Posted by Bill Cassell on Aug 21, 2017

PP Murry Gives Classification Talk.

Wearing a sheepish grin, Charlie V. wandered casually over to my table.  “You’re a short-timer, right?  Here!”  He thrust a sheet of paper onto the table beside my plate of fried chicken, pastrami, tomato-sauced pasta, shaved ham, cheese, mixed green salad, broccoli, and cauliflower.  My chocolate chip cookie disappeared beneath the paper.             “Had a no-show,” he mumbled.         I nodded. 
 
Before I could pull out my Bic, Pres. Lori range the bell authoritatively.  There was a scuffle of feet as a baker’s dozen plus one, plus one visitor stood up and faced the flag.  PP Spencer intoned “I…,” and the meeting began.  Charlie V. cleared his pipes and began to sing the first verse of “America,” only to be drowned out by the collective assembly.  After the last note had drifted into thankful oblivion and my ears had stopped ringing, PP Nick C. thoughtfully gave thanks for the grub and for the fellowship that brings us together without a court order.
 
The only guest today was ADG Jim Major from the Woburn family.  Charlie V. again led the club in a spirited rendition of that old classic, “The Lexington Welcome Song.”  Someone called out, “Don’t let it lag,” in memory of Henry “The Shooter” Latta. 
 
Tears filled PP Dan B. eyes, and he expressed some difficulty keeping in touch with the tune as it was sung.  My impression of what he said was, “Hey, how about getting a recording of those songs, so there won’t be a chance of making our guests gag when we sing?”  (I wasn’t wearing a wire so I can’t be sure.)
 
PP Dan O. observed that Charlie had changed key mid-song, which, you may recall, is acceptable on any roadside chain gang detail but only in the absence of armed guards.  Pres. Lori tried to calm inflamed tempers and sore eardrums by remarking that “We are a work-in-progress.”  In support of Lori’s remark, I thanked the folks for their feedback and suggested that we just needed to keep trying to improve.
 
PP Don M. implied that we were nuts to keep doing the same thing over again and expecting different results.  Good point!  (Later I researched what our brains actually hear when we sing in a group:  It turns out that our own voices produce most of the sound that we hear in those situations.  Mmmm.  Maybe the problem isn’t “out there?”)
 
Lowell Spinners Tickets (Monday, August 28, game) are available for $15 each, which includes a hot dog and drink.  Contact Pres. Lori for tickets.
 
Blissful Bucks:  Treasurer Alan A. gave some bucks for a terrific “work-related” weekend of food, drink, kick-boxing, and convivial companionship.  PP Dan B. contributed to celebrate the “terminal capture” of the Barcelona attack vehicle driver.  I passed on some delighted dollars to celebrate my 45th wedding anniversary to the same wonderful wife.  Thanks, Bernadine!
 
PP Nick C. would like to see a greater and more varied turnout of seniors at our Senior Barbeques.  We are tending to get mostly residents of the villages.  PP Bob S. suggested that we might consider one BIG barbeque at the Seniors Center with promotion throughout the town, and possibly transportation for seniors.
 
Today’s Classification Speaker:  PP Murry A. shared that it was difficult to leave his dentistry practice, as he truly loved what he did.  He continues to teach dental surgery, albeit voluntarily, at Tufts and remains active in dental associations.  It was a career that he really enjoyed since he was helping others have better lives.
 
While he grew up in Malden with a fraternal twin brother and a sister, his family has roots in Russia.  His father escaped from Russia at the time of the Bolshevik Revolution.  His mother moved to Constantinople.  As World War II was beginning, his parents met each other in Paris, which they wisely left prior to the Nazi invasion, sailing to America.  A relative offered them work in his Baltimore restaurant, but Murry’s mother was uncomfortable living in a place where racial discrimination was still practiced, so they ended up in Malden.
Some of Murry’s European ancestors were dentists, whom he admired.  When it came time to choose between medicine and dentistry, Murry chose dentistry, which, judging from his love of the work that he did, was the right choice.
It was interesting to learn that Murry learned and spoke Russian at home; and, when he was on a trip to Europe, he had no difficulty speaking authentically accented Russian with Russians.  Спасибо, Murry!  (How did I do with Cyrillic symbols, Murry?)
           
Raffle gifts were donated by Wagon Wheel Nursery (fresh corn), ARLEX, Patriot Community Bank, Wounded Warrior Project, and PP Don M. (homemade grape jelly and homemade Bedford peach jelly).  Note to jelly winners:  If you return the empty jars, you may be blessed with more jelly.
 
The 50:50 Raffle prize of $35 was won by SAA Alan.  Congratulations!
 
                                                                                                Submitted by PP BC
 
  • Next meeting is at 12:15 on Monday, August 28, at the Lexington Golf Club
  • No meeting on Labor Day, September 4.
  • Senior BBQ Dates:  September 26, 27 & 28 (More to come soon!)
  • NOTE:  The joint meeting with Concord for the District Governor will be rescheduled. (Will not be on September 28.)