This is Al, the sweetest man on earth; secretly, I think of him as the father I never had. Kind, brilliant, loving, and still around in his late 80’s as spunky and adventurous as ever.

Al was a friend of my late father-in-law and family. In the 70’s when Mr.Souci and I were traveling through Ireland, we met Al and his wife in Dublin, by coincidence, and had a few meals together.

Al’s lovely wife passed away of cancer a number of years ago. My father-in-law died suddenly some years after. My step-mother-in-law and Al, the surviving spouses, became an item. It was not all that long that they were companions and thought of as a couple, but we were all so happy to see them together. And then, my step-mother-in-law became very ill with cancer, and Al, as frail was he was, was like a dutiful husband, tending to the most personal tasks. Until the end.

We like to think of Al as family, and we took him out to The New York Botanical Garden and to dinner, though he always insists on paying. Cane and all, he marched on, over hill, vale and to the gift shop.

Last evening was Members’ Night at the gardens; we didn’t stay for either of the two offered concerts, but took the little sightseeing train through the park. As we were there recently, you can click here to view the photos of the gardens if you wish, from a previous blog, we decided to stop over at the Rockefeller Rose Garden as we hadn’t seen it the last time.

The Henry Moore sculptures are throughout the gardens.

Here’s Al (below, left) with a reclining figure. You can get an idea of the scale. I’ve included a few more Moores. As for the rose garden, it has passed its peak for now and was resting. It is starting to show some buds for another round of glory, but nothing extravagant for now. I found a beautiful ginko tree. The stone building is an old snuff mill, and the water is the Bronx River.

Al wanted to go to dinner on Arthur Avenue, the “Little Italy” of the Bronx, rather than the café in the gardens. Can’t blame him. So a short distance away we had a great dinner at our favorite Ann & Tony’s (not my photo)

After dinner I suggested we go across the street for some dessert. And people watching.

It’s not Italy but if you turn your imagination on, you can get away with it.
The sorbetto is terrific-I had the coconut. And yes, that is the fruit that is filled.

And so the art of watching people. The student with the book and a cup of coffee, the young ladies, the young men, the young men looking at the young ladies…you know how it goes.

We brought Al home and the first thing I noticed was the beautiful Raphael Soyer lithograph that had belonged to my step-mother-in-law, that reminds me of them in happy times. We felt Al should have it, and there it was proudly displayed on his wall.

After all, he is family.

reply hurricanekate wrote on Aug 8, ’08 what a wonderful wonderful day. what a delightful man he must be. a smart man as well, he keeps good company! xo

reply starfishred wrote on Aug 8, ’08 oh sue this brought tears to my eyes -what more can I say he is one spunky man.My hubby loved Moore to.

reply sweetpotatoqueen wrote on Aug 8, ’08 Lovely pics here of a lovely day.Thanks dear!

reply vickieann wrote on Aug 9, ’08 You wrote this so beautifully it made me feel as if I were there. I too had an Al in my life~my father-in-law and he was my hero.

reply lynnpolarity wrote on Aug 9, ’08 lm so glad Al stayed to be part of your family. what a lovely love story… and thank you for the tour. l love ltalian foods…

reply wrenomatic wrote on Aug 9, ’08 What a lovely adventure and grand photos, too. I love these kinds of heartwarming stories. Very well written.

reply millimusings wrote on Aug 9, ’08, edited on Aug 9, ’08 Aww Sue you shared the very best here in not only photos and story but your beloved Al too!!. I loved it ALL!!

reply belita747 wrote on Aug 9, ’08 How nice to read this post, beautiful in every sense… Love the description, the sweet profile of your beloved ‘relative’, the roses and the sculptures by Moore. Have a great weekend. Hugs, Belita

reply paulishd wrote on Aug 9, ’08 Coolest, Sue!

reply billatplay wrote on Aug 9, ’08 Keep going Al and mind you don’t let Sue get the upper hand. lol

reply strongwilledwoman wrote on Aug 9, ’08 What a wonderful post!  You had a day full of gifts, and it looks like Al was the greatest of all them. You were all blessed to have shared these moments.

reply knightstar wrote on Aug 9, ’08, edited on Aug 9, ’08 My partner and I watched after an older man, a widower, fiercely independent, for several years—having him over for dinner, chats, etc.  He died on Valentine’s day a couple of years ago at age 91.  For our association with him, my partner and I came away the richer for it.  Older people are a wealth of knowledge about a different time with a different set of principals and values—an untapped resource, to whom it would be to our benefit to listen. –M

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Aug 9, ’08 Manfred, I couldn’t agree more! Al is a retired HS teacher and worked in the Teachers’ Union as a mediator and arbitrator for many years. He is a gentleman and a true scholar. I wish my mom lived up “here” I know they’d be good friends.

reply gapeach7355 wrote on Aug 9, ’08 Thanks for letting us peek into your world… charming.  Give Al a hug for me, he sounds like my sort of guy. Seems both he and your family are the richer for having chosen one another…

reply rooanns wrote on Aug 9, ’08 What a lovely day with an exceptionally lovely man. How lucky you are to have him as part of the family. You don’t have to share a blood line to be family. Here’s to many more such lovely outings with Al!

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Aug 10, ’08 rooanns said What a lovely day with an exceptionally lovely man. How lucky you are to have him as part of the family. You don’t have to share a blood line to be family. Here’s to many more such lovely outings with Al! Thanks for the lovely comment~I guess it’s never too late to adopt a family member; we can learn so much from those older.

reply agnes128 wrote on Aug 10, ’08 It was a great day I see! On the first photo Al is really beautiful. Miam, the fruits filled with sorbet looks yummy, I would have had a hard time deciding which one to eat ;-D The lithograph sent a little shock into my heart, like if it was familiar. And then I realized it is because of my ‘Lovers on the Pont des Arts’ drawing.

reply asolotraveler wrote on Aug 11, ’08 EXQUISITE POST DEAR, A TREASURED SIMPLE JOURNEY WITH AFFABLE COMPANIONS… THIS IS living

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Aug 11, ’08 asolotraveler said EXQUISITE POST DEAR, A TREASURED SIMPLE JOURNEY WITH AFFABLE COMPANIONS… THIS IS living Thank you, suh!

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Aug 11, ’08 agnes128 said It was a great day I see! On the first photo Al is really beautiful. Miam, the fruits filled with sorbet looks yummy, I would have had a hard time deciding which one to eat ;-D The lithograph sent a little shock into my heart, like if it was familiar. And then I realized it is because of my ‘Lovers on the Pont des Arts’ drawing. Famous artist Raphael Soyer–very fascinating, you’d like his work. http://www.rogallery.com/soyer_raphael/soyerrhm.htm I look so chic in my avatar!! Don’t you love the French Script font for our names? Let’s have sorbet! Aggie, I think it is made in Italy and sent here.