By Barbara, January 30, 2019 — Times are much different now than they were back then. I was raised in Mariner’s Harbor, NY: arguably not the nicest place, and most would avoid it if they could. My friends and I were always up to no good, but no good was always good enough to pass the time. By today’s standards the games we played were nothing to gawk at, and most parents would lose their heads if they knew what we were doing.
I remember the “mosquito trucks,” as we would call them, driving down the neighborhood. The kids and I would run from the stoops to chase after them and catch the bugs all swooning around as it fled. I would find pennies in the street and save them until I had a nickel, and I could run down to the grocer and get a “pickle-for-a-nickel.” You would stick your hand into the old-fashioned barrel, as wide as Santa’s fat belly, and that would be your treat for the week! Our parents would have no idea where we went, but we would always be back by the time the street lights came on. Every kid knew the consequences if you weren’t home for supper, so that was a hard rule around my neighborhood. Still, you would be lucky to see us for lunch. At night we would go to the moviehouse and see whatever two films were playing back-to-back for a quarter.
Back in that time it was cool to fall in love and get married young, and that’s what we did. My late husband and I were together for years but eventually separated. Right now I’m happily spending my time with a new companion, a man who served in the Navy during his youth (and yes, old folks still date!) I have an immense feeling of purpose and joy spending time with my family, although sometimes infrequently. My four kids and their grandkids (and great grandkids!) all turned out wonderful, and it brings me happiness to know they were raised better than my upbringing. I always believe that anything could have gone wrong, whether it was a result of the neighborhood, or some of the friends they had. One of my favorite activities is making ceramics with the other seniors in my neighborhood. I belong to a class that meets every Wednesday and I often gift the pieces to my Son’s and daughters’ family, with love from Grammy.
I’m happy to take care of my family, and having my grandson visit me to chat over dinner made my week. I could never name the best day of my life, because there are twelve of them: the individual dates my grandchildren and great-grandchildren were born. I can name four more when all my children got married and welcomed the new family into our lives. I hope anyone reading can get an idea of what life was like for their parents or grandparents growing up, and how important family will always be.