Category Archives: Special topics

People go to Mecca, Thailand,…

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People go to Mecca, Thailand, India, etc. for spiritual insight, Others seeking personal meditative space have weekend homes upstate or can jet somewhere at will…. but for those of us of humble monetary means I can attest to the fact that some of the most crucial moves made in my life were carefully weighed for pros and cons beforehand, on a fire escape; the one place where the noise of the city can be as serene as the the sound of wild life in the woods. My godfather owned a rent-controlled apt on 8th ave. and 56th st. I would apt. sit for him all the time. It was a cool small split level old artists studio with a sky roof. Always smelled of incense and espresso. The radio always on Jazz 88. We called that small place “the Gazebo”. I spent many summers nights and days on the fire escape of that building watching the madness roll by. Witnessed a few road rage attacks, domestic interludes, heat strokes, killer sound systems. Felt like a pigeon scoping the city from above. Slept under the stars on a futon on hot night on that fire escape. Invited a bunch of redneck musician friends of mine from lewisburg and fleetwood PA to do an unplugged jam up there. Caused alot of people to look up and check out the great music. I lived in the East Village, and when I didn’t want to be found I would head to that apt. and that “escape” and just enjoy the peace.

CENTRAL BROOKLYN MODEL CITIES…

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CENTRAL BROOKLYN MODEL CITIES SUMMER PROGRAMS. Another of the many residential camp for the “urban youth” back in the late ’70’s. I was 14 and deeply into swimming, with no access to more than the neighborhood recreation pool. We went to The University of Durham New Hampshire. Beautiful campus, I immediately fell in love with the young lifeguard instructor, who stayed on campus to teach swimming for the summer. Fancied myself a great swimmer until told to do just 10 laps the full length of that olympic pool in order to qualify to begin diving and life-saving instruction. I almost burst a lung.It took a couple of weeks and many hours before I could knock-out 20 laps without hardship. Organized sports in that environment was just what we roughnecks needed. They had science and other classes to keep our minds from getting rusty for the summer. We even saw dissected felines marinating in formaldyhyde. Fresh air and adolescent hormones. I finally developed a crush on some one my own age, Paris Lucas, the best guy swimmer in the group, I was the best girl. I wasn’t so popular, so I could spend more time developing my skills than the more developed ladies. Paris thought I was just fine, and that suited me. I had been made president of the “Itty Bitty Titty Committee, and they were nice enough to hang my name-labled 32AA bra on the camp flagpole. They took the swimmers to the ocean and had us swim out to a distant rock formation. Most of us made it and 3 of us decided to hang out and sunbathe on that rock for a few hours. Later, We were baked and exhausted and could barely make it back. I was cocky when executing bold high-dives until I didn’t pull out in time and smacked into the water. They thought I was joking and took a while to figure out that I was unconscious. Gave me a red burn much worse than a sun. It was a great healthy summer that took me out of my usual element. Open fire hydrants on a hot summer day are great, but I’d opt for a clean non-overcrowded olympic pool any day.

Yeah I almost got taken…

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Yeah I almost got taken in a car when I was young and my sister saw me and yelled. “Moudy!!! (Nick Name) Get over here.” The guy was offering Candy… I thought, hell I want candy. Then I got the big talk about strangers and never talking or going near them. Lost innocents. Thanks Sis, I love you.

How can you forget your…

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How can you forget your first kiss? It was in my closet with Victoria, the girl next door. We where about in the fifth grade. Her younger brother and sister where on the other side of the door asking “What are you doing in there?” We kissed each other on the cheek a couple of times and then one of us said how about the lips this time? Pretty racey for ten year olds around 1957. Now I must talk of THE kiss. The one that lead to my first true love. We where walking home from our first date at the movies. It was a cold Bronx winter evening. I still remember the date 2/2/62. With snow on the ground. We stopped in a small playground near her building and leaning against this large cement turtle (sounds funny when I think of it) we embraced. Let me tell you, my feet where not cold anymore. Same for my nose, hands or anything else! We went on to become great friends over the decades but have lost touch. Jill, if your out there I hope all is well.

I live in Alpine but grew…

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I live in Alpine but grew up in NY in a place called Spanish Harlem. I can remember as a little girl going into other neighborhoods to watch my father and his buddies challenge other teams. Most of the games were played on Sundays and the people would all take the cars off the block so the guys could play. I was Daddy’s girl and also the son he never had. Most of the games were played for big money, each man putting up a certain amount. My favorite place was Little Italy. They played right on Mott and Hester Street and I remember having a huge crush on a player from the other team. I was all of 8 years old. Those were the good old days. People would be hanging ot windows and families would be on their fire escapes with salami sandwiches to cheer their teams on. Win or lose, everyone had a good time and never did I witness any fights or hard feelings. I was always proud of Daddy and even though he is to old for stickball I’m still proud to be his little girl.

In the North Bx.,E223St…

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In the North Bx.,E223St and Paulding Ave in the early thirties, we sat on the stoop of our two-family houses and sewed clothing for the little five-cent celluloid dolls, bought at Berkies candy store.We also made things out of peach pits by scraping them against the rough cement of the stoop .Remember, anyone? Annette

I remember growing up in…

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I remember growing up in Brooklyn before they had the net and public outcry against pedophiles. All the kids knew where the creeps were. You could always find some guy dressed up as a clown sitting in his car parked outside playground gates, offering children candy or balloons twisted into animal shapes. Invariably some idiot kid would be stupid enough to go to the car and the low-life would flash them. Then the bunch of us would assault the creep with rocks and glass until he drove off. The thought of calling the cops never crossed our minds back then. I guess that’s because it wasn’t talked about in public much. Later as a teen, I remember that the pedophiles were always the guys who wanted to offer you change to play video games when you ran out. And I also remember there was a short bald guy in Washington Square Park who used to try to offer young girls $50.00 to step on him with spike heels in some private place of their choosing. I’m sure their modus operandi has not changed much over the years. Accept they’re more daring and want to do alot more than flash you.