This is Bob's weekend. Part I

My friend Bob is getting married this Sunday. Bob Heisler and I go way back together. In the early 60's we were CIT's at Camp Kinderland. Following that, he was a counselor. I was the lifeguard there.  Then our kids went to the camp also. We always liked to say "the Weinsteins and Heislers have returned to Camp Kinderland." In the ensuing years there was political activism of the college days that created more of a bond.

Just as Bob and I remained lifelong friends so have his son Josh and my son Mike, although separated from the distance of New York (Josh) to Nashville (Michael). I don't remember how or when, but after many years Bob and I reestablished our friendship. It probably came out of both being parents of kids in camp. Josh and Mike were also in a Ukrainian folk dance group together. Bob is a bicycle rider also and so we've shared many miles together ... here in New York, but also on Martha's Vineyard, on the Delmarva peninsula (Del = Delaware, Mar = Maryland, Va = Virginia) that encapsules Chesapeake Bay and in Ireland. Then there were a couple memorable overnight  hikes (together with our sons and other guys) in the High Peaks of the Adirondacks.

So it's been an enduring friendship with lots of good memories.
 
Friday night was Bob's bachelor party. This was put together by Josh. We met at one of those ancient Greenwich Village Spanish restaurant (there are a few of those): El Faro, which is on Greenwich Street in a lovely west Village neighborhood.

I knew most of the guys. There was Ricky Eisenberg, from camp days too, but, being a very talented carpenter, he did a lot of work in the house that we moved into in 1978 and that we're moving out of in 2004. Ricky built a new staircase for us and then a beautiful new oak kitchen that still holds its beauty today, 26 years later.

There was Paul Leavin who I knew from politics in the 70's and 80's. And Tony Knopp. Bob and he worked in the Bronx together for many years. Tony was the one who organized the Adirondacks hikes.

And, of course, there were Josh and Abe, Bob's sons. One more fellow, Emanuel, joined us later in the evening.


Paul, Ricky, Josh and Tony line up for a photo at the bar in El Faro. 


Josh and Bob ... and Sangria. 


After dinner at El Faro (The Lighthouse). 

To see the rest of my photos just click here


..... to be continued .... the wedding is today, Sunday, at Brooklyn's Botanic Gardens. Stay tuned.