Two Sides of the Family--One Building

Just received this message from an older cousin (ground floor, mother's nephew). It's his birthday today. He has no idea about this thread, but I guess we all get nostalgic once in a while. He wrote:

"I still think about punchball in ps 90 schoolyard."

The schoolyard was the boy's domain. No girls allowed. I played punchball in the street.

So I was on the phone with a friend and was reminded of an incident from my childhood that made me smile.

I mentioned that my father was a good singer. My mother was a jazz pianist who also sang quite well. I was a good kid singer. We all liked to sing.

One night after supper we were sitting around the table, and we started singing. Just for fun. My father was able to harmonize a bit. We were singing for a while. We finished a song and to our surprise we got applause and cheering--our neighbors in the courtyard were hanging out the windows listening to us.

We went over to the window and looked out. I remember seeing heads poking out of windows.

I love this memory.

Neighborhood. Sense of community. Sense of family.

Do you remember what you were singing, Roberta?

A bunch of different songs.

Hi gang, There's been a slight delay in the picture posting. Maybe next week. Sorry.

My aunt had a friend down the street with a number on her arm.

This was the aunt that hated Japs.

What can I say?

Roberta is very discreet about it, but this is entirely my fault. After the gym, I took what I thought was a nap, which then turned out to last seven hours. (I forgot to set the alarm.) When I woke up, I had a message from a worried Roberta in my inbox, asking if I'd show up. Mea culpa!

Can't find some of the pictures I thought I had. Maybe I saw them elsewhere. On the other hand, I found a few that I didn't know I had. My father and friends at Coney Island in those 2-piece men's bathing suits.

I'll keep looking. I've got time.

Thanks for the mea culpa, Thomas. I was being discreet. You're a good kid, and like I said in my PM, stuff happens.

However, if you don't show up next week, discreet will be flushed down the toilet.

The pictures are starting. My father (on the left) in his teens. I think this is Coney Island.

My father on the left. My uncle (his brother) on the right. Their nephew (my cousin--grown by the time I was born). The photo was taken in May 1929. I think my father and uncle were dressed for their vaudeville act.

I got distracted from this thread and left off following. Now I have lots of reading to catch up.

oh my stars

My grandmother, my mother (standing), and my eccentric aunt (baby).

Pictures, hooray!

I do wonder if we're related at some point in the family tree -- ehBeth remarked on that after she met you and these family photos have some familiar-looking faces!

Familiar to even some of my Italian ancestors.

Roberta, thank you! Do you have dates for any of these?

My mother and father on the Concourse--before they were married.

Did your father serve in WWII or was he too old?

On the roof of THE BUILDING, standing from left to right--my father's mother, my aunt's husband, my aunt (father's sister), my mother's mother. Seated--my mother.

Oh my! Maternal grandma looks like a force of nature.

I'll post more over the course of time. Thomas was here helping me. Now I'm on my own--with written instructions.