Snow, Trees, Love, Bay Ridge, Zion, Christmas

    Somehow today my thoughts remained in and about Brooklyn. Christmas in my house was usually great when we were kids. With eight kids it was hard to imagine how one living room would overflow with gifts, and gifts that made all of us happy. What made me happiest was being able to go to church at Zion Lutheran, seeing friends and singing around a giant Norway Spruce.
     The Norwegian ladies from Zion came to our house every year on fifty-night street to get shoe and clothing sizes of the kids, wants and needs. I watched as they made lists, asked our favorite colors and sipped coffee with my mother as a huge pot of split pea soup sat on the stove. When the time came to go to that party, we sang, ate, laughed, cried a little at all of the brown grocery bags filled and gift certificates for shoes were slipped down the inside of every bag. Our parents never came, but my father would sometimes drive over and we'd load up the car, and then we'd run home through the snow, the wonderful, cold and white snow filling our socks. It was the best of all Christmases.
    As we got older time became harder for other families and we got less than when we were little. we were no longer considered poor. Yet being poor seemed somehow better, when you're little that is. I'm sure the grown-ups didn't think so.
   Well we all know the expression, when one door closes another one opens and it did. It really did for me. That door came in the form of a man, Mr. Vitalo. He would become to me everything a man should be. I never saw that until I knew him, really knew him and I knew him because I watched him. I watched him as much as I could, and I listened to him.
    While I loved this man, I loved him more it seemed in winter. He would stand outside in just his suit, jacket collar up if it was snowing, and rubbing his hands together for warmth while ushering kids into school before the bell rang. He stood about five feet seven inches tall, yet in my eye he was well over a six footer.
I watched and listened to him for years, as I was about to be left back because I didn't pass math or make my own graduation dress and I was happy to be left back. Then I would have him closer in my heart another year. But it wasn't to be. He passed me on the charcoal steps one day, said, "Hey Mac, ready for high school?" I answered, "oh Mr. Vitalo I'm not going, I never passed math or made my own dress". His answer for that was, "look Mac, you're a good kid, you just need a push, study more, stop babysitting (my brother-sure, like that would happen) and you'll do fine. This one time, I'm breaking my own rule".
     I stood there, begged and almost cried to be left back. But he just patted my back and said, "you'll be fine Mac". He was so good, so very, very good, but he just didn't know what sending me on meant. I believe he was truly filled with gold. But he didn't know my family except a few verbal run-ins with my father to which he stood firm...well years moved on and oh yes, I did get left back in high school, taken out at fifteen, almost fifteen, to stay home and babysit.
     Life passed. I married, moved on from the East Coast to West and back again, two children, graduated Penn State and still thought of Mr. Vitalo. I saw him on every corner in my mind. I felt his hand on my shoulder over the years and knew when I graduated I had to look him up. Besides having my two children, seeing Mr. Vitalo again was the third best day in my life. I'm going to end this here and remember that Brooklyn brought me God, Children, Mr. Vitalo, cobblestone streets and stick ball, Zion Lutheran Church, giant trees in sunset park and the biggest snows a kid could love. What more could I ask for ?

See the very Early stories about Mr. Vitalo

I am Thankful...

     This morning I received an e mail from a person who I see as a friend as she does me, yet we haven't seen one another in about five years and she only lives an hour away. We vent to one another, celebrate and think things over to one another. At the end her email said, I am Thankful. Like many others I too have used that phrase. But we lead such busy lives we forget what others are going through and if we can help.
     About a week ago a much older woman stopped me, asking to talk to me outside. She explained her car trouble. I went to see her mechanic and asked if I can make arrangements to pay or pay part of it. He then told me, she just wants it fixed, a minute' oil leak which entails a lot of things having to come apart, and that it isn't  a need. The next day I took my car in for inspection and the owner took me outside to let me know that maybe I could buy that woman groceries. I did. I bought her a gift card at a local market asked the post lady to put in in her box, not saying it was me. Okay one thing done. What bothered me was this woman has a grown daughter living with her who doesn't help one bit. So is she just hoping mom dies and she'll get the house and car? What to do?
     Today I walked into a local convenience store and asked a young lady how things are going, knowing her situation. It's gone from bad to worse. What to do? In her situation, I do know I can find different kinds of help for her. So that's on my agenda for today and tomorrow before she becomes ill with all that has fallen on her.
       Then I think of my own grown kids as my friend said in that e mail. They never went through what I know many have gone through. Healthy, happy, bust with careers and families, friends and volunteering, from my children, I am thankful, so very, very Thankful.
     I am also thankful for what I have, where I've lived, people who I have known and befriended me, people who live close by me and have been like friends. For all of you I am thankful and I can't go on without mentioning, I am also thankful for three wise men who showed me as a young kid what real men are like. What a coincidence-or was it?

