~ Malden Musings ~ “Dave O’Brien’s Christmas Revisited”

By Peter Levine

“What you are about to read is a matter of human record. Explain it: we cannot. Disprove it: we cannot. We simply invite you to explore with us the amazing world of…Dave O’Brien – to take that One Step… Beyond.” Dave O’Brien, accomplished author and MHS Sports Hall of Famer from the class of ’77, was an All-State wrestler and excelled on the gridiron. He played on a couple of the better football teams from those mid 1970’s MHS football squads. O’B possessed a unique and offbeat personality. He could mix it up with honor students, such as Judy McHugh, as well as football grinders, such as Junior Ford – at ease with both; at home taking an honors course, on a wrestling mat or hanging around the beer-stained Bandstand in the middle of Devir Park. O’B was very much like his dad, John, who was none other than legendary MHS bon vivant and educator John O’Brien. Here we have another worthy offering from the original woofa goofa mamma toofa & one great coogly moogly, Dave O’Brien:

“Sometimes the universe synchronizes. It’s two weeks before Christmas in the year 2018. I’m sitting on my couch, nursing a beer, with one eye on a MASH-rerun and the other on my dwarf spruce. I planted that tree about ten years ago. Just off my back deck. I decorate it with Christmas lights every December. And tonight, a sliver of moon hangs above my tree. It looks like a Christmas card. I open my email. Peter Levine has sent me a request for a short story with Christmas/winter/Malden themes.

“The Evergreen tree was a symbol of eternal love in Egyptian, Chinese, and Jewish tradition for at least a thousand years before the birth of Jesus. Whatever your beliefs, I recommend decorating an Evergreen tree during the Winter Solstice. It’s called celebrating the return of the Sun. And we can all do it. A tree with lights is comforting and hypnotic. Gazing into one encourages reflection. And gives rise to memories.

“No matter the degree of turmoil and chaos in the O’Brien household, there was always a Christmas tree. We never rang in the New Year without one.

“My mother took charge of operation Christmas-tree. We always had a real tree. (I was stunned the first time I saw an artificial tree.) We lived without a car. So, we carried the tree home. Picking it out was always one of the best parts of Christmas. So even if putting up a tree isn’t practical for you, treat yourself to a stroll around a Christmas tree lot. Preferably when it’s snowing. And the data is in. The smell of natural pine is so good for us. We would leave the tree in the backyard for a few days. It would get snowed on and rained on. Exactly one week before Christmas, we would bring it inside, set it up, and water it. But we didn’t decorate it right away. We waited a day for the branches to open.

“My mom taught me. Light the tree. Decorate the tree. But don’t engulf the tree. Don’t cover the tree. Keep it about the tree. And keep it simple. Garishness and Christmas make for an odd couple.

“We had just two colors. Green and gold. Start with the lights. Don’t string them. Don’t hang them. Rest the lights on the branches. And if you just light the ends of the branches, the tree will disappear behind those lights. So don’t forget to light up the inside of the tree. Weave the lights in and out. The trunk, as well as the outer branches, should be lit.

“We would enjoy the tree for a day with just the lights. And then add the green-and-gold bulbs. Now these, you do not rest on the branches. Bulbs should hang freely. And now prepare to be amazed. The bulbs reflect the lights. Each ornament becomes a galaxy. And then finally, perhaps on the solstice, or Christmas Eve, or New Year’s Eve, or whenever it feels right for you, add the star to the top.

“You really want to have some fun? Look at it through a kaleidoscope.

“And so, another Christmas is here. I am healthy and pain free. I have family and friends. It’s a wonderful life.

“But I’m troubled by the world. At this very moment, when we need to be working together to prevent runaway climate chaos and a possible collapse of civilization, we are instead spiraling into another global arms race. I find peace and solace and perspective and distraction in my science books. I read about the universe. There are so many galaxies and stars and planets out there. And, I believe, so much life. On Christmas Eve in 1968, astronaut Bill Anders took a picture from lunar orbit of Earth rising from the moon’s shadow. It awakened an environmental movement. But I’m more moved by the photo of Earth taken by the Voyager 1 spacecraft from a distance of 3.7 billion miles. The Earth is as tiny as a single Christmas-tree light. And just as beautiful. Maybe I’ll add one blue light to my Christmas tree this year.”

