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The above photograph was actually taken by my father while he was in the Army, stationed in Newfoundland, Canada in 1945. 

*my fathers handwriting on the back of the photo...



And I can only imagine what tremendous excitement it gave him to finally meet his all-time favorite Hoboken, New Jersey, Italian-born singing idol, Frank Sinatra, on the day he came to visit his military troop.

There were two things that my father had always wished about his life...

1) To be able to sing.

And 2) that he had gone to dental school to become a dentist.

A singing dentist, I guess? LOL!

My dad (who was also named Frank), loved listening to his treasure trove of Sinatra albums.

I have such vivid memories of hearing LP's playing on Sunday afternoons, while smelling garlic, basil, and tomato sauce emanating from the kitchen. Such Sinatra tunes as: Night and Day, The Way You Look Tonight, Witchcraft, and Come Fly With Me.

One day last week while I was standing in line at Starbucks, I noticed they were playing Sinatra songs, which immediately made me smile and think of my dad.

But what's interesting is that I never fully appreciated or really felt Sinatra in my soul until I got to the age of forty-one and was ironically cast in a play in which my character and the character who I was romantically involved with shared a scene together at the end of Act 1, where the two of us danced to a Sinatra song.

The play also included various other Sinatra tunes that were musically woven between each of the scene changes, so that every performance for me was like experiencing Sunday afternoons in the Carnavil family.

Little by little throughout the rehearsal process something shifted inside me, where I began to finally hear and connect to what it was that my father had always cherished about Sinatra; his voice; and the songs he sang.  

About midway through the run of the play, I officially became a full-fledged Frank Sinatra fan, finding myself singing his songs throughout the day.

And what was especially touching for me was that many times during that one particular scene in the play when I would dance with my partner, I could literally feel my father onstage dancing through me and smiling. 

It was as if Frank Sinatra had magically brought my father and I together again, as we both shared a common love.

"So, thank you Mr. Sinatra."

"And Dad...I finally now know why the hell you loved him so much."

My father, the other Frank (*the handsome young man on the right) - 


"I miss you, Dad. But know that I feel you anytime I hear Sinatra!" 


Have a beautiful weekend, everyone! 💗


26 comments:

  1. "I did it my way" ALWAYS brings tears to my eyes!!
    How wonderful to have two Franks to influence you and your life filled with memories!!
    Now if you ask me, that era in our history is the best!! I bet, after your revelation of how you liked his songs...you and your partner just GLIDED over the stage!!

    http://hootin--anni.blogspot.com

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  2. How fabulous that your father got the chance to see Sinatra in person! And it’s incredible that you were in a play that featured Sinatra’s music. I’m glad you were able to connect with him through your experience. My husband and I began to appreciate Sinatra when we were in our early 30’s. I have no idea how it started, but we began accumulating Sinatra CD’s. That music is timeless. Thanks for sharing these special memories of your Dad. I can never get over how much you look like him! XO

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  3. Such a touching post, Ron! I got a bit misty-eyed at the end. What a great story of how Sinatra brought you and your father together via the play. And may I ask, what was the name of the play and what was your role?

    Indeed, your father was a very handsome man. Don't you love old photographs? There is something dramatic about black and white photographs.

    My favorite Sinatra song is "Night and Day."

    Thanks for sharing this memoir, Ron. xo

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  4. Me too, Anni! LOVE that song!!!!

    And I agree with you 100%....that era in our history is the BEST! The music, the automobiles, the fashion, the whole style!

    "I bet, after your revelation of how you liked his songs...you and your partner just GLIDED over the stage!!"

    Yes, we did. It was my favorite part of the play. Every night I couldn't what to get to that scene. And I did that play twice, with two different casts and theaters.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a faaaaaaabulous weekend!

    X

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  5. "How fabulous that your father got the chance to see Sinatra in person! And it’s incredible that you were in a play that featured Sinatra’s music."

    I know, right?!? The whole experience felt Divinely orchestrated in the way it all came together. And it happened not long after my father had passed away, so it felt comforting to feel him close to me via Sinatra. I'm so grateful for that experience.

    "My husband and I began to appreciate Sinatra when we were in our early 30’s. I have no idea how it started, but we began accumulating Sinatra CD’s. That music is timeless."

