Bob Levey

1 month ago | thebeaconnewspapers.com | Bob Levey

It had to happen, and now it has. I was attending a social event full of 20-something adults. The talk turned to popular music back in the day. I said I used to have a large library of records — 33s, 45s and 78s. Blank looks all around. Finally, one youngster broke the ice. “Uh, Bob,” she said, “what do those numbers mean?”Thus did this group join the throngs who have no idea what happened on November 22, 1963. And have never used — or heard of — a rotary-dial phone.

2 months ago | thebeaconnewspapers.com | Bob Levey

It’s not a good look when a man of a certain age (yes, me) freezes an entire dinner party by jumping up and down with glee. But I confess — and I would do it again. Such was the pleasure of tasting Apple Brown Betty once more. For me, ABB was the quintessential 1950s dessert. They must have served it every other day in the school cafeteria when I was in third grade. Then and now, it’s crusty and chunky, equal amounts sweet and tart. It was — and is — utterly wonderful.

Mar 6, 2025 | thebeaconnewspapers.com | Bob Levey

My wife came home from lunch with a former colleague. She’s usually bubbly after such events. On this day, she was a bit moody. “He got divorced,” she announced. “And he wants me to fix him up with a female friend of mine. Any female friend.”She agreed to try, without enthusiasm, without any guarantees offered or expected. But as she tossed her raincoat onto a chair and slumped onto the couch, it was clear that the prospect of arranging a meet-up didn’t delight her.

Feb 5, 2025 | thebeaconnewspapers.com | Bob Levey

They married in their 20s and immediately bought a small house in the near-in suburbs. Until last month, they lived there still — nearly 50 years later. Their house has two bedrooms, one and a half baths, a carport large enough to accommodate one car and a patch of grass in front “about as big as a deck of cards,” the wife said.  “We have lived very modestly,” she added — two government salaries, used cars only, no fancy trips to Europe.

Jan 27, 2025 | thebeaconnewspapers.com | Bob Levey

Taking a walk past the neighborhood elementary school is usually a benign affair. But one recent morning, as I sauntered by the faculty parking lot, I was brought up short. Here was a Toyota. Then another. Followed by a Hyundai. Followed by another. Then a gaggle of Hondas. Then a cluster of Kias. I decided to count. In all, 42 cars were parked in the lot. Not a single one was an American make. Yes, I’m sure that all the cars in that lot ran just fine.