Author Archives: jimholleran29

    It’s hard to be so unhip.    I wonder if the world is passing me by or that I’m not in tune with this generation. Or maybe as a retiree I just don’t care.   But I’ve learned from my friend Jim that “of course’’ is supplanting the traditional “you’re welcome.’’    He wasContinue reading “I need a course in language of politeness, of course”

   In this age and political climate, you can’t imagine the U.S. president riding in an open-air motorcade through the streets of Ogdensburg with the Canadian prime minister, both waving to well-wishers and celebrating the cooperation between their nations.     But that’s what happened the last time a sitting U.S. president visited our border cityContinue reading “Imagine U.S. president, Canadian PM riding together in an open-air motorcade”

   This was a trip I hadn’t made since sixth grade – I’m guessing 1968 – but the first sight was surprisingly familiar. Pulling up to the Eisenhower Lock outside Massena, I immediately noticed the highway passing under the shipping lane.    That tunnel near Barnhart Island hasn’t changed since the St. Lawrence Seaway openedContinue reading “The lore of St. Lawrence Seaway is preserved at Eisenhower Lock”

   I’m certain we can find a 14-point addiction program or a support group for my editor of 41 years. We can’t drive down a busy street or suburban road without Mary imagining some treasure nestled within the junk people have left at the curb.   The minivan stops, the treasure goes in, the garageContinue reading “Becoming the poster child for 1-800-GOT-JUNK?”

    When you enter the Morristown Gateway Museum, the diorama depicting village life in the early 1900s will stun you. You’ll find homes and businesses recreated in precise detail. A marching band moves down Main Street. Railroad cars are poised along the waterfront as if they await the next shipment of Dr. Morse’s Indian RootContinue reading “Trades teacher became builder of museum miniatures”

   The edict came down from my personal editor of 41 years.    “It’s time to retire that line.’’    “You mean the one about going to the Coldplay concert?’’    “No, the one about marriage.’’      I protested: “But it’s one of my favorite punchlines.’’     “It’s old, it needs to go, andContinue reading “Coldplay wisecrack was first punchline to be retired”

   The 65-plus softball game had finished in 91-degree heat at noontime when I trudged – stinky and sweaty — to the parking lot along a main suburban street. I sensed the heat reflecting from the pavement and the stickiness of my T-shirt as I looked to the darkening western sky. A thundershower was imminent.Continue reading “Walking the fine line between acting kindly, appearing creepy”

  If you need to track down the Rev. Chris Carrara, try the Diocese of Ogdensburg offices on weekdays. Or perhaps he is celebrating a weekend Mass in Morristown, Hammond or Rossie. Or maybe you can catch him on his day off – Monday – working on a fire truck at the Morristown Volunteer FireContinue reading “Carrara wears collar at Mass, and police and fire emergencies”

   I had convinced myself that high school reunions were outdated. If I wanted to stay in touch with any of my 46 classmates, I already did so through social media.    So when the 50th reunion of the Morristown Central School Class of ’75 arrived last weekend, coinciding with Fourth of July festivities inContinue reading “50 years later, we’ve graduated to retirement, grandchildren”

  I see this online intermittently or I hear it on sports talk shows when I’m station hopping.   The commentator, obliged to fill his gig with commentary, asks his audience: “Name your Mount Rushmore of … .’’   You can complete his question. Greatest living baseball players? Greatest Nobel Peace Prize winners? Greatest U.S.Continue reading “Narrowing down a list of icons for Ogdensburg’s Mt. Rushmore”