    Isn't is something how Sinatra enters your life and you gradually become a huge fan? And yes, I agree.....that music is TIMELESS!

    Much thanks for stopping by, my friend. Have a great day and a faaaaabulous weekend!

    X

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  6. Good morning, Candice!

    Me too. I got very teary-eyed as I wrote this post, thinking of my father. I have that photo of Frank Sinatra in a little zip-lock baggie and tucked away in a very safe place.

    Yes, of course! The name of the play was "The Sisters Rosensweig" by Wendy Wasserstein. It's a comedy/drama. Brilliant play! I played the character of Mervyn Kant. It was one of my all-time favorite roles. Madeline Kahn was in the original Broadway production in 1993.

    I agree....old black and white photographs are the BEST! I have a box of old family photos that I enjoy looking through now and then.

    LOVE "Night and Day!" The song we danced to in the play was, "The Way You Look Tonight."

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have an awesome weekend!

    X

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  7. Ron, that photograph of Ol' Blue Eyes is AMAZING! As soon as the page loaded, I immediately recongnized who it was before I even read your post. I love the looks on the servicemen standing behind him. How did you get this picture?

    Being that you and I are Italian AND from the same generation, I laughed at this - "LP's playing on Sunday afternoons, while smelling garlic, basil, and tomato sauce emanating from the kitchen." - oh, how I can relate to every word! My mother made the best marinara sauce (or gravy as some Italians say). She got the recipe from her mother (my grandmother) which was phenomenal.

    What a wonderful story! Not just the fact that your father was able to capture this photo and met Frank Sinatra, but also that your lives intertwined through the play. As you said in your comment to Bijoux, it was Divinely orchestrated. And I believe that too!

    Thank you for sharing such a special moment in your life, Ron. So touching! xoxo

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  8. Ron, forgot to mention in my first comment how handsome your dad was. And wow...so Italian looking!

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  9. Aw....thanks, Elaine! And yes...sooooooo Italian looking! All the men in my family (on both sides) had that dark Italian look.

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  10. Hey there Elaine!

    Isn't it a fabulous photo? So candid and natural too. I got the photo from a huge box of family photographs that my mother had in Florida. After my father passed away, she wanted me to go all the photographs and take the ones I wanted, so I took that Sinatra photograph and cherish it.

    " oh, how I can relate to every word! My mother made the best marinara sauce (or gravy as some Italians say). She got the recipe from her mother (my grandmother) which was phenomenal."

    LOL! Isn't it something how every Italian family has memories like that? And yes, some call it "gravy", you're absolutely right! My family just always referred to it as "sauce" so the tradition continues. I love marinara! It's my favorite pasta sauce! I'm not into meat sauce.

    Yes, isn't that something? It's as if the whole Sinatra thing came full circle through my connection with the play and my fathers photograph.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, neighbor! Have a fantastic day and weekend!

    X

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  11. Thanks for sharing this great memory, Ron. I don't recall my parents being crazy about Frank Sinatra in particular, but they loved the music of his era. I grew up in a home where Big Band music was played and still have an appreciation of it today. I totally agree with HottinAnni's comment when she said that era in history was the best!

    I have many of Sinatra's CDs and my favorite songs are the torch ones he sang with Learning' the Blues an all-time favorite.

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  12. Ron, I never knew anything about Frank Sinatra until I started listening to Harry Connick Jr. and found out that many of the songs he recorded were Sinatra tunes. It was then that I began listening to Sinatra and discovered why so many people loved him. I think I'm an old soul because I like music from past decades, like swing music from the Big Band era. One of my favorite films is "Swing Kids", did you ever see it?

    What a wonderful story you share here. And I couldn't stop looking at the Sinatra photo thinking, "WOW....that was back in 1945!!!" I'm so glad your dad got to meet him and that you had that experience in the play. How cool was that!

    Thank you for sharing this, dude. It touched me. Great pic of your father!

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  13. Hiya Matt!

    What a great way to be introduced to Sinatra!!!! And yes, many of Connick's recordings were Sinatra tunes! In fact, when he first started recording and heard him, I immediately thought he sounded A LOT like Sinatra. And Michael Buble too. He has a similar style like Sinatra.

