House Anniversary- POEM

 

35 years

In that house

35 years

on this day

the last day

of July

I was only six

brother

only four

this

was our forever home

well, mine

of course,

Every home

feels sacred

once it's yours

feels as if

unless invited

no one else 

can come in

It took a while

and a lot of money

to make it

the way it is

changing the carpets

the bedrooms

the bathrooms

35 years have past

much has changed

from the outside of the home

to the inside

of the home

35 years,

and I'm still here,

wanted to leave,

long ago,

but I found out,

this,

is where I belong,

no place like,

home sweet home

The End of Exton Square Mall

 

   Another death has happened. Not to a celebrity.... but to a mall. The Exton Square Mall is gone. Died on June 30th, 2026.

    Most of my childhood was spent in that mall. Most of it when I was sick in high school and my mom would take me to shops.

   Malls were considered popular in the 80's and 90's. They were the go-to place to hang out, shop, spend money and well...they just were known to be the place to be.

   Even certain movies would have people in malls. But never the Exton one. I guess it wasn't popular enough to be in a movie.

  I remember they had stores like Yankee Candle, Sam Goody, Auntie Ann's Pretzel, JCPenney, Hot Topic, Game Stop and many more.

    I liked a few of those stores. Sometimes I would go to both Spencer's Gift and Hot Topic to see which is better. 

    I think Hot Topic was better.

    The Exton Square Mall opened up in 1973. It had been around for 53 years. When Amazon started to become big on-line, many of the stores in the mall started to close.

    Malls were starting to fade, and Exton was one of them. It didn't show it truly fading until mid 2010's. Some stores couldn't stay in business long enough.

  

   Exton Square Mall isn't the only mall that has gone downhill. Many other malls are showing the same fate as Exton is.

   Not all malls are closing. The Mall of America, King of Prussia and a few other big malls are still in business. Some are expanding and adding some new stores.

   What is going to replace the mall? Well...the story is that they might replace it with apartments or some condos.

  Question is.... who will live in them? Not a lot of people can afford housing. It could just stay empty until they come to an agreement. But worse comes to worse... it'll end up being apartments.

   Not all of the mall is gone. There are two stores still there. One is Boscov's a clothing store that is still in business and another is a Chuck E. Cheese like place called Round1. An arcade/bowling alley like place.

   Never been in there, but I might check it out in the future. Thankfully, the library is still there, but I don't think that will last long either.

     Another mall had the same fate. Granite Run Mall, which was near Delaware County, closed as well. A few stores stayed open, but other things like apartment buildings and a gym have taken its place.

     I used to go to that mall when my mom was still teaching not far from where it was. Now...it too is gone.

   My childhood is disappearing. The last day of June...was the last time the Exton Square Mall saw daylight. Now...it is gone.

   Not many malls are left, and we should enjoy going to some before it is too late for any mall. Thanks to Jeff Bezos and Amazon...on-line shopping has become the new norm. Even I have shopped on-line. Shop in a mall before it's too late, because Exton Square Mall...is no more.

Goodbye, Lilo-POEM

 

My childhood dies,

when I find out,

a character,

is gone,

Lilo,

is gone

Sadness,

in Hawaii,

as Stitch,

is now alone,

and childhood,

fades

Ohana means family,

but family does die,

as well as the life,

they've given,

Even in your nightmares,

she finds ways,

to kill,

that was the girl,

that voiced Lilo,

and now,

she is gone

The young girl,

named Daveigh,

died of aids,

and was ill,

for some time,

Lilo,

will never be the same,

even if someone,

replaces her

New voice,

from young girl,

from live action movie,

will it feel the same,

will it dedicate to the original

Lilo?

Ohana,

means family,

family,

never gets left behind,

or forgotten,

no matter who voices Lilo,

Goodbye,

Daveigh

Nova Knicks

 

   I'm not a New York fan. I am a Villanova fan for sure. This year New York Knicks won the whole Basketball games becoming Champions and it hasn't happened to them in years. I didn't really care after the Sixers blew it (as usual) 

  This year, a piece of Villanova won when the Knicks won. Three players went to Villanova University, and they were the reason the Knicks made it all the way to the championship

  Jalen Brunsen, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges are the three players that went to Villanova and won in 2018 for Villanova. Now...six years later, they won again but for the wrong team. I have nothing negative on the players, but the fans are another reason I don't like them.

  Jalen Brunsen is now the MVP.

