First here is about one of the last pictures I had of your mom with Mike shoveling snow from her car.( Where were you?) :) We had such a ball when we were snowed in that winter at the Gregory hotel and ended up having supper at your moms'.She made roast beef which I think Mike ate the whole thing, mashed potatoes and gravy and vegetables and then had pie.
That was in 2009 I'm pretty sure. We had 22 inches in New York and they closed the turnpike. Snow was then as it was when your mom and I were kids. Maybe this is more about her, but for you. We were such good friends although it didn't start out that way. She was my sisters friend, same grade in school, yet it wasn't long before we found out how much more she and I were alike. We didn't belong to snob clubs :) Your mom and I were the tallest kids, almost in school and we had so much in common that we felt like twins at times. We loved waiting for one another to walk to school together and talk about crushes. Ask her about Mr. J. Navy man and teacher.
I think what made us work as friends that we understood how things are, were and should be, then and now. We both babysat our siblings and that was a big deal. Not every eleven and twelve year olds are entrusted with such younger brothers or sisters for so much time. We both had strict parents but with different reasons. She and I used to walk up and down the street with the kids, or go see Mr. Korsun up the block. Mr. Korsun always gave my snotty little brother keys, and your moms sister, Judy was always well behaved, sweet and just a cute kid, as I remember. But we feel different with our own memories of things. Mr. Korsun was like a stoop sitting shrink, what guy he was. I knew I could always talk to him and he would help as he could.
The last time I saw him was a day I was leaving Brooklyn and just saw your mom. We had breakfast together. On that last time I saw him, your mom called the next day and let me now he passed away. We wonder why things happen so timely. I knew I wanted to see him again since it was so long since the last time.
But your mom and I would talk to him as if he was just an older and wiser kid. He was. Sometimes there an adult you just know you can tell anything to, well almost anything. To a kid though, as well meaning as some people are, it can be dangerous for the kid to tell that trusted adult. Anyway I met or re met your mom when I moved to 56th st. An apartment became available in a brownstone and as soon as I saw it I was in love all over again, besides Mr. Vitalo; ask your mom.
The brownstone became our stoop, Mostly mine and Sandy's. I had good landlords and so did she, mainly Mrs Millen and mine was very special too, although her first name escapes me. She and her husband always would sneak me a glass of wine, feeling and know my parents were way too strict with me. ( in a selfish way)
When I told your mom how my landlady stood up to my father, Madeline! That was her name, Madeline Magnotta, well your mom was as happy for me as I was for me. It didn't do any good except to infuriate my father, but inside of me, I felt hope rising. I knew some day I would be a little courageous like her. Boy it took a long, long time :)
Your mom and I would walk around the corner to get Pizza at Scottie's. Our little crushes there were, Louie and Scottie. I liked Louie. He had dark curly hair, and slow smile and just plain yummy. She like Scottie who had a lighter Sandy colored hair and he seemed to work more than Louie. Scottie only retired a few years ago while Louie died very young. Her men live longer-duh we know that don't we? :)
Then there was the donut shop around the other corner. On hot summer days, your mom and I would take the kids and get donuts and sodas. Judy loved the donut shop, and so did my brother although he always wanted more.
As grammar school graduation neared we knew we were going in different directions. Her parents wanted her to get an education. She went to Bay Ridge High and I went to Fort Hamilton when my parents wanted me out of school to continuing babysitting. So it was that which pretty much started a new life for us both. I stayed and babysat until leaving home at twenty-two, seeing your mom off and on and we'd still chat here and there, laugh and with me wishing I could go back to seventh and eighth grade.
Oh Kevin, one thing I left out. Mr. Korsun...One summer when your mom and I were up at his stoop and his daughter was out I was talking about Mr. Vitalo, my life long love & crush. Mr. Korsun asked where he lived and I told him Levittown. This great and wonderful man says to me, well why don't we take a ride and go see him. We don't have to barge in, just drive by and say hello. Can you imagine from Brooklyn to Long Island to say hello. I think that's where I got my feeling now of, hey I'm off to Brooklyn for some great pizza, BRB-and I do that too. Well a big worry was I knew my father would not let me go and said as much to Mr. Korsun.
Mr. Korsun said let me talk to him, I'll change his mind. He and I saw my father coming down the steps with trash and Mr. Korsun didn't wast any time. He said let's go kid and together we faced my father. WOW, if only Mr. Korsun was my father, Cigarette in hand he wore a Hawaiian looking green shirt, knee length green colored shorts, and I watched his mustache while he spoke. He reached his hand out first. CRAP, I knew my father was not about to shake hands, but he did.
In the next few minutes I listened as Mr. Korsun persuaded my father into "wanting me to go along" as any "dad" would. This was magic in the purest sense of the word. He cast a spell over my father. In my heart Mr. Korsun was now my dad. That's who a dad is ! Mr. Korsun told him about how long it would take, taking into consideration traffic and stopping for ice cream and of course no mention of Mr. Vitalo, that he was just going to show us some of Long Island, in a convertible and a look at the beaches. Also he reinforced that his daughter and your mom with her parents approval would go along as well, just a nice day out with the kids. Mr. Korsun drove a red and black Rambler convertible.