    " I think I'm an old soul because I like music from past decades, like swing music from the Big Band era. One of my favorite films is "Swing Kids", did you ever see it?"

    OMG...YES!!!!! And it's funny you mentioned that film because I used to have it on VHS. I freaking LOVE that film! And me too...I love BIG BAND music!!!! To me, there is nothing like it! It makes you wanna just get up and DANCE!

    I know, can you believe that? 1945?!?! That's when my father was in the service. He was just a young man at that time. The 40's and late 30's are my favorite time periods.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, Matt! Have a most excellent weekend!

    X

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  14. Hey there D!

    "I grew up in a home where Big Band music was played and still have an appreciation of it today."

    OMG, yes! yes! yes! I LOVE me some Big Band music! In fact, my parents had several LP's of Big Band music. One of my favorite tunes is, "Sing, Sing, Sing", by Benny Goodman. However, whenever I hear it, I can't stop tapping my feet and resisting the urge to get up and SWING. LOL!

    BEST era in history is right!

    "...my favorite songs are the torch ones he sang with Learning' the Blues an all-time favorite."

    I agree! In fact, I just listened to that tune before I left my comment. What a GREAT song! I also love the way he sings, "One for my Baby."

    Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your music favorites! Have an AWESOME weekend!

    X

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  15. Oh, my God, Ron, what a beautiful post!

    I freaked when I saw that photo of Sinatra because I immediately realized it was from WWII.

    And then I freaked again when I read that your dad had taken the picture.

    That photo is a treasure! It's an artifact from a bygone era.

    I love how you weaved in your personal history with Sinatra and your dad. And such fabulous details about making tomato sauce on a Sunday afternoon--you're making me hungry!

    It's great how your experience in the play brought out a real world connection. I believe many actors use their personal stories to flesh out the characters they portray.

    I didn't like Sinatra when I was younger--that was "old people's music" and meant nothing to a rock and roller like me.

    But as I got older I learned to love his music--especially from his younger days.

    Believe it or not, my mom was actually a Bobby-soxer and she saw Frank Sinatra live at the Paramount Theater when she was a teenager! It's so hard to imagine..

    Thank you so much for posting this, buddy!

    Take care!

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  16. Hey there, Rob!

    Yes, you're right, it was from WWII, can you believe that? Isn't the photo great? And to know that my father took it makes it all the more special. I can only imagine how freaking excited he was when Sinatra visited his troop! He looks very young in that photo too.

    " such fabulous details about making tomato sauce on a Sunday afternoon--you're making me hungry!"

    LOL! I know, even as I wrote it I could SMELL those aromas. And I'm sure being Italian yourself, you could relate.

    And you are so spot about how actors use their personal stories to flesh out the characters they portray. I can tell you how many times that has been the case in roles that I have portrayed. It's as if life imitates art, as well as art imitating life.

    "Believe it or not, my mom was actually a Bobby-soxer and she saw Frank Sinatra live at the Paramount Theater when she was a teenager! It's so hard to imagine.."


    OMG...what a faaaaaaaaabulous experience that must have been for her!. And I bet that was an experience she treasured her whole life!

    Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing in this post. Much appreciated and enoyed!

    Have a terrific weekend!

    X

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  17. Ron, I googled the play you mentioned and read the synopsis and original cast list. WOW...what a wonderful story and cast! I so miss Madeline Kahn. Everything I ever saw her in she was brilliant. She left this earth far too soon.

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  18. Wasn't the cast STELLAR? And they were all actors/actresses who not only had great film careers, but stage as well. OMG, I agree, she left this earth far to soon! I saw a short documentary many years ago that featured her husband who shared about her illness and death. It was so bittersweet because you could tell how much he loved her.

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  19. What a great reflection, Ron! Sinatra, of course, was more my parents' generation's heartthrob, but even now, it's easy to see how magical his voice and persona were. He had a *feel* for the music, unlike just wailing away and making noise!


    You know, it's wonderful that you shared this memory with us. My Italian genes come from my mom's side, so it was her people who were dark of hair and eye. And those scent-memories of tomato sauce on the stove and big plates of pasta on the table are something we share. I'll bet your dad is singing in Heaven right now!