Across The Field...Those People !

       With a big smile in my heart I was just reminded of a time on December 22, two years ago when a few men showed up one Saturday morning, not that I forget at all. How do you ever forget goodness? This is about those men and the People across the field.
          I want to go back some years. For the people across the field who know me pretty well know about my grammar school principal Mr. Vitalo, the most important man in my life as a kid, one who had morals, ethics, built kids up, stood up for them and did anything in his power to help if you let him. I knew that was key, if I let him. Pride and fear get in the way with people. I wrote a lot on this blog about Mr. Vitalo so I won't delve into that again now. As the years passed no could or ever would measure up to even ten percent of that man until...
          I met a man across the field. I didn't have any idea who he was except some guy with a wife and a few kids who moved in and I hope I could hire one of the boys to mow my lawn. That's all I cared about. I wanted to keep my distance. If I paid then there isn't any connection. If I knew then what I know now:)
         Life is funny that way. It gives what you need sometimes weather you want it or not. So I knocked not expecting anything. This guy comes to the door smiling!
I thought what's he smiling about, I haven't said anything yet. He was welcoming me, but he was new. His wife stood by also smiling. Are these people nuts? Did I spill something on my top-again? Anyway I introduced myself and got to the point.
      He looked at his wife and said yeah, I think we can do that. We made arrangements and in a few days he showed up with his son. They looked around the field, and said they'd be back tomorrow. That first time both guys mowed using  a tractor and hand mower for the steep hill in front. After that it was always Sten, my favorite kid mower then. There is a season...
        As time and years passed I found myself learning more about The Family Across the Field, just as they learned about me. we shared many laughs and that guy who I didn't know anything about, well his name is Witmer as I started to call him, as well as some of the kids. One was just Little Witmer. There are so many memories about the talks, the laughs and the help. You see it wasn't just mowing, it was also shoveling snow.
         Before I get to that, once Sten was grown and moving, his brother Eric took over, and he was my favorite kid mower for that stretch. I love having kids around and they always gave more that they got in return. Each son had his own personality and they put up with me yakking at them. What respect! One day big Witmer shows up with Little Witmer. A hot summer day she had the hand held mower, hair up in a pretty pony-tail, and jeans! Long jeans rolled at the bottom mowing in that heat! What a family. If anything humbles a person that family can do it. There kindness and goodness is overwhelming.
     Winter arrives every year. See how smart I am-smirk. I love the winter and as much snow as we can get after all, I am a viking. The summer heat and I don't agree at all, but give me cold weather and I am so happy. So one day during a winter I called over to the House Across The Field and this nice voice answers, yup Lady Witmer. She tells me hello and how are ya doing kind of thing, chit chat a little, then I ask do you think maybe a Witmer could shovel? Of course but first he's shoveling...wow a professional shoveler!
      I love to shovel too, but sometimes my back doesn't help out. Well one winter night I hear Witmer with a shovel and at that time I have three boys here for a short time. They asked if they could go out and I say yes, but stay away from the driveway, Witmer is working. Oh boy you won't believe what happened next, I didn't.
     It wasn't long before I heard what sounded like yelling and shouting, giggles, laughing and plain old ruckus! Those kids! I walked out my side door,( can't tell ya what I was thinking) dark as night can be except for  aside light, see one of the boys who said faster than fast, "we're not doin' nuttin, it's them" pointing to the Witmers,  and I see  Big Witmer standing there, shovel in hand, turns around, says with a grin, hey Costa, hope you don't mind, we're just having a little fun. Little Witmer just gets back up the hill, says Hi Costa, we're sledding. I was so happy. My first thought was the boys were doing something to cause a problem, but oh no it wasn't.