We all piled in with me and your mom in the back feeling all grown-up. I had Mr. Vitalo's address. That's what kids with crushes do. Well you wouldn't believe it. As we neared Levittown Mr. Korsun pulled over and gave us some prepared conversation about if we see Mr. Vitalo we just talk about being out on a hot summers day, checking out towns, beaches and more, a kind of get-a-way day.
It wasn't long before we pulled into Mr. Vitalo's suburban neighborhood, with what looked like had to be only rich people. Hey, what did I know, I was a kid. Then we came to his street and I watched the numbers go down until we reached 224 and as Mr. Korsun spoke the world around me went quiet. I vaguely heard Mr. Korsun say, well look who's outside watering their lawn. I think I saw him before anyone else did. If I could have fallen over I would have so it was good That I was already seated.
Still feeling some odd silence although my heart was banging like a baseball bat on a trash can, we finally stopped at the exact spot where Mr. Vitalo stood, holding a hose, looking down into a flower bed, wearing shorts, holy crap! Mr. Vitalo in shorts! He also wore a flowered shirt. There must be a reason. I thought God had to arrange this and given the plan to Mr. Korsun since both men looked to be wearing the same shirt.
Mr. Vitalo looked up as the car stopped at the curb. I watched his hand twist the nozzle off. I always watched his hands. Mr. Korsun smiled and said excuse us, as he stepped out of the convertible. He moved to where Mr. Vitalo stood , switched hands with his cigarette and reached out to introduce himself and say, I guess you know at least two of these young ladies, yup me and your mom. I was choking inside and became mush but suddenly found my lips. Uh Hi, Hi Mr. Vitalo. He smiled back, oh that smile. Your mom was squishing my shoulder telling me, Nance, look he's in shorts. Oh God don't ya think I know I whispered.
We all got out had small talk as arranged by Mr. Korsun, leader of the band, as Mr. Vitalo asked, "so what brings you to my door?" As he and Mr. Korsin spoke, I was sneaking looks at his eyes, glasses, the mole on his cheek, how his mouth moved, his hair and smile. I remember this trip so well as if it was the Ten Commandments ( sorry God) I wanted to cry with thankfulness to Mr. Korsun. I think he knew even then for me it was more than a crush. Mr. Vitalo was my childhood crush, love, example of what makes a man and much more, and Mr. Korsun was my value in all of that as if he knew and understood.
The visit lasted only about five minutes in Levittown, but lasted a lifetime in my heart, and I got to share that with your mom, Karen, Mr. Korsun's daughter and Mr. Korsun. I think somehow after that I knew Karen was the luckiest kid on the earth and for one day, I was second luckiest.
So Kev, the years after that flew by. We got on with lives, marrying and having children. We both had two, lived in Brooklyn at least for my first child, and yet she and I were no longer connected. Maybe marriages helped with that. But in between school and married life I knew we both went onto a different path.
Then I moved to Oregon, Washington and California. I finally returned in 1980 and when I saw my mother she told me she bumps into your mom every so often and one day we met on fifth ave. hugging, laughing and happy to see each other again. She gave me her address, the one on e. 29st. That was when I also had the pleasure of meeting your dad. He and I hit it off in an unusual. He wisecracked at me and I gave it right back. A sealed friendship for sure.
Since then your mom and I have visits as out time allows and my being able to come to NY now that I'm in PA. We still have hilarious times, and that's just talking. Imagine if it was more. But there was a night I asked her to take me to two places. I asked her to keep the engine running and no I didn't rob a store, but I did ring doorbells and run, and it was okay because it was just a couple of guys I knew. That's what makes life fun, harmless stuff. I got back in her Hyundai, we laughed ourselves silly and took off. Sadly I still run but the Hyundai doesn't. Hey maybe a new Hyundai out of this?
I've gotten to know and meet her two sons, your baby girl and what a wonderful dad you are, and we've shared time too. Your mom and I looked at you and my son on one visit in her kitchen and thought, here we are two ladies, once girls playing stick ball with now grown sons, who now each have a child. Who would have thought? Your mom and I plan some time next year to go back to 56th street again where our friendship started and walk down memory lane. Hey Kev, wanna take a walk?
When all is said and done, things go back to the kitchen or a diner, two other best places where friends meet, tell secrets, whisper as if they have a secret, pout hearts out, confide and trust and laugh the hardest. We always laugh together. Your mom and I have so many memories of those two places, and I'm sure like many, that's what we not only look back on, but look ahead to. Kev, I'm looking ahead to seeing you in March with your mom. I have something to celebrate and you have to be part of it. I love ya Kev, see you in March-in Brooklyn!
Love you like another son, Nancy
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