“Happy New Year, Malden.”

It is said in “Malden Musings”…

• Bad enough Everett’s been stealing our best athletes for the past 25 years or so, now we’ve got West Peabody luring our most gifted athletes (of yesterday) to the bucolic countryside just north of Zucker’s on Lake Street. Spotted recently roaming the streets of W. Peabody were Jackie Harold, Eddie Wilcox, Joe Pagano, Jared Freni, Steve Craven, John “Doc” Doherty, Ernie Ardolino Sr., Mike Ploumbidis, Arthur Carbone and the 1979 Sam Aliberti Trophy winner, Joey Peluso.
• Lisa at New England Coffee, how do I love thee…let me count the ways. I visited NE Coffee on Charles Street last week and was lucky enough to get Lisa behind the counter. NE Coffee is also lucky to have Lisa behind the counter as an employee. Exceptional service, exceptional coffee, exceptional employee! Thank you, Lisa. Happy Holidays!
• Longtime Maldonian and Eddie’s little brother, Kevin, recently contacted me with another interesting tale – true stories, mind you, from the life of Kevin Larson: “It was 1976, sometime in March. I was working for Arthur Gobbeo. My brother Eddie and I were handling The Malden News for Arthur. At the time, the MEN was located on Medford Street in this beautiful, new opulent building. The editor was David Brickman who always took a liking to me. He constantly told me I would be the next mayor of Malden. LOL. The Democratic Presidential Primaries were happening in about a week. Every politician that was running for President came through the MEN office. They were always greeted by Editor Brickman. One day, over the intercom, Mr. Brickman requested me to come to his office. I proceeded down the hallways. He always knew at a young age that my obsession was politics. I sat outside the office, and his secretary eventually brought me in. Mr. Brickman was standing in the office with another gentleman. Mr. Brickman asked me if I knew who this was, I looked at him and said, of course I do; you are running for President of the US. You’re the peanut farmer from Georgia, Jimmy Carter! They both broke out laughing. I shook his hand. I’m pretty sure somebody took a picture. I’ve asked Shawn (Brickman) multiple times to look for it, no luck yet. Also, there were other politicians that always came through his office, another being Elliot Richardson. He asked me if I knew this gentleman the same way he asked me about Mr. Carter. I said yes, I know who you are. You are the Attorney General for Richard Nixon during the ‘Saturday Night Massacre!’ Again, they both laughed. I attribute my love of Malden history and American history to three Malden educators; Mr. Frank Adorn, Mr. Anthony Bavaro, and Mr. Tom O’Donnell. Three amazing social studies and history teachers.”
• Malden Musings Pick of the Week: the steak tip dinner with rice pilaf at Fresco’s Roast Beef & Seafood! Fuhgeddaboudit!!

As Peter Falk’s iconic TV character Columbo would say, “Just one more thing, sir” – who remembers happier days – Christmas shopping in Malden Square…Jordan Marsh, the Slack Shack, Baker’s, Malden Jewelry, Roli Music and Malden Music Center, Sound on Sound, Pandora’s Box, Casual Scene, Sparks, Woolworths, Lady Grace, Gilchrist, Lerner’s, Tom McCann, Moe’s Smoke Shop, Converse Smoke Shop, Headlines, Malden Army & Navy, Jerry’s Army & Navy, Kotzen’s, Boston Leader, Sparks, Chisholm’s, Hanlon’s Shoes, Liggett’s? If you do, consider yourself fortunate. Those were special days in our lives. Not soon to be forgotten. The Malden of today is an exciting and welcoming place to be living in with potential for even better days, but the generation that remembers buying blueberry muffins at Jordan Marsh, shoes at Louie Klane’s, school clothes at Sparks or rolling papers at Headlines? You’re old! Really old. I kid! In addition, we had the best places in the Square to “take the edge off” and get our merry on like the Do Re Lounge, The West End Bar & Grille, Bunkie Klane’s, Jack Haney’s, the Centre Bar & Grille (later Richard’s Pub), the Horseshoe Bar & Grille and the Auld New Lounge. Memories that will remain with us forever.

Postscript: I have this great Dana Brown–penned multipart article about growing up in the Ferryway Green Park area that I have been saving for the new year. It’s a fun and informative look back at a time and place in Dana’s life that I am sure you will enjoy. Stay tuned.