Cousin Neil Remembered, 5 Years Later

There is much really personal “stuff” involved, when I recall my cousin Neil, who died 5 years ago.

Today some less personal and brighter thoughts, as he had total recall about the cars that the neighborhood adults owned.

He “piled” my plate with food when I turned for just a bit, making me look like a “glutton,” at a couple of Passover Seders.

He was not into sports and there is still one precious piece of old film somewhere, in which Neil, age say 8, is walking through our little football game. It was as though a spectator came on the field and was walking through the action.

Our fathers “dressed” us on one occasion at “Freedom Land,” with interesting “headgear.” You ought to see Neil’s smile and that I do, somehow, through all the misses and memories.

Neil once had a white Corvette and collected vintage cars.

Here’s one: I cited Neil’s lack of interest in sports, yet somehow for some reason he attended game 6 of the 1977 World Series.

In that game, “fellow vintage car collector,” Reggie Jackson smacked 3 home runs, leading the Yankees to their 21st title and first in 15 years.