My Brooklyn

I'd never thought I'd be writing about "my Brooklyn," but I am happy I got the chance. I was born and raised in the best city in the world; only I didn't know that until I left it. I go to the University of Maryland and I am studying pre-law with the strongest intentions to go to back to BK. You see, in Maryland, there is no cheesecake from Junior's, steak from Peter Lugar's, bodegas on every corner, salumarias down the block or nail places full of sweet Korean ladies. I cannot wait to go home—-!!!

My Brooklyn was the Williamsburg Projects, a housing development located in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. It was a melting pot for a broad ethnic group that was able to enjoy each other. My next door neighbors were Black, Hispanic, Jewish, Puerto Rican, Irish—you name it. My youth was made up of stickball, kick the can and singing do wops on the street corner. I very seldom go back. My memories of my youth will always be with me. The kids today are so different, so troubled. I hope they find their way.

My Brooklyn is where family starts
my Brooklyn is where open are the hearts,

Walking down Bedford Avenue from bridge to ocean
is but an enjoyable stroll to be known and seen.

From one "tree" to another, Botanic Gardens to Prospect
Park, we all change from one to another we make our
mark.

If you have never seen Brooklyn, you have missed the
warmest part of New York filled with people from all
walks of life, the bitter and the sweet, the sad and
happy, the old and young have given Brooklyn the life
to live, and grow. Not only trees grow in Brooklyn but
so does the world.

I stumbled on your page, and the flood of memories it brought back were amazing. I "hung out" on President and Nostrand as a 14-16 yr. old with a high school friend by the name of Victor Viera. We both went to the same high school, took the IRT from Bergen St. home every day, and were pals.

This would have been from Sept. of 1958 to the summer of 1961. Our family then relocated to Macon, GA, and I lost track of Vic. As I remember, Vic and his mother, father, and kid brother lived on Nostrand over a little grocery store either at President and Nostrand, or very close to there. He was a smart kid, and loved Lionel trains, drawing customized cars, and was a good kid, never having been in any kind of trouble. I know this is a very long shot, but if you happen to know of him, please let me know.

Thanks for your page. I fished, made out, roamed, paddle boated, track teamed, and (my mother tells me) was almost trampled to death by a horse in that park.

Warmest regards,

Joe Puccio
4119 Clarendon Rd.
Brooklyn 3, N.Y.

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