fenwaydav's Blog

For over a year I have been out here in this space that Fox allows me.   I have spilled my guts and you have listened.  My once enemies  are my friends now.  I don't pretend to be anything but who I am.   Flawed and damaged  I have laughed with you and cried.   I make no apologies for who I am or what I once was.  I hope I have given some people hope that you can come back from depths of hell, stronger and better than before.  I have told you of my battles with drugs and alcohol.  Unashamed,  cause the harm I did was to myself only.  I thank God every day that I didn't have children in my life to make there lives miserable.  I have heard horrible stories of people who grew up in alcoholic homes.  My Mother and Siblings had to bear that burden even from over 200 miles away, they knew David wasn't well.   I tried many times over the almost 40 years of addiction to get well.  I am so grateful that my Mother lived to see me celebrate almost 7 years of sobriety.  Yes Nov. 10, 2008 (8 days shy of my 55th birthday) will be 7 years without a drink or a drug.  I have seen many of my friends lose the battle and have questioned why I survived.  Coming soon I will write about my journey with Lap Band Surgery.  On the 30th of September I will enter the Beth Israel for this procedure.  That is another battle of mine.   I am very good with diets and can lose weight quite well.  I have tons (pardon the pun) of pictures and a closet of clothes from every size to prove it.   I am hoping this will give the extra help I need.   I know it isn't a cure,  but just a little help,  just like my going to AA is just a little help for my alcoholism. I know all my friends wish me well. 

It's funny how I can get carried away with writing.  The above wasn't even what I was going to write about.  I wanted to tell you that today Sept. 12, 2008 is the third anniversary of me without a cigarette.   I was at my Mother's home in New Jersey on that day.   I had to go out onto the balcony to smoke.  I was toying with the idea of quiting.  I went in the house and I showed my Mother the half pack I still had.  In front of her eyes I broke them in two and flushed them down the toilet.  I figured if I can stay two weeks with my Mother without a cigarette, I could go the rest of my life without smoking. 

So little by little I try to make some changes in my life.  I'm sorry I waisted so much time,  I'm sorry I hurt so many people along the way.  I made a mends to those who would except it and to those who didn't I don't blame you.  My family and closest friends are by my side.   Now if I forget your name or don't remember what happened last week I don't blame it on alcohol, I blame it on getting old.   Three years without a cigarette helps me breathe a little easier and smell a little better.  Again Thanks to all my friends and to Fox 25 for giving me this forum.

I made a phone call today.  I called my mother.  "HELLO,  I CAN'T COME TO THE PHONE RIGHT NOW.  LEAVE A MESSAGE AND I'LL CALL YOU BACK.  KEEP SMILING!   Mom would change her message several times a year, but always ended it with "keep smiling".  We laid my Mother to rest on Friday.  As I wrote to a few people out here that I keep in touch with via email,  her death was peaceful and calm.  After months of suffering with the pain of Cancer her final 2 days were spent in a hospice.   You should never need to go to hospice, but if you or a family member should become so sick that there is no hope and death is near, they will give you the dignity that the illness has robbed.  I was lucky to be in the room with her when her final breath was taken.   Days before she was thrashing in her bed, pulling at her clothing and calling for her "Momma" and all her family members who were long gone, including my father and brother.  She was also crying to go HOME.   My sister, brother and I were questioning where home was.   Was it Coney Island,  Florida,  New Jersey or Heaven?  When death came, it was without any real fanfare.  Like she waited for us to get there,  within 20 minutes of our arrival she went from a deep sleep without pain to death.  You could see death coming as each breath got more shallow.   We held her hand and stroked her hair and told her to give regards to all our family.  We told her they were waiting for her,  and I can envision the crowd.  

Ten years ago she asked a cousin if he would do the service.   He's a very religious man, but not a Rabbi.  He kept the promise he made years ago.   The service was grave side attended by about 75  friends and family.  Everything was just the way she wanted except for one thing.  She wanted a plain pine coffin.  We couldn't do that.  She deserved something better.   We went 2 notches up.  It was still pine!    My niece gave a beautiful eulogy and  reminded the crowd of several funny stories about my Mother. 

