’Round the world with hamburgers
Tough times mean we need to understand the impact we have on each other
Burger buffs have many choices in the Lehigh Valley. Here’s a new one: a Catasauqua restaurant serving hamburgers with toppings in international flavors, from Italian to Mexican to French to Japanese. See Retail
I spent my earliest years in a half-double home on the corner of 18th and Allen streets in Allentown. Back then the 19th Street area was, much like today, a rockin’ business district. There was the 19th Street Theatre, Roxy Hardware, Rabenold’s Paint Store, Harry Houck’s Drug Store and that beautiful bank on the corner of 19th and Liberty streets.
My mom walked me to that gorgeous structure one day to open a savings account. “Save your money,” my Irish Depression-era grandmother Toolan would tell us. “You’ll need it someday!”
The Depression really left an imprint on her and millions of others. To this day I find myself squeezing and pounding every last drop of toothpaste, mustard jars and detergent bottles — knowing she’s smiling on my efforts.
Given my first name is Terrence and middle Anthony, my mom decided all my documents and my savings would be under T. Anthony. She felt it had the trappings of a successful executive-type of that era. Although never pretentious, she was big on speaking, behaving and dressing for success.
My grandmother lived above the 19th Street market across from the theater. I loved staying at her apartment and running down the stairs to buy my Archie Comics and MAD Magazine. The throngs of people going to the movie theater, the alluring smell of the food from the market and the busy streets made for an environment I couldn’t get enough of.
At the same time, the family business grew along with what seemed like a new brother or sister almost yearly. So, my dad packed up the family of nine and moved us westward to a single ranch in Allentown’s famed West End. Our new house had a field next to it and my dad had a small macadam basketball court built. With a million kids in the neighborhood, it was 24/ 7 fun and more of what felt like heaven on earth.
During my Allen High days, I could begin to somehow sense our Camelot was coming to an end. I can still clearly see the day my dad had representatives from his poultry supplier meet at the house in order for my dad to sign our beautiful, packed-full-ofkids home over as collateral. My dad believed in his heart of hearts that he’d turn the business around and everything would be fine.
That, unfortunately, didn’t happen and our family had to pack up and leave our beloved home. The older siblings got apartments and the younger kids moved to a larger apartment with my parents. It was a tough time. Somehow we all survived.
But it was good people who got us back on our feet. Decent, kind, caring people. My uncle told me that Mack Trucks was hiring. So there I was — badge number 9106 — making real money as a proud member of the United Auto Workers. Isn’t it ironic that the president of the Chamber of Commerce was saved by the industrial-era labor movement?
My dad ended up at Western Electric, again a lift up from one of the labor leaders. He liked my dad and opened doors for him to get him a job. By this time, I was selling real estate. One of my wealthy clients sold my credit-challenged dad a quaint row home in west Allentown and took
back the mortgage. He knew my dad working two jobs would make good on the payments. And he did.
I was quickly learning the wonderful nature of people. Folks whosawtheir struggles in us and were quick to lift us up. Andgiven the work ethic myparents had and passed on to us, weappreciatively grabbed every opportunity and worked every ounce out of it.
I’m writing this because like so manyof you, I miss people. I never wanted to be 6 feet away from others. I never wanted their gorgeous, smiling faces covered. I miss the handshakes, hugs, kisses on the cheek. It’s connection
— an expression of love for one another. Even a quick “Hello” as wepass reminds us that all’s good in the moment.
I knowandaccept that we must be cautious as welearn to better deal with the virus until we get a vaccine. But I can express mydislike for this world we’re forced to live in, can’t I?
Barbra Streisand had a very popular song that went something like “people whoneed people are the luckiest people in the world.” I need people. Tons of people. Andgiven mylife’s twists and turns, I’m one of the luckiest people in the world.
Let’s not give uponone another. It’s a time for more caring, less judgment and for us to understand the profound impact wecanhave on one another.
Astrong and determined attitude mixed with love for one another just might be a good recipe for success. Andweneed success. With the wonderful people of this Valley, success is just around the corner.