  The Knicks haven't won in almost fifty-three years. That is a long time.... but the Sixers haven't won in years either. When will it be our turn? Actually, I'm not upset, I'm somewhat happy, but not too happy. If it was any other team (besides the Sixers) that won...I wouldn't be happy.

   A piece of Villanova won the night the Knicks won the whole series.

  There are so many fans of the Knicks. Mostly New Yorkers...but the biggest one is from their celebrity fans.

   Timothee Chalamet, Fat Joe, Hank Azaria, Ben Stiller to the biggest one of all Spike Lee. He would be seen in every Knicks game. He has a seat in the front row for every game. 

   After their win, fans went insane. They would cause riots, cheer, and one person even stole a trash can

 Jalen Brunson is their MVP. He had been strong throughout the whole game. He was carrying the team. He did the same with Villanova when they won the championship. I'm happy for him and his family.

    I'm not counting out the other two players; they were great too. Even the coach of the Villanova team when they won in 2018 was proud for them as well.

   Six years after their Villanova victory win, they did it again. Even though it's for a team I'm not a fan of...I call them the Nova Knicks because it sounded better than the New York Knicks.

     They came, they saw and they conquered just like they did all those years ago. 

   I think their win back in 2018 was better than this one. But still happy in some way. That's why I call them the Nova Knicks. The only time I'm a fan of New York Sports is when the Nova Knicks play.

   That's what I'm calling them from now on. I'm more a college basketball fan than I am the others. Proud for Jalen, Josh and Mikel and no one else. Congrats to the Nova Knicks

Happy Birthday, Ringo Starr

 

  July 7th...at 12 o'clock you must say "Peace and Love" Which Ringo wants every July 7th. Today is his birthday, and he looks good for 86. (I think it's because he lives on a Vegan diet and might have gotten plastic surgery)

    Richard Ringo Starrsky was born in Liverpool, England. And...he was the drummer for the Beatles

   He didn't meet John or Paul until later in his life. Pete Best was considered the fifth Beatle until he was replaced by Ringo. 

    He was considered an only child, and his father wasn't around much in his life. He learned to play the drums later in life. He was sick most of his childhood ending up in a coma when he was six years old.

 His life, as well as Paul, John and George's life changed when they were in the Ed Sullivan show back in 1964 around February. It changed their lives forever.

   It made my mom, aunt, late aunt and many other women scream for them. My mom was Paul fan; My aunt...loved George. But...not many people loved Ringo (unless you count Marge Simpson)

 They even made movies together. One of them was named "A hard Day's Night" It was about the four of them trying to escape their fans after they became famous.

   It happens. I wish my mom was in that movie. She would aways think Paul would drive her house upstate Pennsylvania. Ringo was considered one of the forgotten Beatles to some fans. 

 A year later, they made another movie and Ringo is more involved. Actually....Ringo is considered a sacrifice after getting a ring from a fan. 

   He wears it and it's stuck on his finger. He, along with Paul, John and George are involved in escaping from danger, even if it follows. I watch this movie on Ringo's birthday. It seems fitting one of the movies I would remember the most.

  The Beatles went through some strange phases from their Sargent Pepper's album to having John marry Yoko. (Big Mistake).

   Soon, around the seventies...Paul called it quits and that was the end of the Beatles. John and George sadly are no longer with us. Ringo and Paul are still around and still making music.

  Ringo, as well as George (before his death) and Paul all guest voiced on the Simpsons. Ringo was first as Marge had a crush on him.

   In reality, he did get the most fan mail and is now asking his fans to stop. He got a painting of himself Marge made. It took years later for him to thank her while she was at her lowest. Ironically, Paul eventually wrote Thank you letters to his fans that have been waiting for his reply.

   Now, at 86...he's doing pretty well. Today we will say peace and love to one Beatle who is still around even today. He misses George and John, but he has been reuniting with Paul on projects. Both the voices aren't the same as they were as they are getting older. Ringo is still the oldest Beatle, and Paul is now the youngest. Happy Birthday, Ringo. Peace and Love

Buffy, the Vampire Slayer

 

    I wanna talk about a show that I missed seeing when I was a teenager. Now, I'm enjoying it thanks to streaming on Hulu. Buffy, the Vampire Slayer. This show was created by Aaron Sorkin. Now a days, this guy is not considered a person you want to work with. What is this show about?

  It takes place in a fictional town in California called Sunnydale. Buffy (portrayed by Sarah Michelle Geller) finds out she's a slayer.

    She is trained by a librarian named Giles and makes friends as well as enemies for the show. Spike is a vampire that is the main antagonist....and when my mom used to watch the show...she had crush on him.

