Kiss to Build a Dream On

Whenever I hear this song, it brings these pictures to mind...

Mary & Otto - Tyler, TX (R.H. Martin and Sons truck in the background)

Mary & Otto - Tyler, TX (R.H. Martin and Sons truck in the background)

Aunt Ele, mom & Aunt Ann - Tyler, TX

Aunt Ele, mom & Aunt Ann - Tyler, TX

O.J. (Otto) DiMola - Tyler, TX

O.J. (Otto) DiMola - Tyler, TX


From what I understand, Mr. Rowan taught my grandfather the floor covering trade. He started out making $0.50 an hour in 1945.  He moved his family [back home] to Ridgewood, NY, and in 1970 started his own business: "O.J. DiMola Floor Covering" 

...years later when I started my career in the fashion industry, he was very proud to tell me how he did all the floors in Mr. Bergdorfs home (of the retail chain Bergdorf Goodman) back in TX.