I flew into Boston this morning.  How wonderful it is to be home.   I called my sister to tell her I had gotten home safely and the same for my brother.  And yes I made that call to my Mother.  I needed to hear her voice one more time.   When the beep when off,  I said "Hi Mom, it's David,  I just wanted to say good-bye and that I love you" and deleted her number from my phone.

When I was in Jersey last week, my sister-in-law pulled out a album of my Bar Mitzvah pictures.  Bound in leather my mother made this day something I would always remember.  My father had a part in this by writing the checks.  This is the day in the Jewish faith that a boy becomes a man.  (he is 13)   If my math is right, this November will be 42 years ago.  As I turned the pages I was reminded of so many happy days.  These were the days before I discovered alcohol.   These were the days  before I discovered cocaine.  I don't remember for sure, but I don't even think I was stealing my mothers cigarettes yet.  My father and I wore blue dinner jackets.  I had so much fun looking at these pictures and my sister-in-law said I could have them.  I was so thrill to be given this piece of my history.  When I got this book home I cleaned over 40 years of  finger prints off.  I proudly display this book on my coffee table where it belongs.  I can't tell you how many times since I have it home that I have turned the pages.  The one sad thing in all of this, is the more I look at it I discover the more people that were in my life are no longer here.  40 + years have certainly taken it's toll.  I am now the age or older than some of those people I once thought were ancient.  My mother and father were so young.  I no longer have my father and lost a brother.  My mother lies dying in New Jersey and I fear that won't be long off.    I overcame the alchol and drugs and Sept 10th will be 3 years without a cigarette.  On the very first page of this album, I look at the picture of myself for any hints of what was coming and find none.  I was a normal gay 13 year old with a smile from ear to ear, and a pinky ring.

Although the outlook seems grave and outcome inevitable,  Ted Kennedy has weathered many a storm.   One of the hardest things I have ever seen him do was bury his nephew John F. Kennedy Jr.  From all reports he is the one keeping the family together these days.  They gather around him and he makes them laugh.  Men and Women  from both sides of the aisle are quick to find the camera and anyone who will listen as they sing his praise.  Not many get to sit at their own wake.  In a sense this is what the Senator is doing.  These next couple of days and weeks will be very trying times for the clan that has been through one tragedy after another.  This is not like those tragedy's of yesterday.  Unlike his brothers John and Robert it won't be a bullet that slays him.  Like brother Joe, it won't be war.   Cancer is the thing that may strike the final blow.  He has a faith that will sustain him and even help others.  He is lucky in a sense for now he holds the cards.  He will decide the treatment with the knowledge they provide.  76 young? old? It's a number that for him may be how it is written.  He's done wonderful things for Massachusetts's and the U.S.A.  He's done some things that may not have been so great also.  This is life the good and bad.  As I write this I can only judge the good.  I have said many times that my house is made of glass and I shall not throw any stones.  I wish him and his family well for that is all I have.  GOD BLESS YOU MR. KENNEDY....... 

I know a girl who is graduating from Dental School.   Her parents are coming in from New Jersey for the ceremonies next week, and couldn't be prouder.   I find it funny that her mother's question to her was "Why did you pick a profession that hurts so many people".  She feels that she will be helping so many people.  She's right! In September she starts a years residency in a Newark Hospital and after that she can decide if she wants to specialize or go into a general practice. 

How does a person decide they want to be a Dentist? For that matter how does one at such a early age decide anything so hard.  When given the choice 37 years ago I choose the Navy.   If you didn't go into the service, they said you were running away from Vietnam.   After the Navy, college was the last place I wanted to go.  Stupid, stupid me.... My nephew went to college for 2 years only to decide at the last moment he didn't like the courses he was taking and decided to drop out and go to a 2 year culinary school.  Upon graduation,  he took the NY State Police test and is a Trooper Upstate NY.  My brother and sister-in-law couldn't be prouder.  He and his wife couldn't be happier.   She loves the fact, that he does most of the cooking.