   Sadly, the reason I'm talking about this show is because three actors that played main characters in the show have passed away. First was Michelle Tratchenberg. She died February of last year. She suffered from problems from liver transplant.

    Xander, portrayed by Nicholas Branden lost his life from heart problems. It was as if a piece of the show died with it. 

  

   There is a character in Buffy that had his own spin-off series. His name is Angel. He's portrayed by David Boreanaz. His father used to do the weather forecast for 6ABC in Philly. 

   His character is a good guy who too is a vampire. He wants to help Buffy while a few people think of him as nothing but a bad guy. He's the cute one in my eyes. He got his own spin off show which....I have not yet seen. Wanna get through a few seasons of Buffy first.

 Sadly, we lost another actor just recently. Anthony Head was the mentor for Buffy named Giles. He also was in other shows like the villain in Ted Lasso. He had been sick from pneumonia for a couple of months and his daughters texted about how he left the world making the Buffy verse sadder.

  But there have been other deaths.... thankfully (I think) the actors are still alive

   Seth Green was in a few seasons of Buffy. I think his character vanished when they added more people, like Michelle Tratchenberg into the story. 

   He played "Oz" for a few seasons. I used to have a crush on him...but I think of him more as a great actor. He's been in movies and is now voicing Chris Griffin on Family Guy

   There have been some deaths on Buffy. But since I'm in the middle of the second season...I don't remember some of them. But there are a few that left a traumatic image in fan's heads. Like the death of a woman who was shot in the chest.

    I think she was dating Willow (played by Alyson Hannigan). Then Buffy had a tragic loss when her mother died of an aneurysm. 

   Going to enjoy Buffy with each episode. I'm enjoying it so far, but I wish I got hooked onto it when it was out in the late 90's. 

  But watching it now, I'm enjoying it. Even though...it later seasons...it will start to fade, I'll still enjoy it. Sarah Michelle Geller will always be Buffy to many fans. Sad that we lost three actors, and it feels the faster time goes by...Buffy will soon be gone. But let's hope she's still here to slay vampires.

What's a Xennial

 

    It's strange that I was born in the year 1984 and I'm supposed to be a Millennial. But it seems I would more about the Generation X. Is it because I'm from the Gen X crowd? No. They say I'm a Millennial, but I don't know anymore.

   I think I'm a Xennial. What is a Xennial? Well....

    

     There was recently a new term called Xennial. It's like a combination of Gen X and Millennial. I don't know who thought of it, but it started out to combine both Gen X and Millennials. They even have another term called Zillenial. Which combines both Millennial and Gen Z. I'm definitely not that. But I feel I am indeed a Xennial. 

   We all know the terms for each Generation. Now Millennials are starting to become parents as Gen Xers are becoming Grandparents. It's kind of scary that now Baby Boomers could become the new silent era gen.

   To me, I feel I'm a Xennial saying that it ends in 1983. To me.... I feel it ends in 1985'

    Every year technology gets stronger. Now The Generation...Gen Beta will be the smartest when it comes to technology since they will be born into it. For Baby Boomers, they're lost, For Gen X./Xennials the internet was only a baby....so back when I was a kid.

   When I was young... the Internet was not even born. It was around...but you would have to deal with someone using the phone as well as that annoying sound it would make.

   YouTube, TikTok, Facebook.... they never existed. We went outside and enjoyed life. Now a days...kids are more into technology.

  Even if a Xennial lasts for a few years, I still feel I'm in that era. Even though...technically....I should be a Millenial, I don't feel that I am. Maybe it's just me or...that I'm just behind in the times.

  I am starting to feel older the more technology is thrown at me and younger kids get it before I do.

  People born around the Xennial era would be Britney Spears, Ryan Gosling, Mila Kunis and a lot more. Do I feel that I was born in the Xennial time? Yes I do. Even though it says it ends in 1983...I feel it ends a few years later. 

    I can be a Millennial or a Xennial. But I know that I'm part of the Gen X generation. I'm two years younger than MTV, and that started the Gen X generation.

   I'm already 40 and Xennials are becoming something of the past. Gen Xers are getting older as well as Baby Boomers becoming grandparents, or great-grandparents. Time is going by faster. In a blink of an eye. So, what is a Xennial? Gen X mutating with Millennials.

   That's what it is...and I feel I am a Xennial combining both Gen X and Gen Y (Millennials) and Gen Alpha and Gen Beta will soon combine into something monstorous that will destory the other generations in the near future.