As children my brothers and I worked with my father Fred Opie Jr. on weekends cleaning offices, firehouses, and churches across Westchester County in the 1970s and 1980s. This was a side business; he worked full-time as a correctional officer at Sing Sing prison. We would leave the house as early as 6 AM on Saturdays and Sundays to start the work. After a couple hours of work he would gives us a few dollars get breakfast at a nearby Friendlies Restaurant or a bodega as he completed a job. We ate and listen to my father share stories about his father who died before I was born and my dad’s time in the Airforce. In reflection working early on the weekends with my father provided quality time with him because he worked double shifts at Sing Sing three or more times a week from 3 PM to 7 AM! At the time, I did not enjoy getting up early and going out to work with my father. No, I wanted to sleep in; now I view those early morning jobs and breakfast as special.