To all the GRADUATES out there, I hope all your dreams are fulfilled.  If you a graduating from Kindergarten, may you start growing into the person you've yet to relize.  If you are graduating from High School,  I hope by now you have become the human being we so desperately need.   If you are graduating from College,  I hope your chosen profession is one that you will love.  Wheither you are a Dentist or a State Trooper or a Rocket Scientist, I hope you can do your job with pride and maybe change the world just one little bit if only in your little neck of the woods.  My mother would always tell me and my other siblings,  it doesn't matter what you become in life just do it the best you can. 

Each generation has heard about the crazy times we live in.   I know during the 70's the kids were rotten and the world was falling apart.  Here we are in 2008 and the world is still  falling apart.  I hope you Graduates can go forward and help make this place a little better...GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS.....

As I sit here sifting through the blogs and deciding if I should answer or write, something is going on.  I keep get a little tone that indicates I have incoming mail.  I can get rid of that little tone if I choose to but I kind of like it.  It is certainly better than the days when you had no choice and you would hear "YOU GOT MAIL" .  When this little tone goes off I peer over to the bottom right and I see It's one of three people, my friend in Arizona, my cousin in Florida, or my sister in Jersey.   I love all three dearly, but I wish they would leave me alone. 

This is the problem with there emails.  My cousin in Florida sends me mail that is usally racist in nature.  Don't get me wrong I am not the most perfect person in the world, but some of this stuff makes even the hair on the back of my neck stand straight.  I get articles about candidates that I know are not true.   I wonder who she is voting for because I have recieved reports about everyone running.  Now the trouble with the mail from my sister is that she forwards me the mail from my cousin and tells me how discusting.  I tell Her I have gotten it already and why must she disgust me twice.  I never hear family news from these two, that waits till I am paying twenty dollars a minute on the phone.

Now the third and most annoying is the mail I get from my friend in Arizona.  She sends me those cutesy little stories that look like long drawn out versions of Hallmark cards.  Some of these have angels flying around and telling me the meaning of true friendship.  After going on for what seems for ever it says now send this on to 96 friends.   Schmucky me use to do that till everyone told me not to do it anymore.  My brother insist they can have a virus.  Well the other day I got one from Arizona.  I don't know why I just didn't delete it.  I can't even tell you what it said except for the very end.  It said to pass it to 6 people and I'll have financial gain in a week.  If I passed it to 12 people, I would get it in 2 days.  If I didn't pass it I would have big financial loss. He lies the problem.  When I recieved this I was going to Foxwoods in 3 days.  My finger was on the delete button, when I said to myself,  "What  happens if this time it's for real?"  Could I even find 12 people in my contact list?  I did and I sent them this stupid cockamamie email.  So let me tell you what happen in Foxwoods.  I was convinced that was going to bring me good luck.  I only went for a day of Bingo.  5 hours of BINGO!  Waiting wishing hoping, nothing.  Not even close.  As a matter of  fact,  I got out so late from BINGO, that I couldn't even eat.  Talk about being pissed off. 

So now as I write this, my mailbox is filling up with nonsense from her Arizona keyboard.  I am thinking of putting a block on all of these friend and family who send me this crap.  And then I think it is just as easy to press delete than hurt their feelings........

The Pope made his New Years Day speech at the Vatican today.  The usual peace on earth, and end the wars around the world.  He touch on a subject that in my opinion he should stay out of.  Family values and how Gay unions are destroying families.  The Catholic Church has there own family problems and they seem to be far worst than same sex marriage.  For years the Priest  of the Church have been diddling with little boys.  I'm sure this practice still goes on.  The millions the Church has payed out to families of the victims.  Let me tell you Pedophilia is not a Gay problem.  Gay men and women for the most part have no desire for children.  This is a practice of men who parade themselves around as straight.  I must say, in the Catholic Church it may be a gay issue.  If the priest of the church were able to marry or did not have to hide their sexuality they would not have to do it with under age children. To protect Cardinal Law and ship him off to Rome is a disgrace.  I guess to leave him hear to face the music would have been far worse.  Cardinal Law and so many other's knew of these sins being committed right under some of the Holiest Houses.  To  shut down parishes and schools  is another sin.  The Pope wore a Garment today that cost many thousands of dollars to make.  He constantly has clothing made for one time use.  He keeps the taylors of the Vatican very busy.  I only mention this because he is supposed to have taken a vow of poverty.  My foot!  He knows his legacy is short.  He needs to have something for his future Museum.  I am getting off the subject and one final thought.  The Catholic Church through its law breaking priest should thread very softly as they try to rebuild the trust of  it's follower's.   The fiery gates of hell hasn't opened because of the new laws.  Your family if it was stable still is.  Gay Marriage and Civil Unions are happening State by State.  Try to stand back and be proud Massachusetts lead the way as we always do.