    Have a great weekend -- it's turned COLD here (again). Sad that Spring is taking its sweet time, huh? xx

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  20. Debbie, I love how you expressed this...

    " but even now, it's easy to see how magical his voice and persona were. He had a *feel* for the music, unlike just wailing away and making noise!"


    I TOTALLY agree, he did! And so much of the music and vocal artists from that era had that same quality.

    "My Italian genes come from my mom's side, so it was her people who were dark of hair and eye. And those scent-memories of tomato sauce on the stove and big plates of pasta on the table are something we share. I'll bet your dad is singing in Heaven right now!"


    Same here. Both my father's side and mother's side had that same dark look. Oh, and food....the BEST! And thank you for your sweet remark about my father. I often think the same thing anytime I listen to Sinatra!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. The weather has been very similar here. It's turned chilly again. But then next week (Tuesday) I see it's going to be 80 degrees!

    Enjoy your weekend!

    X

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  21. Hey Ron, missed you while I was on my break!

    Music is so evocative, isn't it? I love how hearing a song can instantly transport you to some other time and call up memories of someone you love. I think of my Dad when I hear the Kingston Trio. I'm the only person I know whose favorite Christmas album is the Kingston's Trio's Last Month of the Year! That's so beautiful that you have Sinatra's music to connect you to your Dad at any time.

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  22. Missed you too! I was so HAPPY to see your recent post in my feed reader. Your new home is faaaaaaabulous!!!!

    Yes, it sure is....music is so evocative! And like you said, hearing a song can INSTANTLY transport you to another time and call up memories of someone you love. I find that along with music, various scents/aromas can do the same thing for me.

    " I think of my Dad when I hear the Kingston Trio. I'm the only person I know whose favorite Christmas album is the Kingston's Trio's Last Month of the Year!"


    OMG, what a great memory for you! And I also have to say that my father AND mother enjoyed the "Kingston Trio" as well. In fact, I think they may have had an LP or two of their music.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. So glad to see you back! Have a terrific week!

    And congratulations on your new casa!

    X

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  23. Ron, as I was reading this, I kept imagining your father looking down and smiling at your words.That photo of Frank Sinatra is pretty amazing. I don't know anyone who has a photo of Ol' Blue Eyes! Like your father, my parents were big fans of Sinatra, as well as Dean Martin and Tony Bennett. Such a magical and special era.

    I giggled at this, "A singing dentist, I guess?" I can just picture him singing while doing a root canal. LOL! If you don't mind me asking, what did your father do for work, I'm curious.

    Thanks so much for sharing this touching story, Ron. It's a GEM! xo

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  24. Hola Denise!

    Thank you for your sweet thoughts, my friend. Isn't that photograph faaaaaaaabulous? My mother had it in her collection of photos and gave it to me after my father passed away.

    And OMG...yes....Dean Martin and Tony Bennett....favorites of my parents as well. I agree, magical and special era!

    "I can just picture him singing while doing a root canal. LOL!"


    HA! That made me laugh. And so true! For as much as he wanted to be a dentist, I'm surprised he never decided to go to dental school.

    My father had his own real estate business, that he and his brother ran for many years. They sold residential real estate. Then, when my family moved to Florida in 1973, they began building and selling condominiums in Delray Beach.

    Thanks a bunch for stopping by, girl. Have an excellent week!

    X

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  25. Beautiful post, Ron! How special it must have been for you to have that "Sinatra" connection with your father through the play each night. I'm an old soul because I tend to feel more connected to previous decades more so than the present. LOL! I love music from 40's. 50's, and 60's. I'm big on Motown. That's why I enjoyed Amy Winehouse. Her whole style was from the past.

    Great photo of both Franks! xo

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  26. Hey there, Clair!

    Yes is was....very special! And I could actually feel my dad every night when I got to that part of the play.

    " I love music from 40's. 50's, and 60's. I'm big on Motown. That's why I enjoyed Amy Winehouse. Her whole style was from the past."

    OMG........me too! Didn't you just adore Amy Winehouse? How sad that she left this earth at such an early age. I still enjoy listening to her recordings. They are timeless and go straight to my heart!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Hope you're enjoying a faaaaaaaaabulous week!

    X

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