First Posted: 6/5/2014
It seems the older we become a birthday is referenced as “just a number.”
Depending upon what number in our life is celebrated, that may be true. However, 95 is not just a number but a blessing from God. To be 95 and in good health and sound mind is indeed a miracle and only God can do that.
The miracle I speak of is my husband Chester Montante who celebrated this infamous number on May 30. He will tell you he is enjoying life to the fullest and is indeed grateful to the Almighty. Ninety five years – almost a whole century spanning his lifetime to which he has witnessed many changes that have transpired home and abroad.
Donning my “press card” and taking the stance of Barbara Walters and the fictitious Brenda Starr, I asked him to relate what life was like in his childhood. With a grand smilehe reminisces. His first thought was of the Roosevelt School located on South Main Street and a teacher called Miss Hart. “She had such wisdom,” Chet said. “Since all the students went home for lunch, there was a pattern of returning late or not at all for the afternoon session. Miss Hart created an incentive between the girls and boys. The team who had the worst attendance record for one month had to purchase candy for the other team.” Of course, the boys were always the losers.
“The neighborhoods were the best,” Chet continued. “All the guys came out to play kick the can, Red Rover, nip, basketball with tomato baskets and Buck Buck. It was especially nice when the girls came out to play.” Chet loved sleigh riding down Oak Street but that came to an end when he and his brother Charlie crashed into the pillar on the railroad overpass. Not only did Chet have a broken arm but a broken sleigh, as well. His sister Mary smashed it to pieces, seeing that would never happen again.
High school was especially great. Chet formed a friendship with two guys, Charlie Guinta and Sam Montione, that lasted a lifetime. Did they know as they laughed at their many antics that the bonds of friendship and respect would deepen and become eternal? Sammy and Chet contended that Charlie was the brains of the outfit. If not for Charlie, they would still be in the 10th grade.
The call to serve our country came before the beginning of the war. After basic training enroot to Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Chet was selected by the sergeant to be the bugler. The sergeant looked at him and said, “You’re the bugler.” Chet looked around and said, “Who me? I don’t know how to play the bugle.” “It doesn’t matter,” the sergeant said. “You’re the bugler and don’t lose it.” Chet guarded that bugle with his life. Where he went, the bugle went and it saw some interesting sights.
Music has been a love in Chet’s life and he has enjoyed singing, dancing and playing the kazoo. He and his brothers had the beat and could play a mean tune. While in the Army, he entered a talent contest and won, playing “Sugar Blues” for which he received a standing ovation. The next day, the contestants were to perform live at the local radio station. When they saw Chet’s selection was “Sugar Blues,” they would not allow it because ASCAP was on strike and forbade its music to be aired.
So he selected “Ida” instead, for which he was not prepared, flopped and got the hook. That ruined his aspirations of making it big time in show biz.
My Barbara Walters personality asks, “Mr. Montante, what in your estimation is the most remarkable accomplishment in this modern day?”
Thinking for a few minutes, he replied, “Communications. When I was born, radio and telephones were in their infancy. Look at all the new inventions – computers, Internet, cell phones, I-pads, Kindles and so many other apparatus that I don’t know and don’t want to know. Although I must admit, I do have a laptop computer and a Kindle that I enjoy reading e-mails and playing computer games.”
“Mr. Montante,” my fictitious Barbara Walters asks, “Tell us to what you attribute your long life.”
“There are three main reasons that I truly believe have given me an extended life,” Chet answered. “Love of God. Throughout my life, I have kept that forefront. The second is milk. I believe there is a magic in milk that sustains one. The third is love of family and I have been most lucky to love and be loved by my dear ones. A sense of humor, laughter, accepting life with its ups and downs calmly, kindness, gardening, golfing, reading, playing cards, singing , singing, and more singing.”
In chorus, we singingly wish you a “Happy 95th birthday and God’s blessings for many more.”
