It is said “ better late than never” but I don’t believe this is true when you learn that a wonderful person you know has passes on. I used to take care of Mike at Lifetime Health Mosher Pharmacy. He was a wonderful and interesting person and I am sad to have just learned of his passing. My heart goes out to Carolyn. I know they we truly in love.

Deanna, I am so sorry to hear about your fathers passing. You and your family are in our prayers. May the Lord give comfort & peace to all of you. Please take care. Miss ya

  

CROSSROADS pt 2
Picture, one more and one more and more and more pictures, from left, from right,  from behind, in front, on the side. With the sun and without it…..smiles, happiness and relief. We finally are here, yes!
We reached a place, full of Borat’s cliches (before they were fancy) and….obviously it was NOT the place we were looking for. But the smile and calmness never wore off Mike’s face.
We asked locals, one after another, seeking the specific surname, and finally someone has given us the directions... to some other village, just…. another 15 km away.
Drive some more, through even more remote roads (happy they actually WERE there!), ending up in someone’s yard being just a living memory of XIX century peasant accomodations, but it did not matter at all, because we have reached the ancestors place!
And that was just a start, a start of life-long adventure for all of us. Two families separated by thousands of kilometers, however truly connected and (as the technology continuous development allowed) being in constant touch witheach other, in all life-events that happened throughout those almost 30 years, all regardless of the distance. Through many happy events and funny (sometimes too awkward) situations, where many different emotions surfaced, yet the only thing remained constant: Mike’s calmness, deep voice, his Monty Python’s sense of humor and peaceful aura that surrouned him.  - Take it easy, everything will be good – he used to say.  Mike always remained unshaken, stable and solid as a rock. There were so many more events, so many happy memories, it was a lifetime of a true friendship.  And that’s how we all will remember it. All of us. 
Now, one of us has gone to the better place, leaving us in grief and sadness, yet, we try to hang onto those words of Mike – our lifelong friend, source of peace, calmness and stability – take it easy, everything will be good.

Kate, Henry, Anna, Karolina, Jasiek, Oliwka, Julka and Przemek

CROSSROADS  pt 1.
- have you ever seen the Crossroads? – asked the deep baritone next to me, petrifying me instantly because I obviously haven’t, despite pretending and prouding myself of being „music expert” (pfffffff!)
- You really should! – the baritone continued and I turned my head, just to see smiling, firendly face and eyes that could see directly through me. (he obviously knew, I haven’t but he did not make a wink)
Four people in a rectangual construction on 4 wheels pretending to be a car (and it was even more! -  like a life-savior for some) ugly, inefficient and simply ridiculous, yet it proven to be THE way to conquer the barren lands we tried to reach.  Two REAL Americans in my country, two people from the Promised Land, from another civilization, from such a distant world that it could be in Magellan Galaxy, it wouldn’t make any difference for me….yet they were sitting next to me, in that red excuse-for-a-car and they both seemed to be extremely excited! I could not believe my eyes, ears and any other of my senses. For me the history was just happening (and in fact, it actually HAS). 
Again, I realise that I am „the driver” for the „greatest roots-seeking-trip-ever”, so I should be at least confident where I am going to.  Honestly I had very little idea, there were no Google maps available and the paper one was quite old and we were at the crossroads. 
Driving through this semi-mountain area without any real road marks, hoping we reach the destination and look- there it is! A big sign stating the name of the most-sought-remote-village in Poland! BORKÓW.
Happines on our faces - we got there, yes, this is IT! Yiipeee-ya-kayyy! Yet still, this is crossroads.


I had Mike for an American Government and Politics class at Hamburg High School back in 1976.  He was engaging, humorous, and interesting.  But, mostly I remember him as the director of my Senior class play in 1977. He let me "rewrite" one of the parts so that I could play a female version of what had originally been a male role.  And when I gave the valedictory speech at the graduation of the Class of 1977, he was there as a chaperone.  As I left the auditorium after the ceremony, he said to me, "Robin, only you could find a way to include both Abraham Lincoln and Karl Marx in the same speech!"  That's how closely Mike paid attention to me and to his students, in general. Finally, I remember Mike hosting a cast party at his home in Angola and that it happened to fall on the day that Elvis died! Strong, fond memories of Mike, a good guy!

Mike (Berm) was a wonderful friend and a beloved teacher at Hamburg. He never failed to light up a room when he entered; his characteristic quick wit and smile always left his students and colleagues- including me- feeling lighter, grateful that he was part of our lives.  It was a privilege to work with him for many years and to call him my friend.  I wish we could gather and raise a glass one more time to this fine man.  

I always remember Uncle Mike and Aunt Carolyn having such fun and being so joyful at family picnics. He was a magnetic person that people were naturally drawn to. I still treasure a cross pendant that he and Aunt Carolyn brought me from Poland when I was a kid. It means a lot to me because their travels and sense of adventure were an inspiration to me. When I think of Uncle  Mike I feel a sense of belonging and I am very grateful that I was born in his family. Rest In Peace, loved Uncle. 

OBITUARY

Michael E. Bermingham

March 12, 1939 – February 6, 2021

Dengler, Roberts, Perna Funeral Home

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