Be afraid...be very afraid

Happy Halloween!

Autumn in Wurtsboro

Catholic Church

Community Church of Wurtsboro

Sullivan Street and the Shawangunk Ridge

Our backyardIt's warm and cozy inside too

Mom's 90th Birthday

Mom's 90th birthday was October 22, 2009. Just like Dad's 90th in June, Mom was not up for a big celebration. So she had a quiet birthday at our house.

Though they need more help these days, Mom & Dad still live by themselves in their own house.

Dad still drives occasionally, they attend mass every week and they still go their senior citizen meetings. Not bad for 90. Toni & I are so blessed to still have them with us.

Rose, Joan & Frank sent Mom beautiful roses. They never forget her.

Sentimental Visit to Astoria

Last weekend our cousin, Patti Fine and her fiance Elliott made a trip up north from Florida to attend a wedding and to see the sights in NYC.
Patti's Mom, my Aunt Dorothy was my Dad's younger sister.
My grandmother, my dad, my uncles, aunts & cousins had all lived in Astoria at one time.

Patti wanted to visit the old neighborhoods where our families once lived and our cousin Rose, who grew up in Astoria, volunteered to give the tour. Patti had no idea I was coming along, so it was a fun surprise when Rose & I drove up to their hotel in Manhattan to pick them up.

The last time I had seen Patti & her sister Carol was in 1965. They had come up to Wurtsboro Hills with their Mom, Aunt Dorothy, for a couple of weeks in the summer to see the family.
Our first stop was Nana Haley's apartment building. The corner store Nana shopped in is still there. Patti remembers being impressed by the fire escapes. They didn't have them in FL. I remember being impressed by the"EL" down the block. Trains that roared by, high above the ground. We didn't have them in N.J.either.

Three grandchildren in front of their grandmother's building: Rose, Patti & Jackie

This is Grandma's door. The people who lived there now, came out when they heard us in the hall. We told them our grandmother had lived in that apt for about 38 years. Nana finally moved out in about 1970. We peeked into the apartment, but the lady didn't ask us to come in. I probably wouldn't have either.

Here's the family in Nana's apt in about 1959. Nana Haley, my mom's mother Nana Rueger, Aunt Rose, (doesn't she look pretty!) Aunt Peggy and me. ( It looks like I could use the bathroom. ) Nana had three rooms, which she always kept just so. I remember that apt. so well. I remember Nana making me a spiced ham sandwich for lunch. We also had potato salad, which we had bought at the corner store. She made me green jello for dessert. I thought it was all very special.

My mother, Aunt Chickee, Uncle Vinnie & me. Rose & Joan's wedding pictures are behind my shoulder. I think the picture on the wall is of Aunt Rose, Aunt Dorothy and Nana. Someone's having a Rheingold probably not me.

Rose in front of her family's building. Patti remembers sleeping there and being afraid of someone being on the fire escape. She said while sleeping in there the window shade snapped up, scaring her half to death. She begged to have her sister Carol sleep in the room with her.

I remember Billy Boy, Aunt Rose & Uncle Franks parakeet. I loved that bird.I nagged my parents until they bought me a parakeet just like Billy.

The hall of Aunt Rose & Uncle Frank's apt. I loved to visit them. Uncle Frank was my godfather and he always called me John. I loved them both so much. They were so wonderful to me.

How about that great floor! Their apartment was the first on the right in this photo.

Rose, Patti & Elliot in front of the infamous incinerator. It's a family story about Joan & Frank on their wedding day & their Uncle Arthur.

Under Aunt Rose's kitchen window

Uncle Vin & Aunt Peggy's apartment building, just off Steinway St.

The same MD was there when Vin & Peg lived there. Maybe this is the MD's son. Their apt. was on the second floor right. In my mind's eye I can see that apartment. I remember there was a pass through window between the kitchen & living room. They had a big, fat beagle who I think was named Teddy. And I remember a lot of good food.

I remember my grandmother taking me to see movies at the Loews's Triboro Theater on Steinway Street. The theater was across the street from Uncle Vinnie & Aunt Peggy's apartment. Nana took me once to see "Damian & Pythias" with Guy (Zorro) Williams . He was my absolute favorite. What a good grandmother to sit through that!

The theater was so beautiful, I remember walking under that huge marquee.

This was the interior of the Loewe's. There were twinkling stars on the ceiling and clouds that rolled by. I couldn't wait to see the theater again

Surprise, here's the theater today. They tore it down in about 1970.

That wouldn't happened today. The theater should have received landmark status to be enjoyed by future movie goers.

After the tour we went to a restaurant called "Stove"in Astoria. The second surprise of the day for Patti was that our cousins Joan & Frank were outside the restaurant waiting for us. Patti said to Rose "Those people must know you, they're waving at us." There were lots of tears when Patti recognized Frank & Joan.

We have a wonderful time eating, reminiscing and catching up. We were sure there were happy faces in heaven looking down on our reunion. Many of our family may be gone but they will

live forever in our hearts and memories.

My three beautiful cousins: Joan, Patti & Rose. It was a wonderful day!