If I remember correctly just one Witmer was missing, oh wait two. Lady Witmer was usually home, fires burning, hot cocoa ready doing school or church stuff/work! So Big Witmer told my boys to jump on ad take a ride. Three boys got on a sled and the block could hear them yelling with unleashed happiness. With that I just heard from a boy who remembers the Witmer family. He said his happiest times as a kid was living here, and knowing the Witmer, that he learned from them and he keeps them in his prayers. Kool huh?
      Well they all played a while longer, then finished the drive-way. Over the years any children who lived here were always treated the same by that family across the way, and I could always bounce stuff for ideas with Lady Witmer. We've been invited to church many times. I love to hear Lisa Carpen sing most of all and I remember one night near Christmas, Sten was going to do a piece of art work, then Lisa sang. Her voice, her passion is enough to make anyone change, and more over the years I could vent stuff to Big Witmer too about this and that, and how to repair some things. I like to do as much as I can myself, but then a biggie happened.
         My basement flooded. I talked to Those People Across the Field and Lady Witmer said, I'll ask Todd to come over and look at it. So Big Witmer did come over and he saw the problem. By then I had mold about two feet high and spreading near and wide across paneling, What a mess it was.
         One December morning I get a call. It was Big Witmer. Now he called me the day before asking to come see the water tank, get specks etc. information he was passing on to some guy. Well the very next morning I get another call from Big Witmer. he said we'll be over in about fifteen minutes; I wanted to give you a warning. Fifteen minutes!!! Even Batman doesn't get ready that quick! But I did, not too sure what was coming. Then this wonderful white truck pulls up. My dream is to have a big truck, or just a truck, but has to be able to hold kids:)
       So this truck has a guy, a kid and another guy. I was introduced to them as the men from the Nehemiah mission at the Witmers' church. The little guy was a grandson. We all went to work and on top of that Bob found the leak. It came from a cold water copper pipe leading into my washing machine. John, Witmer, myself and the grandson along with a little guy who was living here at the time worked for three hours, ripping out walls, loading scraps into Witmers truck, hauling out all the basement water which was too heavy. Those men! While I know how strong I am that water was too heavy for me, and smiling Witmer said here Costa, I got it. John and Witmer hauled just about all of the standing water out. Bob installed the new water tank, but it was one always helping the other. They brought in tools, found electric lines, water lines and all for the love of Jesus and their love of helping thy neighbor.
      I couldn't believe it only took three hours. There were times I would go in the basement and feeling overwhelmed, sit on a step and think, how am I going to do this; where will I start? The answer came December 22nd.
      Now after all this, a few months ago I needed to have a hole dug for the septic system to be cleaned and inspected. I called a young Witmer. He was actually getting ready to go back out west, but he came over anyway, putting someone else ahead of himself. That kid! That wonderful kid dug about two hours straight. He looked at a map, listened to the zoning officer to learn, and that was after the fact.
 He dug about four feet down, and close to two and half feet across. It was so professional. You knew this was a young guy with a conscience, a work ethic, and values. The night before he and his sister came over for  a visit. He was tanned and tired and I wasn't sure as tired as he was he would be able to dig. But sure enough, I heard that familiar sound, the shovel. In Winter, summer, a special need, the shovel, those People Across the Field are worthy of whatever goodness in life, that life brings them.
    Oh what I left out; I never knew Witmer was a pastor for many years. He never preached at or to me, not one word, but something about him, his family made me wonder. I wonder a lot . So to address him as Witmer for me seemed normal. Then chatting with Lady Witmer one day, I learned he was a pastor. Like a scattered puzzle coming together, it all made sense. Just like Mr. Vitalos' goodness.  Later in life meeting him again I learned he was studying to be a priest, but the war called and that seemed to change his life's direction, but not for a moment his dedication.
To everything there is a season