1967 . I can remember going to my paternal grand parents house in the city by the river.We would go for sunday dinner,and we would whatch the ed sullivan show.I remember the big Beatles debut! .My uncle robert was slightly handicapped from when he was little and had seizures,so even though he was 13 years older than me,he always seemed younger (even now).He played the drums and sang and had imaginary friends.Down in their basement was a pool table,and grandma's craft table.Tri Chem,velvet painting,glue,collages,Grandpa's work table was off limits.
There was a big playground on the adjoining property,so it was so fun to go there.We would walk a few blocks up and visit my mothers aunt.it was the house my mother grew up in after her mother died.Her father stayed down in new jersey and would come up on the train on weekends.There was a candy store down the block.I remember the chocolate licorice and my mother telling me that is the stoop my father proposed to her on.
1968.. at the same time my parents were having babies ,so were their siblings and my mothers cousins(who were like brothers and sisters).we all lived in the same area,so i had alot of cousins my age.it was so exciting to go to their house and play with their toys.
5 of my cousins lived near a pond and i can still smell that swampy  dirty smell,and swimming out to the dock for the first time. i thought i would never get the nerve to swim back.
In school I guess i was doin o.k. because i kept passing,but i can remember not liking any of it Except the social part.I did not learn anything in math.even today i can't do my multiplications of 6, 7, 8 and 9 without a calculator or draw little lines.That is hard because i need to do adding and multiplying every day at work.
I was good in spelling even though i think my skills are going down hill. (i have a dictionary in my pocket book).
I can remember one day one of the boys got called in the hall by the nuns,and left school.
His brother had been killed in vietnam.....to be cont'.