This is kind of a sad story of a cat I once had named Lucille.  It has sort of a funny ending and till this day at party's and such friends beg me to tell the story of Lucille.

I was 22 and I had gotten my very first apartment on my own.  I had just returned home from the Navy. This apartment was in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn.  I lived on the 4th or 5th floor.  (Time has taken it's toll on my feeble mind).  In addition to having roaches I had some other little visitors.  My friend Mary-Ellen's cat just had a litter so I took one.  (After 8 weeks)  She was a cute tiger cat.  I named her after Lucy Ball.  I kept the formal version  Lucille.  My mouse problem soon became a thing of the past.  But even Lucille couldn't help me with the roaches.  Raid and cleanliness helped.  I was proud of this apartment.  It had hand me downs from family and friends. (I laugh now cause I had plastic drapes from John's Bargain Store on the windows, now I had  them custom made)

I went off to work one  hot summer day.  Upon my return, as I opened the door the surge made the plastic drapes fly inward.  I closed the door behind me and to my surprise Lucille wasn't there to greet me.  I figured she was asleep somewhere.  I called out  "LUCILLE  LUCILLE"  no response!  Where could she be? I looked all over and she was not in the apartment.  I went to my sceenless kitchen window and looked out to pure darkness.  I faced an enclosed  unlit  court yard.  I went to the kitchen draw and disturbed a family of roaches that scurried away so I could grab a flash light.  I went to the window and shined the light down as I  softly called out  "LUCILLE".   Just then the light caught something.  It was the eyes of Lucille looking up at me barely able to give a meow.  I ran down stairs not even knowing how to get into this area.  I finally figured out how to get there only to find a 6 foot fence locked to the area.  I had no other choice but to scale this fence.  I guess the adrenaline gave me the power to do so with no problem.

There she lied, my poor poor  Lucille.  I gathered her up in my arms scaled over that fence again now with just one hand and took my poor kitty upstairs.  Poor little thing, quite and not able to say much. I made her a bed and covered her up.  Surprisingly there was no blood.  She had a few teeth missing.  I awoke the next morning to find Lucille stiff as a board.  Now comes the next problem.  How do I get rid of Lucille.  I called up the ASPCA  and asked  "how does one dispose of a dead animal"?  I was told to call the Dept. of Sanitation.  I got this person on the line and was told to put Lucille in a bag and put her with the normal trash and they would be there to pick her up.   It was the days before you had a million plastic bags, as a matter of fact I had not one bag in the house.   My friend Tony who worked for Chase Manhattan Bank had once given me a canvas  money bag.  I figured  Lucille would go out in style.  I just figured it was the Cadillac of coffins.  I packed Lucille neatly into the bag and carried her down stairs.   I left her where I was instructed and walked to the corner for a pack of cigarettes.  We are talking no farther then from here to there and I was gone less then a minute. When I returned  the bag was gone.  There was no way they were there.  Someone saw this bag marked Chase Manhattan and stole it.  Oh my God I was horrified "SOMEONE STOLE MY POOR LUCILLE"   As I told this story to friend's and family everyone laughed.  I  thought how cruel.  But you no what?  It was kind of funny after all was said and done.  They weren't laughing at the death of poor Lucille, they were laughing at the person who stole her and their faces when they opened the bag.

The moral of the story is cats can't fly.  I thought cats were smarter than that, but I guess they are not.  I have had many cats since Lucille but none more remembered.  I romanticize and say she committed suicide, but in reality she must have been trying to catch a bird.  Now I can hear people out there saying why didn't I call a doctor.  First of all I was young and stupid.  Second we are talking the 70's and there wasn't the availability to treatment like today.  Angell in JP has a 24/7 emergency room.  Brooklyn 1972 didn't have that.   I have no quilt with the way things happened.  I do however have screens on all my windows.

 this story is dedicated to  JuneinMa who wanted a good cat story. 

