More than 30 years ago, my husband came to Ashland, Oregon for the first time. He worked as a dishwasher in a restaurant near Mt. Ashland and met a lot of people there that became a part of his story. One of those folks was a woman named Marie. Once Marie learned that my husband had attended a Quaker school, she told him that he should meet her ex-husband, who had also attended a Quaker school.
That is how my husband and Nick became friends – they were introduced to each other by Marie. I came along a few years later and eventually moved to Ashland and became friends with Nick as well. I’m from Staten Island and Nick was from New Jersey. I thought that it was pretty cool to meet someone who was from New Jersey living three thousand miles away in a small town in Oregon.
Nick was a gentleman, a storyteller, a historian, a merchant seaman, an aficionado of trains and jazz music. Nick loved to show us the antiques that his family had had and he also loved to share their stories with us. My husband was like a little brother to Nick, and that sort of made me family. When we had children, my kids grew up regarding Nick as family and knew that Nick’s family was an extension of their own.
As I was remembering Nick today, I thought, I don’t think I ever heard him curse. You’ve probably heard the phrase, “curse like a sailor” – well that wasn’t true for Nick. The one phrase I do recall him saying is “Well, I’ll be darned.” Not exactly harsh words. I know that his Mom would have been proud of him because Nick was an all around great guy.
Today, I made a triple berry pie for Nick’s daughter’s birthday. I wanted to honor him and honor her as well. I don’t know how we came to be so lucky but I am so very grateful that we have been a part of their lives.
Skoshi with her Birthday Pie
Pie a Day Give Away 
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