GATHERING GROUND REPORT - JANUARY 11, 2023
Norm, Jo-Ann, Chet
Who was at the table today.... Chet, Norm, Jo-Ann and
Jerry. Jo-Ann had a second agenda so we shared a few stories and
some toast and she had to take off with only one cup of coffee. We
did some remembering about Hal and Gil and thanked them both for keeping us
together for the many decades after our work careers. Hal was the father
of Email at Hamilton Standard. The end to paper was one of the features
of this new medium of communication.
Chet announced that all flights had been cancelled in the US. Of course, the immediate thought from all of us was to remember where we were at when the 911 attack happened. This shutdown proved to be a software glitch, who would have thought!!
With the large plate of food brought out to Chet we talked about the various places we all had the pleasure of eating at when large events happened usually related to our work history. La Renaissance, Manellys (South WIndsor) and the last one that was the most frequented by all.....and what was the name....Somewhere is Agawam. No one could fish the name from the backs of our minds so Norm called Lorraine and as soon as he asked, there was no hesitation, Chez Josef came across the cell phone to Norm and the stunned crew. See the Western breakfast with the trimmings picture in the photos section. Chet's standard, but only once a month.
Jerry reported that the ski season has started but only in the northern slopes with the warmer weather persisting in the East. Good for the heating oil bill but not so good for the ski season pass holders.
Jo-Ann and Jim are having fun with gardening and have found their local library to have a SEED Library where there is a catalog of many seeds available to take and grow. HERE is the link to that library. It's located in Granby Ct and they take seeds and of course allow people to take seeds.
Your Scribe
Jerry
PHOTO GALLERY
Bradley Airport addition looks great all lit up and in
color. This structure houses all of the rental car companies with cars
under cover in the garage.
Chet's "Once-a-Month" Western Omelette 
LETTERS
"Thanks for another issue, a special one. As I said earlier, I only met Hal when the gatherings started, and I was at CIGNA then.
I came to HSD, in 1963, after participating in a big layoff at a semi-conductor plant in Woonsocket RI.....after an interview with Charlie Denis he hired me, working in the mezzanine in bldg. 1, out in the heat treat area.
I got moved into the office area working for Al Pianin, on the quality control manual, but what got me into the computer group, was a project where I was the business analyst, and George Tabor offered me a job as a systems analyst. I knew zilch about computers, but I learned.
After getting laid off and my wife (at the time) four months pregnant, I was a little gun shy. Rumors come and go, another layoff, 10% to go. I started to see people I thought were pretty good, go out the door. I have two sons at this point. So I made the move to Travelers in ‘70. My thought was insurance is steady.
I still remember a lot of names from my time at Hamilton. Herzing, Giller, Germano, Omer Jette, Pellegrino, Nick Pontillo and all the guys in the trenches, they’re weren’t many women yet. Dick Hughes and I had the same birth date, Dick Martin, Gil, Andy Vaughan, Ed Fallar, Joe Bond, Jim Kelly, Vi Beaudreau, Yvonne L, Pete D, oh and Charlie Straight. I could go on and on about Charlie stories, especially when he was making a non-business call. And Dick Morgan, Newkirk and I would toss a frisbee around at lunch.
Enough, thanks for the memory...."
~ Hank McWay