It's about 2007:58 and 2008 is creeping so slowly into our lives. Have you had enough holiday's? Have you had enough politics? Well for one brief moment in time 2008:01, we can bask in the freshness of a brand New Year.  The media will remind us who passed in the year before.  We will be TOLD what some of the best of the best were.  We will look over those list and wonder what happened to this one and that. For one moment in time we don't have to think of the strife of the World, even though nothing has changed.  For some you will wallow in the could have beens and other's will remember all the good that has been achieved.  Some of us will  welcome someone new in our lives and others have to say goodbye. In the normal course of a year a mere 365 days,  there is a little of good and bad in all our lives.  Like the song say's, We were never Promised a Rose Garden. Personally I'm glad I prefer Lilacs.  In years gone by I brought the New Year in at Times Square.  These were the days before they roped off the streets so emergency vehicles could get through, yet if one had to it did.  I was younger than and had the patience for so much more.  Now if you put me on a crowded bus and I start to mumble.  I drank and drugged my way into the new year and most of the days to come.  Those days are gone.  I would never be elected to office,  someone would surely bring up my sorted past. My wish for you this new fresh start is just plain and simple. I wish for you what you wish for yourself.  Be careful on this one because in the words of another song Wishes can come true.  Just think in a brief 2 months the Red Sox will start Spring Training.  In less than a year we will have a new President Elect.  Your slate is clean, make the best of it.  HAPPY, HEALTHY NEW YEAR'S TO YOU AND YOUR'S.......  :O)

I have had Daisy almost 4 years.  I adopted her from the Angell  Memorial Animal Hospital in Jamaica Plain.   She was 3 at the time.   The day I got her, a friend of mine came with me.  Her name is Paula.   I had just moved into my apartment and I knew a cat was going  be one of my top priorities.  As I walked around where they kept the cats,  I was trying to find one that I connected with.  It's sad in a way, to see all those cats and know that alot of them won't get a home.  Paula directed me to a beautiful Siamese cat.  Her eyes were the brightest blue.   Siamese cats can be very temperamental and finicky, besides she was 11 years old. I was afraid I would have to pass this old girl up.  Paula said, oh look at this Persian  isn't she gorgeous?  Quite frankly I said no!  All I saw was one giant hair ball  and with that long hair it was to high maintenance  for me.  I was beginning to think I was going home empty handed.  I came across this cage that had this Tortie.  Her name was Whitney.  I guess after Whitney Houston.  Out of all of the cats there that day she was the only one that walked to the front of her cage when I walked by.  She rubbed her face against the bars and gave me those sexy eyes.   I continued down the line and reversed my steps.  When I approached Whitney's cage again, she came from the back to greet me again.   I called out to Paula who was on the other side looking at dogs.  When she saw the cat I said I think this is it, she said Oh! is she ugly.  I laughed.   She wasn't going to win a beauty contest.  She had a blotch  of beige here and a speck of brown there some black where ever.  That's how Tortie's are.   I have had that kind before and I think they  are beautiful.  I called out to one of the attendants  and she came to my assistance. Oh you want Whitney?  Almost like are you sure.  I asked if there was a problem  and there was.  Today was Whitney's last day.  She had a abscess in her canine tooth and they were going to put her down.   I was told if I wanted  her, I would have to wait 2 days  so the could pull her tooth.  She knew her time was ticking away.  She had to try anything.  So here comes this sucker  and she has to put all her charm to work.   I came back 2 days later and took Whitney home.  That name had to go.  What can I call her.  I'm the type that has to give my pets real names.  Not fluffy or Santa's little helper.  The reason I came up with Daisy is she reminded me of a patient I knew at the VA Hospital. Daisy had a stroke and the right side of her face drooped.  With the blotch of beige on her face my new cat reminded me of her.   That was her name.  Most of the time I call her everything but Daisy.  Where's my little peanut butter cracker?  Anyone see my little bunny?  The one I think she likes the most is when I call her my Chop Liver Angel.   Terms of endearment are sometimes goofy.  She looks so funny when she yearns and I see her missing tooth.  She has the life here.  And she deserves it.  She brings me so much happiness.  She rules my house for the most part.   I always say, if there is such a thing as reincarnation,  I want to come back as cat and be in a home like mine.  What could be so bad,  She is feed twice a day.  She sleeps 20 or more hours a day.  She wakes up long enough to come sit in my lap, she lets me scratch her head and under her chin than she goes back to sleep.  That's what I call living.  Know matter  where  she is asleep, and she has several favorite spots,  I wake up in the morning and she is sound asleep by my side. 

