You’re never too old or too smart to learn

In my travels along life’s highway, I have always enjoyed talking to people. We are never too old or too smart to learn. Many people recognize me from my picture that has been running along side these columns for more than 15 years and strike up a conversation.

Last summer I made a presentation at the 20th annual Fruit Street Reunion, held at the ITAM Club. There were about 165 in attendance.

I kicked off my talk about the Great Depression by mentioning that my grandson, Michael Krieger, wrote the forward to my book, “Rag Man, Rag Man.” He said, “My Grandpa loves to talk.” At the reunion, my longtime friend, Mike Savko, a former co-worker at Commercial Intertech, approached me and said, “Mike, as I recall you were never at a loss for words.”

Maternal grandfather

I must have inherited the gift of gab from my maternal grandfather, Felice Antonio Cacciavillani from Agnone, Molise, Italy. He was given the nickname “Il Giudice” (the judge), because he enjoyed talking and did not even take time out to spit.

Our great toastmaster, Peter Tedde, told me, “Mike, your time limit is 15 minutes.” I replied that this would be my shortest speech in over 65 presentations about the Great Depression or World War II.

A number of people told me they were regular readers of my columns and my book about the good old days. One of our main forms of recreation in those times was talking. Today, I can’t pull my family away from the TV to talk.

I am reminded of my writing and speaking hobbies when I look at my YSU graduation ring. On one side is 1951 and on the other are the letters BS. The initials stand for bachelor of science degree, not BSer, as some might suspect.

X Michael J. Lacivita is a Youngstown retiree and a member of the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame and the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame.