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| REMEMBER THE DAYS.... by Jim Leiner |
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REMEMBER THE DAYS? by Jim Leiner What our grandchildren will miss. Radio personality Paul Harvey writes, "Our parents tried so hard to make things better for us that they made us worse." I wonder if that's true. My dad always worried if I would have things better than he did but now, 60 years later, I am not sure things are better. Oh sure, many things are more convenient, but thinking back, Nyack was a wonderful place to grow up. To me, and many of our readers who have sent me their thoughts--we had everything we needed. Yes, our families lived from paycheck to paycheck, but we experienced things that built character. I would love it if my grandchildren could experience the Nyack of old! I'd really like them to know about hand-me-down clothes from Grace's Thrift Shop, homemade ice cream from Jerry's and meatloaf sandwiches from Joe Sutera's Market on Main Street. I hope they earn a few bucks mowing the neighbor's lawn or holding a car wash or paper drive like we did at the Baptist Church and I really hope nobody gives them a brand new car when they turn sixteen. Jalopies are more fun. Mine was from Gambetti's Rambler on Burd Street and set me back $25. It will be wonderful if at least once they can see puppies born like I did in the back of Traverson's Market on Broadway or watch a great guy like Henry Hanneman put an old dog to sleep for a friend. I hope they get a black eye fighting for something they believe in, like Tommy Tompson did on the Liberty Street School playground. I hope they experience walking to school in the winter with friends like Rusty Phelan and Tommy Stein and arriving totally soaked from making snow angels along Cedar Hill Avenue. Thinking of Tommy, I wonder if my grandkids will try and eat a worm like he did next to the Orange-town firehouse. I can only hope they live in a town like Nyack was where we walked safely everyplace and rode our bikes up to the Hook for adventures. I hope now that I am the grand-pop I can teach them to make a sling shot instead of buying one, teach them to play trucks in the dirt and read them a good book on the front porch swing, like my grand-pop did so many summers ago I hope friends tease them when they have their first crush. I still remember her name from Junior High: Stephanie Magnason, with her fiery red hair. When the grand kids sass Mom I hope they learn what ivory soap tastes like, I know I sure did, and hey--I am still kickin.' I hope they skin a knee climbing into a tree house like ours on Bill Hand's property on Spring Street, or burn their fingertips toasting a marshmallow over a campfire down in Memorial Park. I wonder if they will learn why it is not a good idea to stick their tongue on the frozen flagpole in front of Nyack High School. Boy did THAT hurt! I hope that I am around to offer them their first taste of a draft beer at a place like Henny Bartel's but I hope they don't like it. I hope someone takes them down to the Hudson so they can learn how to put a worm on the hook and fish for a big eel like I did with Uncle Henry and a long gone boat yard owner. Ooooh what was his name? I pray that their dad comes up with a just punishment like mine did when our baseball went through Ray and Jean Coward's living room window and their Mom's hugs and kisses make them feel loved when he is finished. These are a just few things I remember learning while I was growing up in Nyack. I can only hope my grandchildren and yours experience the same feelings we did as we lived through tough times and disappointment, hard work and happiness. To me, it's the only way to appreciate life. The Nyack Villager thanks Jim Leiner for helping us all 'Remember the Days .' |
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