Throwback Thursday - The Notebooks

To clear up some confusion, the Notebook passages posted on Throwback Thursday were written by my father and found by me after he passed away. They were his attempt to tell the family history. He was in his late 80s or early 90s when he wrote them. Today's chapter:

My landing was not at East Boston airport [ed: Logan Airport]. We landed at a military airport and were put on a truck to get to Camp Devens. It was an overnight sleep. The next morning, we would be processed out.

I was shaving and I had a fellow on my left pushing his face forward and trying to get a look at me. I looked at him and figured that he was a little mind boggled G.I. He finally spoke to me and said do you have an Uncle Fred in Wellesley? I turned to face him and there stood my cousin, Arthur. We greeted each other. And he asked me how was I going to get home? Was someone coming to pick me up? I said by bus. So he said why don't you come with me, I'm being picked up and you can also see my father. He'll be happy to see you. And we can then take you to the bus stop in Newton. So I said ok. [ed: Arthur's brother] Charlie came to pick us up and I went with my cousins, we had gone through the process of getting our discharges, money due us, etc. Told that we should continue to see a doctor once a year. That we were in good shape and should continue to do so.

We got to Uncle Fred and he was in his glory. He had his Italian G.I. uniform on with medals attached and a bottle of liquor in his hand. He was one happy father. His sons were home. Arthur served in Europe, Tootsie had been been in the armor corps keeping rifles and artillery  in apple pie condition. Repairs, etc. with a discharge rank of Captain. The Todiscos like a lot of other families did their share.

Of course the stop delayed my getting home. But eventually I got to the bus. Got closer to Boston and finally the last trip to East Boston. On the subway I ran into Uncle Mike and we greeted each other. He asked me which house I was going to I said my wife. He said do they know that you are coming home? I said yet they expect me. But he insisted on coming with me. The old Italian mind set in. He thought they would be surprised to see me after years of being away from home, changed etc. That they could be shocked. It happened in some house where the returnee was going to surprise the family. In some cases it caused strokes, passing out, etc.

After the greetings I began to settle down and your mother was proud as a peacock. It was noon or after and it would be a long day after dinner.. It was a Sunday. We would go to my mother and father. It was a happy and tiresome day. Your grandmother was feeling her son from time to time to make sure I was all in one piece.