Remember Me?

Someone from the old neighborhood (City Line, Brooklyn) set up a site dedicated to everyone raised there. I joined and have re-connected with several old friends and acquaintances. But, of the over 900 members, very few remember me, or I, them. A reminder of my non-descript youth where I went to school, and played in the street with a few kids who lived very close by. I stayed away from organized groups--no girl scouts, or church youth meetings. I went to Confession on Saturdays, and Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation and stayed away otherwise.

I did change schools from public to Catholic, so there should be two social networks I could draw from, but I never participated in after-school activities. I had nothing to do with the school newspaper, cheerleading, or sports. I had no inclination or encouragement from like-minded friends or parents. I enjoyed being at home, on my own. I could read or watch TV or hang out with a couple of street friends. My father who did not have much education and no belief in the importance of school-related, extra-curricula activities was more concerned with my getting home from high school safe. The school was not in the best neighborhood. My mother did not want any trouble. I did not feel deprived. I had no desire for a longer day at my all-girl high school.

I never had trouble making acquaintances at school. I was never particularly popular, but neither was I shunned. I even had friends close enough to offer to find me a date for the Senior Prom. I declined. I never dated until after I graduated and remained innocent until I was 22 and moved to Greenwich Village. That is, I didn’t go “all the way” until I moved out of my parent’s house.

On the neighborhood site, people I knew have been reported dead, so that limits even more those who might remember me. The good news is that the few friends I was close to are still around and have no problem recalling my childhood. Locals recall the streets, the stores, the games and the other bits of life walked, used and played as neighborhood kids. Much of their reminiscences come back to me like bits of dreams where I am there, observing, but detached.