Growing Up Rich...in the Small Things
Posted September 3rd, 2009 at 2:49PM
I grew up in a small apartment in a borough of New York City...the building had 6 floors which we called stories, each with 10 apartments. Real privacy was impossible...whatever we didn't hear with our own ears the gossipmongers spread. Yet I loved growing up this way...I loved hearing the sounds of other families...I loved always having friends nearby.
For years my Dad grew flowers and plants on our fire escape... until the Fire Department said it was a hazard. Most of our windows faced a large Victorian home with lots of trees and shrubery. It was in so many ways a rich childhood.
How many kids have a chance to see a real monkey? Our monkey's name was Ralph...he was our upstairs neighbor's pet and often escaped first to the neighboring tree and then into our apartment.
How many kids have the chance to run their own animal rescue group? My apartment's basement had empty storage rooms, no kid should have been exploring, but I'd like to believe it was all for a good cause. My best girlfriend Annie and I found our animals on the streets...malnourished...beaten...hungry. One at a time we rescued them...kept them in my basement room...I was especially zealous about taking the garbage down constantly and stopping by with food. Annie's family had relatives living in the country and she found the adoptive homes...I think we rescued 11 before my Mom caught me in the act...end of the road for the rescue org. Our last one was a beautiful Irish Setter, very skinny with cigarrette burns...so very scared but he/she let us pet him. And I'd like to think he lived a long and much happier life.
How many kids can learn about life just from the families they live with? Alcohlism, domestic violence, poverty, depression...we had it all, but it was tempered with kindness, laughter, and old-fashioned good neighborliness. My best friend Billy lived across the floor from me, one of the middle children in a family of nine. They lived in a 3 room apartment...his Dad in a wheelchair from a car accident...we knew money was especially tight for them. Billy used to watch TV with me every night...together we explored every nook and cranny for miles. He taught me water pistols, I showed him how to make bow and arrows from tree branches. He was the sweetest kid I ever knew. The last time I saw him he was sitting on the steps, head in hands, crying. The family's furniture was lined up on the sidewalk, some contents spilling out onto the street. That's what they did in those days to people being evicted. I tried to talk to him...tried in some way to help. I don't think I realized I would never see him again.
This isn't meant to be a sad story...quite the opposite. Mostly it was an exciting way to grow up. The streets as well as the parks were our playgrounds. What we didn't have as toys we learned to make. We created our own games...
One of my specialties was writing letters. I wrote letters to the editors of National Geographic magazine requesting additional info and often they responded. I wrote to Esquire Magazine when I was 16 requesting a job...they responded and I still regret not contacting them (as they requested) when I graduated from high school. I read anything given to me by my neighbors...not sure if that was such a good thing. lol
I remember living with such a strong sense of excitement...life was an adventure...our first and only family vacation was to Rockaway Beach, a 2 hour subway ride away. Although I don't remember a minute of the "vacation" every time I get excited now seems like a replay of how I felt when my Mom told us, "we're going on vacation!"
Although at times tinged with sadness, I believe my early days taught me to recognize the joy! And that's a lifetime gift.
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I love this story, frito. Reminds me of the early years under the GW bridge for picnics, stick ball and water pistols etc.
Thanks for some good times.
:-)paco35 -
BTW,I wanna share a great news with you,my best friend ,she just has announced her wedding with a millionaire young man Ronald who is the CEO of a MNC !they met via 'match'riches.'CóM..it is the largest and best club for wealthy people and their admirers to chat online. …you don’t have to be rich there ,but you can meet one , It's worthy a try. You do not have to be rich or famous. ! -
Wow Paco, I haven't heard the term "stick ball" in many years (sort of baseball with a broomstick for a bat, played on New York City streets). We probably grew up not so far from each other. Thanks for sharing Paco. :)
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BTW,I wanna share a great news with you,my best friend ,she just has announced her wedding with a millionaire young man Ronald who is the CEO of a MNC !they met via 'match'riches.'CóM..it is the largest and best club for wealthy people and their admirers to chat online. …you don’t have to be rich there ,but you can meet one , It's worthy a try. You do not have to be rich or famous. ! -
great visuals frito! It took me there, and was a very interesting slice of life :)
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Thanks Destry...and your words fit..."interesting slice of life." :)
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BTW,I wanna share a great news with you,my best friend ,she just has announced her wedding with a millionaire young man Ronald who is the CEO of a MNC !they met via 'match'riches.'CóM..it is the largest and best club for wealthy people and their admirers to chat online. …you don’t have to be rich there ,but you can meet one , It's worthy a try. You do not have to be rich or famous. ! -
This is a beautiful story! Such vivid imagery. I wish we could all see that the sorrows of life are blended together with joys. It's so easy to get caught up in our problems that we forget the happiness hidden under them. :-) Thanks for sharing.
