Uncle Monte's 60th Surprise Karaoke Birthday Party
9/11/51
"Uncle Monte - Dr. Music"
60th Birthday Party
** A very good friend of mine, as well as the person who is in charge of my shoulder, my hip, my neck, my back and my very new knee, Gary, mentioned in conversation, that someone once told him - A man’s wealth is judged by his friends – well, if that is true, then have been blessed and I am truly a very wealthy man!!
** I would like to say “THANK YOU ALL” for taking the time to stop out tonight, to join me for this “NIGHT OF MUSIC AND FRIENDSHIP”
** I would like to say “THANKS” to the good people here at the “Mahoning Valley Country Club” for hosting this “NIGHT OF MUSIC AND FRIENDSHIP” and I wish we could do this more often !!
** As I look about I see people that I have met at different times of my life, so many little families that have developed along the way.
**First of all, would be my real family, Big Moe & Joyce, my sisters & brother & their families, forever grateful for their support, we are all different in many ways, but most important we are a family and are always there when one of us needs a friend.
**High School Family, really didn’t know what I was doing, just did it, mostly because some coach told me to or some girl told me not to.
**College, Kutztown Family (10 years, the 70’s) and I am only going to say one thing, “Holy Shit”, what a time, so many people, to little time, an adventure that truly deserves a book or perhaps a “mini series.”
**Ale House Family, 5 years, 3 words “Glen & Jim” - another adventure that might deserve a book or a mini series, Thank you so very much for the opportunity to have 2 great partners as well as 2 great friends.
**Softball Team Families, Tender Trap, Pleasant Corners & Ale House (way to many stories, not enough time), I will say this, there are so many stories that are associated with those 3 softball teams, however to sum it up, in a few words and perhaps a few letters, family, winners, lifetime friends, unquestionable loyalty, and might I say a bunch of (D&A). We all had our separate lives we lived, but when we got together to play that sport called, “slow pitch softball” there was one thing we all had in common and that was the attitude that we were going to win and we believed we could win and we did win, way more than not, we played together, partied together and then we went our separate ways, until the next game, so many Thanks.
**Your Place Restaurants (place I met my Loving wife Cathy), anything else that happened during the Your Place Restaurant part of my life, doesn’t come close to the Family I found and that is my wife Cathy and her family and friends, they really do, do things different in Hazelton.
**KidsPeace Family this was a turning point in my life and for that I am forever grateful to many people for many different reasons, Thank You
**Marriage, Truly changed my life forever. I am the person I am today and have the things I have today, because of this commitment and I am so very Thankful that I met my wife Cathy and her family and to all of them I am forever grateful.
**Karaoke Family, well, we would not be here tonight if it wasn’t for my Karaoke Family, you guys have supported my little Karaoke adventures and have given so many people, hours and hours of, “THIS IS NOT JUST KARAOKE, THIS IS ENTERTAINMENT, I am honored to be your “Uncle”.
**The latest Family, my Jim Thorpe Family. To all of you, I have to say, I am a lucky man – My Jim Thorpe family makes coming to work easy and getting through the bad days even easier. To the administration, I say Thanks for allowing me to be myself, to all my fellow educators and work wives, I say Thank You for you friendship and unending support. You guys are the greatest.
**Interesting - There is one word that keeps coming up throughout my life and that is “Family”.
Thank You All for being part of my Family !!
** All these stages of my life have been so very interesting for me and be honest with you – there are times I am amazed that I actually am still alive. I was once told, “a person can count his good friends on one hand” – I do not believe that for a second. I look around and I see many, many good friends – not only to me – but to each other. People who I simply made one phone call and said “come to the Mahoning Valley Country Club and have a good time” and here we are – some people who I have not even seen in several years and all I had to do was say – “LET’S GET TOGETHER AND HAVE A GOOD TIME” – look around – “HAVE A GOOD TIME”
** I had so many memorable times that it would take another 60 years to talk more about them – so I will not - however I will say – It has been one hell-of-a-ride up to this point.
“THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES”
As always - "Uncle Monte"