The girl is 15 years old still in high school.  The boy is 22 in college a tennis pro.  Their families meet in Florida.   For the boy and girl it is love at first sight.  Both families well aware of this but not to worried as miles separate them.  They are both from NYC, but totally different worlds.  She has a sweet sixteen party and the young man and his family come to the party.  In between the years they go out on dates from time to time.  The girl now is 18 and he is 25  and down the aisle they walk into marriage.  A year later they have their first child  a boy followed by two girls.

That is just the brief   history of my sister and brother-in-law.   They got married in 1960, I was 7 years old.  My late brother Mark was 5.   My nephew  who is 8 years younger than me  has 2 kids of his own.  (One in college the other in high school).  My sister's two girls have 2 girls of their own.   My nephew and I were more like brothers than Uncle and Nephew.  I never remember him calling me Uncle David, his kids do.  When I was a kid my uncles and aunts were ancient.   

My sister who is now 65 and my brother-in-law is 72 have been married  48 years come this May.  I find that amazing.  One apartment and two houses later they still seem to happy.  Don't get me wrong to say it's been a life of bliss would be a lie.  I was going to say that people  treated each other differently , but that's not altogether true either.  They treated each other differently.  I grew up with my brother-in-law and his family and didn't no life without them.  When his mother died  several years ago it hit me very bad.  She was not my sister's mother-in-law, she was a member of my family and I cried for her more than I did for some blood relatives.

I  tell this story for a couple of reasons.  Would a parent today let his 15 year old daughter date a man 22.  I doubt it, and if they did I don't think people would consider them good parents.  With all the news today with teen pregnancy and unwed mothers I look at my sister's kids in amazement.  To raise children today is one of the toughest jobs out there.  Even my nephew having his girl in college bewilders me.  Not that I expected anything less from them,  it is just such a crap shoot.   When I was young and I knew I was gay, it upset me to think I wouldn't have any kids.  (The choices weren't there in the stone age)  I got news for you, I thank God everyday I don't.  I know parents tell me it is so fulfilling.  I can live without the fulfillment.   My hat is off to all you parents who are raising children.  There can't be any  job  harder  in the world today. By the way, My 2 older brothers did a pretty good job also.   So to the parents of the world I say Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays,  and may 2008 be good to you.  God Bless You!!!

Tonight I cooked up some chicken for myself.  I had bought it a couple of weeks ago and shoved them in the freezer.  It was one  of those store made stuffed breast with bread stuffing. I made some creamy mashed potatoes to go with it.  It was two in a pack seal individually in shrink wrap.  I decided to cook them both up figuring I'll have one for lunch tomorrow.  I cooked them up according to the directions and was on the phone, so they even stayed about 10 min. longer.  When I took them out of the package,  I wasn't quite sure of the smell.  I convinced myself they were alright.  On the plate it sat with those nice mashed spuds.  I took a taste and said this taste alright, but did it?  The cat was by my side and in her usual way meowing for a taste. She loves chicken. I cut her off a little piece and gave it to her.  Let me tell you something about Daisy,  She eats everything.  Her 3 favorite things are Shrimp, Tuna  and Chicken.  Any way  I looked down and she didn't touch the chicken.  I thought maybe it was to hot, so I let cool down before I tried another piece.  She was so happy to get it. I turned and looked down at the floor and there lied the chicken.  She wanted know part of it.  I took the remaining  piece I had a threw it away.  And the whole one I was going to have another meal of I threw that away also.  If Daisy won't eat it, something is wrong.  I called  a friend of mine and told him if I am dead tomorrow to check the carbage and tell them about the chicken. I might have talked myself into it, but I feel a little quizzy.  If this is my last blog I bid farewell.  Thank you for letting me be apart of your life. I wrote out here on Fox  25 and had alot of fun.  (Sometimes)

The other day I was looking into a blank computer screen.  I was  trying to decide where I wanted to go.  I said to myself   how about a trip to Coney Island.  I felt kind of nostalgic, it was just after I wrote the story about "It's a Wonderful Life".  You have read that blog , haven't you?  Wonderful piece of work. I Just had to figure how to get there.  There was (is) a place called Mermaid Ave.  I don't know what it is like now, but back when I was a kid it was the Shopping Center of the day.  Well I typed it in and you know how it is,  I was given a mulitude of places to try out.  I decided to go to the very first site.

