Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

sir pball

(4,741 posts)
Sat Jan 19, 2019, 09:47 PM Jan 2019

So my mom grew up next door to Billy Barr..

My grandfather was a professor at Columbia; my mom (since passed) grew up in the faculty housing at 445 Riverside Drive. I got this email today from her best friend, relating their childhood:

The Barr family lived on the 10th floor, on the same side of the building as the Waites. They had four boys. Billy played the bagpipes. Even with the amazing solid brick walls, which cut a lot of sound, the entire building was very aware of Billy's musical development. Kippy Barr (real name Christopher, the oldest) was almost the exact same age as Maria. Billy was a bit older than Annie. The other two were Stevie and I-can't-remember. The Barrs, together with Larry and Donny O'Neill from the 9th floor, had a regular baseball game every afternoon for years, in the park right across the street from 445. In grade school Maria had several memorable fights with Kippy Barr and one of the O'Neills -- perhaps Larry. Even at the end of high school, when it snowed we had memorable snowball skirmishes with the O'Neills and the Barrs.

That doesn't give you a lot of helpful information about Billy. Sorry. From the photos now he looks exactly like his father. I imagine he is very smart and capable. And I presume he is completely honest -- his whole family were ramrod straight.


Trump nomination aside, if my source says he and his whole family are "ramrod straight" I'll believe it. I mean, there's a lot worse he could have nominated...
11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

tblue37

(65,319 posts)
1. And yet he advised Daddy Bush to pardon all the Iran-Contra criminals and thus
Sat Jan 19, 2019, 09:49 PM
Jan 2019

short circuit the investigation.

Squinch

(50,946 posts)
2. All honest people have dishonest relatives and vice-versa. I like to hear good things about
Sat Jan 19, 2019, 09:51 PM
Jan 2019

people I fear the way I do Barr, but I'm just going to have to wait and see for myself what he does.

But thank you for a bit of a bright side.

Autumn

(45,055 posts)
8. I'm guessing they all slept though Iran Contra.
Sat Jan 19, 2019, 10:05 PM
Jan 2019

Yeah I'm sure because hies family is ramrod straight he's completely honest.

yonder

(9,663 posts)
9. Warily, this is strangely comforting.
Sat Jan 19, 2019, 10:58 PM
Jan 2019

A piper from a stand up family that enjoys being together outside. How normal sounding, though he won't be able to escape his own repertoire.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»So my mom grew up next do...