I remember I wasn’t allowed to skate in the street, so I stuck to the sidewalks- and sometimes, they were so bumpy with tiny bits of gravel, my teeth would knock together! And if you fell down and got a nasty scrape, you’d try to hide it because if your mom saw it, she would bring out a nasty bottle of orange methyalade. (I think that’s how you spell it, I couldn’t find it on Google- maybe because it was found toxic. We knew that as kids- it stung something awful and left you orange for about a week!) My neighborhood was urban, but suburban at the same time. You couldn’t walk down the street without meeting at least 3 people you knew. The mailman, the sanitation guys- they were all regulars, they were part of the neighborhood. There was a bakery, a fish shop, a cheese store, and meat market… no one stop shopping. I think I liked it better that way. And I can remember many a time, mom giving a check at the grocery store and asking the manager to hold it for a day or two- and he would. No debit cards, just trust. There were so many trees that lined our slate and cobblestone sidewalks that – giant sugar maples and willow trees. In the fall, the leaves were a beautiful orange and red and golden and would pile ankle high in the early morning- so on the way to school you could crunch them and kick them and just feel so alive in the crisp sweet morning air. It was good. Real good.
Here is where I grew up. I would spend many nights sitting on that little stoop eating an ice cream and talking with my girlfriends.. and later with the boy I fell in love with and married. |
This is the view of the NY skyline that I would see from the playground I played in. The skyline has changed in so many ways, for so many reasons. But it never fails to take my breath away. |
I was always stuck by the symmetry of these wooden benches that lined out parks. We would walk on top of them and jump the hand bars. |
Oh what a lovely story, a stroll down memory lane. Sounds like we are of a similar era, my story taking place across the river in NJ, but very much the same. So happy to have you at the O, can't wait to get to know you better. Diane (Cheerio dwsewbiz)
Oh what a lovely story, a stroll down memory lane. Sounds like we are of a similar era, my story taking place across the river in NJ, but very much the same. So happy to have you at the O, can't wait to get to know you better. Diane (Cheerio dwsewbiz)
Gorgeous post. Makes me all nostalgic.
Gorgeous post. Makes me all nostalgic.
Cheryl!! Thank you for the spelling- I couldn't believe I couldn't find that :)It was like we all wanted to erase it from our memories… 😉
Cheryl!! Thank you for the spelling- I couldn't believe I couldn't find that :)It was like we all wanted to erase it from our memories… 😉
Great post! Thank you. I've lived lots of places through the years and understand where you're coming from regarding documenting events instead of places. I also remember the dreaded merthiolate. lol That stuff stained everything it touched! And boy did it sting. I'm glad you were able to grab some pics while you were back visiting.
Great post! Thank you. I've lived lots of places through the years and understand where you're coming from regarding documenting events instead of places. I also remember the dreaded merthiolate. lol That stuff stained everything it touched! And boy did it sting. I'm glad you were able to grab some pics while you were back visiting.