I was home again. The Coney Island of my youth.  Not the built up projects of today.  The writer of these pages was the son of Al Sinrod. The Sinrods had a series of stores along Mermaid Ave.  Al had a men's shop.  This is where my mother took my brother and I for our clothes. That's where all our back to school clothes were bought.  Al's brother Nat had the Tuxedo place.  That's where I got my dinner jacket for my Bar-Mitzvah. All my brothers did too. That's where the men in my sister's wedding party got there tuxes.  A little further along,  Blanche Sinrod had the baby store called the Half Pint.  Across the street was The Huba Huba coffee shop. My mother knew all the shop owners as friends so it wouldn't be unusual  for her to drag my brother and I out for an afternoon of just visiting.  They all loved us. How could they not, we were so adorable.  The Mermaid Theatre was where we saw some of the greatest movies.  The Mermaid  is a Baptist Church these days.  C_Fox I bet you can relate to this when I say The ocean air is such a wonderful smell. You don't even know it till the day you don't have it anymore.

During the summer, we were at the beach all day. My mother would pack a lunch of some of the greatest heroes (subs).  She would gather us all in the  Woody station wagon  for the four block trip.  We were water rats.  I loved the ocean. The crashing waves. I remember after we would eat, my mother made us lay down on the blanket and  take a nap.  I never slept, but laying there was a trick I use for relaxation to this day. I close my eyes and pretend  I am lying on that blanket.  Do you no something, when I do that I hear the waves crashing and I can smell the ocean.  Sometimes before we went home my mother would take us to Nathans Famous. There use to be a back room with a few tables and waiter service. Not alot of people knew that. A little funny story if I may. Our phone number was CI 6- 3131, and Nathans was CI 6-3161. We would get at least a dozen calls a week for Nathans. One night my mother wasn't feeling well and the Phone rang, On the other a man said NATHANS  my mother said drop dead and hung up. A few min. later the phone rang and my mother had my father pick up.  The man on the other end said TELL YOUR WIFE TO DROP DEAD TOO!  She was often asked why she didn't have that number changed , her response was let them change their's. When we would be in the car heading home we would sing  Hail Hail the Gangs all Here. I'm sure you guys have memories of your own. I hope they are as wonderful as mine.  If you want to visit the Coney Island of my past, I invite you to take a little trip.  The best way to view this site is to visit all the pages first and then read some of the comments people have left. Before I close I thought of something that has truly come into my mind.  This is not meant to be morbid but I always think about my death. I mean not every waking moment. But viewing this site and reading some of the comments a kind of peace came over me. I now know that when I die, I'm going to the Coney Island of my childhood. That is my heaven.

myconeyislandmemories.com

The other day I was looking into a blank computer screen.  I was  trying to decide where I wanted to go.  I said to myself   how about a trip to Coney Island.  I felt kind of nostalgic, it was just after I wrote the story about "It's a Wonderful Life".  You have read that blog , haven't you?  Wonderful piece of work. I Just had to figure how to get there.  There was (is) a place called Mermaid Ave.  I don't know what it is like now, but back when I was a kid it was the Shopping Center of the day.  Well I typed it in and you know how it is,  I was given a mulitude of places to try out.  I decided to go to the very first site.