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Onceandfutureglow thanks. I forget often enough but joy is often there.
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BTW,I wanna share a great news with you,my best friend ,she just has announced her wedding with a millionaire young man Ronald who is the CEO of a MNC !they met via 'match'riches.'CóM..it is the largest and best club for wealthy people and their admirers to chat online. …you don’t have to be rich there ,but you can meet one , It's worthy a try. You do not have to be rich or famous. ! -
Ladee seems like you have a story to share. Hope we see it soon. And the joy definitely outweighed the sadness! :)
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Joy to you also Ladee. And if you choose to write your "slice of life" I'd love to read it. :)
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hmm... Describing life...
I should share. -
Please do...I'd love that. :)
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Great story.
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Great story! It reminded me my childhood...in many ways...
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Fungirl, Fromnowon, Ukko thanks...if you care to share I'd love to hear more about your lives, childhoods. :D
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Callaslily, I about the importance of our childhood experiences. :D
Mkenya90, although you may feel it's boring I'd love to read a story about Kenya. -
This story bought tears to my eyes, especially the parts about your young friend crying on the steps and your rescued animals.
Hugz
BG -
BG, although there was sadness, it was greatly tempered with laughter and good times.
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This was a very colorful story... Thank you!
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Thank you Frito, this is a beautiful story, especially since this comes from a big City like New York, which I totally adore, I mean I LOVE New York City. I do not live there, I am actually from Canada, but I could identify. Also it is a real blessing to have real joy in life, because of so many distractions today and setbacks in every day life, we forget to appreciate what riches we do have and forget to have actual joy in life. Thank you sooo much for your story.
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Great post, thanks for sharing
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My father died when I was 6. We moved from Winnipeg to California where I grew up. I remeber getting off the plane and seeing Palm Trees for the very first time. I remember the exciting and disfunctional adventures I had growing up. How our formative years mold our adult life! Cheers
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Happy Sailor and LV thank you .:)
BigSistah...and I love Canada...traveled across it twice...thanks, it IS soo important to "appreciate what riches we do have...":D
ginadoe, what a change from Winnipeg to California...and I totally agree that our childhood years mold our adut lives. Cheers back! Thanks. :) -
Sounds like you lived a very rich childhood, it's those memories that instill the very best in us. At least that's my thoughts. It's what we learn from our youth that makes us stronger. I am glad you shared this part of you with us.
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Great piece Frito ...... my upbringing was similar , brought up in a tenement four floors and for families per floor i liken it to a vertical village .... :o)
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Tjsgirl, thank you. It was "rich" and I am so fortunate...I learned so much that has helped me throughout my adult years.
Salar, "vertical village" is a great visual image. I like it. And thanks to EP I'm again learning that despite what country we're from, we often have so much in common. Like you, so many seem to connect with this post. Thanks. -
You wrote an oustanding story and you should publish a book one day.
Joy for you and I wish you the best of luck -
I love your story. You really had your great childhood days - you enjoyed it very much and I envy you.
I really enjoyed your story. :) -
Senditome thank you for your words of support and joy to you also. :)
Neo7773 I'm glad you enjoyed my story...it was a very "full" childhood. :) -
Great stories, I will try to write mine next week
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That is a differant world. Im glad you have those cherrished memoryies, and thanks for sharing.
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