My Brooklyn (323)

Tina Morello

Come with me—let's go to my Brooklyn. It was the worst of times. See, there are my brothers Gary (12) and Joe (8) and sister Kay (10). They are outside sitting in the street on what remains of our furniture. You see, Dad lost his job and we could not pay the rent. Those days life was very basic. No rent—no apartment. Furniture, kids, pets out! Fortunately, Gary's friend, Bill Garofalo, had come home with him that day. Bill ran home to tell his parents about our situation. Mr. and Mrs. Garofalo listened. They did not know us. They had five children of their own, Vinnie (14), Bill (12), Mary (10), Angie (9), and Chickie (8). They did not ask for a month's security, or when Dad would get a job, or how we would manage. They simply said "Tell them to come. They will live with us." And so we did. These were the best of times. And so began our life on Fulton Street. Eastern Parkway was next to us and Callahan Kelly Park was across the street. I was born in Kings County Hospital in 1944 and joined the brood in Mrs. Garofalo's house where I was loved much. Later, we moved down the street. My Uncle Jerry, Aunt Rose, cousins Gary and Margaret (#139) lived upstairs. The Chaunacy's had the candy store downstairs and we lived in the middle apartment with my Uncle Paul. My dad would get 16mm movies and set up a large screen in the street and all the neighbors would bring their chairs and snacks and we would watch movies and cartoons together. We did not need a permit in those days. Our church was Lady of Loretta and we loved Father Fury. School was P.S. 155. Mike the cop helped us kids cross Eastern Parkway to get to school. The hot dog man was on the corner at 3:00 and Dad would buy me a hot dog with lots of sauerkraut. There was Carlucci's, Colonial Theater where you got free dishes, spumoni ices with real pistachio nuts chopped in, lemon ice with real bits of lemon, shopping on Fulton Street (A&S, Martins), Pitkin Ace, cheesecake at Junior's, rollerskating at Eastern Pkwy Rink with organ music, short skirts and pompoms on the skates, took the train to Coney Island, Bay 14, Steeplechase Park, cotton candy, ice skating in Central Park and taking the shortcut through the tunnels. Those were the days of no fear. Then we moved to Ridgewood. Lived on Knickerbocker Ace between Cornelia and Jefferson Ace Attended P.S. 106 (Mrs. Steinline, Mrs. Beckett) Halsey Jr. high, graduated Bushwick H.S. in '61. My best friends were Margaret Wesner, Joan Palmenteri, Rosalie Salvato, Kathy D'alessandro, Helen Capato, Delores Sanchuk And Mary Ann Argondizza. If anyone knows how I can get in touch with them please let me know. My memories were of Halsey Park, Jahn's ice cream parlor, Hillside Roller Rink, Halsey Bops, Ellery Queens, Myrtle Avenue and Broadway for shopping, the guys singing a capella under the street lamps, summers on the roof where the tar would get so hot it would bubble. Teachers were totally committed, took a personal interest in us and were respected. My favorite was Mrs. Deitch from Halsey. Offenses that would get you into the principal's office were chewing gum, getting out of line, being late for class and the big one—getting caught with a cigarette. Our lockers were searched, parents sided with the teachers and schools were safe. After graduation I attended FIT and graduated in 1963. Married the only boy I ever dated, in '64. Had my son, Sean in '68, moved to Staten Island, adopted my son Stephen in '73, moved to Howell, New Jersey and adopted my daughter Jaime in '76. Divorced after twenty-seven years and now live in Florida with my Himalayan cat, Miss Lilly. Found this site and thanks to you I have been reliving those days of innocence. I realize that although we came from different areas of Brooklyn we all touched one another as we frequented the same landmarks. How awesome. Would love to find my "old" schoolmates. Please write to me if you are one or if you know any of them. God bless you for all the wonderful memories.

20 January 2001