I was home again. The Coney Island of my youth.  Not the built up projects of today.  The writer of these pages was the son of Al Sinrod. The Sinrods had a series of stores along Mermaid Ave.  Al had a men's shop.  This is where my mother took my brother and I for our clothes. That's where all our back to school clothes were bought.  Al's brother Nat had the Tuxedo place.  That's where I got my dinner jacket for my Bar-Mitzvah. All my brothers did too. That's where the men in my sister's wedding party got there tuxes.  A little further along,  Blanche Sinrod had the baby store called the Half Pint.  Across the street was The Huba Huba coffee shop. My mother knew all the shop owners as friends so it wouldn't be unusual  for her to drag my brother and I out for an afternoon of just visiting.  They all loved us. How could they not, we were so adorable.  The Mermaid Theatre was where we saw some of the greatest movies.  The Mermaid  is a Baptist Church these days.  C_Fox I bet you can relate to this when I say The ocean air is such a wonderful smell. You don't even know it till the day you don't have it anymore.

During the summer, we were at the beach all day. My mother would pack a lunch of some of the greatest heroes (subs).  She would gather us all in the  Woody station wagon  for the four block trip.  We were water rats.  I loved the ocean. The crashing waves. I remember after we would eat, my mother made us lay down on the blanket and  take a nap.  I never slept, but laying there was a trick I use for relaxation to this day. I close my eyes and pretend  I am lying on that blanket.  Do you no something, when I do that I hear the waves crashing and I can smell the ocean.  Sometimes before we went home my mother would take us to Nathans Famous. There use to be a back room with a few tables and waiter service. Not alot of people knew that. A little funny story if I may. Our phone number was CI 6- 3131, and Nathans was CI 6-3161. We would get at least a dozen calls a week for Nathans. One night my mother wasn't feeling well and the Phone rang, On the other a man said NATHANS  my mother said drop dead and hung up. A few min. later the phone rang and my mother had my father pick up.  The man on the other end said TELL YOUR WIFE TO DROP DEAD TOO!  She was often asked why she didn't have that number changed , her response was let them change their's. When we would be in the car heading home we would sing  Hail Hail the Gangs all Here. I'm sure you guys have memories of your own. I hope they are as wonderful as mine.  If you want to visit the Coney Island of my past, I invite you to take a little trip.  The best way to view this site is to visit all the pages first and then read some of the comments people have left. Before I close I thought of something that has truly come into my mind.  This is not meant to be morbid but I always think about my death. I mean not every waking moment. But viewing this site and reading some of the comments a kind of peace came over me. I now know that when I die, I'm going to the Coney Island of my childhood. That is my heaven.

myconeyislandmemories.com

This time of year I wonder, could things have been different?  In the movie George Baily is shown what life without him would have been like. George did some wonderful things in his life that he didn't  even know he did.  What a great little town Bedford Falls was.  He was shown what life in Pottersville could have been. The lives he touched  in just daily living.  From the very young age when he saved his brother.  Just that one move, by saving Harry and Harry saving other's in war. Hundreds of life's were changed by that one move alone.  Look at Mr Martini the druggist, if a young George didn't stop him from giving the wrong meds he would have killed someone. The Savings and Loan would have gotten into the hands of Mr Potter if  George didn't stay back when his father died. He sacrificed going off to find fame and fortune.

In the movie George With the help of Clarence  is shown he really and truly had a Wonderful  Life.  Rarely is one able to look back on their life and see the impact we may have had.  Mary Hatch would have wound up an old maid, and the children Janie, Tommy, Peter and ZuZu (his little ginger snap)  would have never been born.

In this day of  Santa's to fat and holiday tree's, we need to find a way to respect everyone.  That shouldn't mean that we have to do away with traditions that for some span decades and even century's.  Lighten up folks.  If someone  says Merry Christmas and it's not your holiday, all you have to say is YOU TOO!  I have been doing that since I could remember. In my window growing up we had a Menhorah.  In my windows today I still have a Menhorah,  and a single candle in my seven other windows. Of cause it's electric and it's something I started.  It looks so nice from the street. I have always liked the simplicity of  plain white lights for Christmas.  If colored lights are your thing, fine.

One little thing I have found out about "Its' A Wonderful Life"  At the end they were going to sing "Ode To Joy" . It was replaced with "Auld Lang Syne"  because it wasn't religious.  My God can you imagine the trouble if today someone's little girl said  "look daddy TEACHER says everytime a bell rings, an ANGEL gets his wings". That teacher would be on the front page of  paper calling for her to be fired.