well you know.
Bad jokes:
You know why electricity is cheaper in Lower Manhattan? It’s near the Battery.
When I die, there will be a sign outside our building and do you know what that sign will say? Apartment for rent!
I got called for a Charles Atlas ad. They want me to be the model for the “before” look.
You heard about the couple that planned to elope? The girl called it off at the last minute. You know how the guy knew? She threw a cantaloupe out the window.
If I go bald, I’ll just comb my eyebrows back.
How can you tell the bride is pregnant at a wedding? The guests throw puffed rice.
(My mom emigrated from Germany in the 1960s): Winnie was sent here by her government to marry the smartest man in America. She failed in her mission.
I’m going bald because my brains are making my head grow.
You look good. Who’s your undertaker?
How tall are you? Wow, I didn’t know they piled shit that high!
Italian
Con la rosa arriva le spine. (With the rose comes the thorns.)
Basta! (Enough!)
Don’t be a scooch! (Pest/pain in the butt.)
Ah, bah-fungoo!
It was really skeevatz. (Disgusting)
Stop being a gavone! (A pig/someone who is greedy about food.)
About food:
Are you going to eat that?
Are you going to finish that?
Let me just have a little taste.
If you go home hungry, it’s your own fault. (Said after hosting a big holiday spread of food.)
Let me taste it first to make sure it’s not poison.
It would be a sin to let that go to waste.
What did you have to eat?
Just a touch…Whoa! That’s good.
Discipline:
(After giving me a smack in the head): That was for nothing. Imagine if you did something!
Reliving his Navy days:
Attention on deck!
All hands on deck.
Philosophy:
I want you to have a clean living: No cigarettes, no booze and no women: It’s clean, but is it living?
The older I get, the less use I have for people.
You know what they say about marriage: The first 30 years are the roughest.
Tomorrow is another day.
Rome was not built in a day.
You’re my favorite horse even if you’ve never won a race.
I like to keep a low-profile — by remaining horizontal.
What sins did you commit that you have to work here?
Remember, always shoot for 200 percent, this way if you fall 100 short, you will still have a hundred.
Getting old sucks. I don’t recommend it.
Working in a job you don’t like is like taking sandpaper to your soul.
You know if I were not this crazy, your life would be boring.
And finally…
I’m proud of you buddy. Keep up the good work. Love you.
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