I just got back from my short but sweet visit to the Old Country around Newburyport, Mass. Bubbafest 08, consisting of seven specially selected friends going back to the earliest 1950s (we were practically infantile then. Really), was a big success. Hosted by the lovely and talented Janet Gillman, it was a rollicking stroll down Memory Lane.
Photo: Market Square, Newburyport, as I remember it
During this brief sentimental journey, I learned many things that delighted and astonished me. Such as...
1. Tom Bergeron is from Haverhill! I had no idea. He attended Yankee Homecoming in Newburyport* a few years ago, emceeing a kiddie talent show for free. What a guy.
Mr. Hollywood Squares. I have it on good authority (DK's) that Tom does not wash his hands after using the urinal. Tom, if you want Dick's address, call 867-5309.
2. Jay Leno is from Methuen! He attended his North Andover HS reunion a few years ago and had the place rolling, since he remembered everyone and told embarrassing stories about them. On the way in, Leno said to my friend Dick Kaplan, whose band was set to play at the event, "Where's the band?" That slayed Dick and his guys; Jay had used the line 834 times before.
3. Dick Kaplan is on the inside cover of a formerly famous, dead author's book! He and another kid are featured on the inside cover of Timothy Dexter Revisited, by John P. Marquand. They are pictured standing at Ring's Island on a crumbling dock, looking wistfully across the Merrimack to the spires of olde Newburyport. No wonder Marquand became one of Dickie's favorite authors!
4. Dickie's father, the lone doctor in Salisbury, Mass., had his picture taken with General MacArthur as he (Louis K.) knelt over a wounded soldier on some Pacific Island. The photo made the national papers. The caption read, "Dr. Louis Kaplan of Salisbury, Mass." in the Boston papers. The extended Kaplan family was incensed, feeling that they and their breathtaking town of Chelsea had been snubbed.
5. There has long been a large Gypsy population in and around Salisbury. The most numerous were the Stanleys, otherwise known as the Sewer Gypsies; they have been in cesspools for decades. A bit higher on the gypsy social scale are the Hot Top Gypsies, whose profession I think you can guess. At the top of the heap are the Fortune-telling Gypsies, with the handsomest men and the most beautiful women; they wear the biggest jewels, too. In recent time there have been many unhappy incidents among the gypsy clans, and many have left the area in a huff.
As to gypsy sightings in your area, query your local asphalt provider.
6. Dick sang backup on Jan and Dean's "New Girl in School"! Sorry, it was second lead. Or third.
7. Booger Eaton's real name is Kendall "Kenny" Eaton. Strangely, his wife didn't know about the nickname until Dickie told her. He reports no further contact with that branch of the Eaton clan.
As to the wine theme, it was New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. The safest choice at the local eateries, what with all the seafood. None of that oaky sweetness.
I bought some for the reunion. And I had a glass at Logan Airport's branch of Legal Seafoods at lunch today with a spicy hot tuna burger. I had a few different ones, but I have to say that Whitehaven SB is the most flavorful and has the longest, most layered finish of the three (the others being Oyster Bay and Babich).
* Follow this link to get a load of the Legendary Moonlite Surfers! Dick Kaplan's band. "Ancient but still rockin'. Cheap."
Whitehaven? Way too much residual sugar for me. Also: Gallo. But, de gustibus...
Posted by: Thor | June 29, 2008 at 10:03 PM
Yeah well, considering the options...
Posted by: Strappo | June 29, 2008 at 10:04 PM