Binds that Tie

A Graceful Kibitzing

(Writers note: third in a series)

When embarking on this journey (See: "Back to the  Beginnings" 6/3/17), I was thinking that the grave-site resting places I would stand over would all be blood relative family. My brother Hal apparently had other ideas. He was determined to pay homage to someone we literally owe our lives to- Dr. Alvin Weil- a well respected OB/GYN that delivered Hal and I into this world three years apart; and me, for God's sake, at 3:39 in the morning at the City Hospital of Akron! To this end Hal had located contact information for the late Doctor's son Harvey also an OB/GYN now retired. A Saturday stop at the Jewish Section of Rose Hill Cemetery became part of our itinerary.

Hal had placed a cold call to Dr. Weil, the son, earlier in the day and had a remarkable conversation. When my brother had mentioned visiting his father's grave site, Harvey was deeply moved. Consider that Hal had just explained how important Harvey's father was to our mother Jeanne. You see, she had gone through somewhere in the neighborhood of five miscarriages- all boys- when Dr. Weil Sr. took over. Hal had heard the story over and over how much Mom revered this man. And then there came Harold Jr (Hal) and yours truly three years later. So two boys, now senior citizens, in some respects owe our lives to this fine Jewish Doctor.

Harvey was so impressed that we would take time to contact him and visit his father's resting place, he came to see us at our hotel the next morning. He brought pictures and stories as we all kibitzed. The most amazing small world occurrence (see: "If by Chance" 6/9/17) was when he pulled out a picture of his father, mother Jeannette and Eleanor Roosevelt at a Bonds for Israel fund raiser.  Guess what? There is a picture that I have seen many years and hangs in Hal's home; a picture of our father with Eleanor Roosevelt at a Greater Miami Jewish Federation Bonds for Israel fundraiser!

Dr. Alvin Weil, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jeannette Weil

Harold Bosworth Sr., Elanor Roosevelt

Our father being a well known fashion merchant, a senior executive for Allied Department Stores in Miami, Florida, had deep and lasting friendships in the Jewish community. That same community named an annual award: The Harold B. Bosworth Memorial Mercantile Award, after he died in 1964.

I am grateful to have the foundation of this upbringing.  Our family is Christian. A fine Jewish Doctor delivered two boys of Christian heritage into this world against tough odds. The Hebrew custom is to place stones on the graves family and friends as a gesture of permanent remembrance. My brother and I had the privilege of that gesture at Dr. Alvin Weil's place of rest. Being Christian I believe I am forever bound to the people and land of Israel, just as my brother and I are forever bound to The Alvin Weil family. The Hebrew word for pebble is tz'ror which translates to bond. Often at the grave site, the Jewish people will pray and ask that the deceased be "tz'ror haHayyim"- bound up in the bond of life.

Brad, Harvey, Hal

Shalom Brother Weil.

Bradford Bosworth

June 2017

If By Chance

Take Nothing for Granted

(Writer's note: Second in a series.)

My brother Hal and I have embarked on our "Back to the Beginnings" odyssey. We had originally planned to swing through Delhi, New York first and visit our mother's grave-site.  But Hal and his wife Patti got a surprise visit from their daughter Kate and we adjusted our plans so Hal could spend more time with her on the back end of the trip. We moved Pittsburgh (Etna) to the front end of our journey.

Our first day was all driving: 9 hours, 568 miles.  Hal started out driving and never relinquished the wheel in spite of my protestations. Some dynamics never change in a big brother- little brother relationship. All is good though as we had a first day that was full of what I used to view as coincidences but now believe are graceful messages from the Creator and the relative angels serving as our lives' constant guides. The message this day seemed to be, "You both are on the right healing path that aligns with God's will."

Events have aligned for me this past year that have put in my path a person who has become immensely dear to me. She is special in ways that defy description. Her name is Patti and we have become and continue to grow close in each moment we are together. And we are together when we are apart. Well my brother Hal's bride of 37 years, also a special woman, is also named Patti, spelled in that same unique way.

Someone needs to teach these folks in

Connecticut how to spell.

A couple hours into the trip the two seniors had an urgent need to make a pit stop!  We also happened to be getting hungry. By impulse or inspiration we decided, "Lets pull off here at this exit." Just as we turn from the exit there is this quaint looking place appearing as a home offering all our needs. Where I use to say by chance the store was named "Patty's Pantry"; now I know these coincidences are small miracles.  As if it was not enough, while we were enjoying our grinders at a picnic table outside, a guy on a 2017 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic road up and parked right in front of us.  Maybe not such a big deal but his license was from Chatham County, Georgia! He was on his way to the northern tip of the Blue Ridge Parkway so he could ride it back to the southern tip.

We hopped back on the Penn Turnpike and headed west. As the sun was setting, I was lobbying for us to make it all the  way to steel town and suggested I could drive the last 2 hour leg. Hal was having nothing of it. He wanted to stop for the night.  I  finally surrendered and spotted a Hampton Inn on a distant hill and we pulled off at the next exit. After checking in we asked the gal at the front desk where we might find a good place to eat.

When we realized the town we were in

 was Somerset!

We lost our mom Jeanne in a car accident (more about that in another post) 24 years ago in the town of Somerset, Kentucky, where she lived with our step father Alfred Hamilton.  Alfred passed away there just a few short months ago.  We will be visiting their resting place in just a few short days. Take nothing for granted.

Amen Momma Jeanne and Papa Al.

Bradford Bosworth

June 2017

Back to the Beginnings

Pursuing Portage Path

(Writer's note: First in a series.)

In a few days I will ring in retirement with a headlong dive.  Like the first time going off the high diving board head first. Well here goes nothing, "GERONIMOOooooooo!"  Less than a week after my last day at work,  -or at least the work to which I have grown accustomed-, I will hop on a plane to Boston where I will meet my brother Hal.  Promptly we will travel by car to places that will put us face to face with our origins.  More importantly this trip will place two brothers -the last two remaining Bosworth siblings- together in close quarters for a complete week.  It just might be more time together than we have spent in our entire adult lives.  Certainly potentially the most quality time if we are up to the task. (Prayers needed here please.)

First Mementos

It just so happens that a fellowship to which I belong is holding an annual celebration in conference called "Founder's Day" in the city of it's origins. The city, Akron, Ohio, also happens to be where I and my brother were born.  As a family we moved from Akron in 1955.  Hal has been back. I have not.  I am seeking to find where the origins of this worldwide congregation and my own beginnings intersect. Certainly the paths must have crossed long before I joined the program in November 2008. For I believe there are no coincidences; only the large and small miracles placed in front of us by our Creator.

Bosworth Family Akron (circa 1952)

But first, two brothers have an appointment in Delhi, NY.  We will visit our mother Jeanne's grave site.  It will be my first  trip back  since we buried her 24 years ago.  I hope someone reminds us to pack a box of Kleenex for the trip.

Oh how rich is this life we live if we just let it be.  In spite of myself, I am still here to witness and accept the Love that is offered up and available in all moments, especially the most painful and heart wrenching.  I  will go back to Mom's resting place and share with my brother memories which are woven into the fabric of our souls. The Love of a mother, a most lasting, eternal thread forever part of who we are.

Amen Nana Jeanne

June2017

Young Boy Boogie

Can Am Jammin

It was spring circa 1978 and I was employed by Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, NC. My job was as assistant PR Director working for legendary promoter H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler. I will always view him as a modern day P.T. Barnum.

This particular spring we were hosting an SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) racing weekend with the feature race a stop on the Canadian American Challenge Cup. These exotic race cares were reverently referred to as Can Am's.  At best this event was considered minor league for a facility that would in a few short weeks be hosting the World 600- a part of NASCAR's figurative triple crown- where 125 thousand folks would show up to take part.

Being the "assistant" I was in charge of promoting the minor league events. We promote to attract the paying spectator and in this part of the south where love of stock car racing flows in the veins, exotic sports cars were a tough sell, so to speak. With "Humpy's" nudge we decided to couple a headline music act with the race and bill the spectacle as "Can Am Jam!"  It just so happened that an aging music legend was touring through the area and we were able to book the legendary Chuck Berry at a bargain. 

As I look back from the perspective of forty years, I remember Mr. Berry a humble gracious man who in his early fifties and past his prime was having the time of his life.  Parents had brought their children. There were lots of dads with their boys. When Mr. Berry performed his classic "Johnny B. Goode", he invited the boys to come on stage and boogie with him.  It was a grace filled scene.  One of our Speedway photographers captured the image in black and white.  It has been hanging in my home(s) forever since.  Every time I look at the smiles on those boys faces I know our Creator smiles just as wide and those boys- probably now fathers- have told their children the day they boogied on stage with the great Chuck Berry!

A few years later I went to see "Back to the  Future", a movie that ranks in my all time top 10. There is a great scene in which Chuck Berry makes an implied appearance in conjunction with Marty McFly's performance of "Johnny B. Goode."  For more on that: Back to the Future

Amen Brother Chuck RIP

Bradford Bosworth

March, 2017 

Leprechaun Promise

Break the Cycle

 There once was lonely leprechaun named Roe. He was born into a typical Irish family tucked away in the craggy hillside of the north mountains. In the years of his youth the times were difficult for his father who was struggling to make it to the level all Leprechauns of his family had striven for. It was a lofty place of fame and fortune. But Roe's father struggled with the grog which soured the disposition and many times the boy leprechaun would race to the outside to greet his father only to be cursed and rejected and sometimes beaten.

The young Leprechaun soon left home and began following the pattern of his household. Soon he had a family of his own.  The hurt he had held inside for years turned into resentment and he took to the same grog to ease the pain and followed the lead of his father.

Soon the older Roe was in demand as the Lonely Leprechaun at the big people's grog parties with fame but not much fortune. He found no pot of gold at the end of the rainbows and then the rainbows disappeared completely and he realized he was losing the love of his little boy.

One day he stumbled on a group of men meeting together to share their experience, strength and hope.  These men shared a common purpose and lived by a set of instructions and promises that they had all found in a book.  They were all living comfortably in their own skin for the first time in their lives. They did not carry their resentments any longer and brought the best of themselves to the world they lived in.

One day Roe's boy,  Loe, asked him if he could come to the school on St. Patrick's Day as a happy joyous and free Leprechaun so all the kids could see what a real Leprechaun was like.  And on this day Roe succeeded in breaking the cycle.

"As we felt new power flow in, as we enjoyed peace of mind, as we discovered we could face life successfully, as we became conscious of His presence, we began to lose our fear of today, tomorrow or the hereafter. We were reborn."

"The Big Book" How it Works pg: 63

'Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again." '

"The Good Book" John 3:3

Amen Brother

Bradford Bosworth

St. Patrick's Day 2017