Grandma's Been There

When I was nine, I borrowed a pair of tap shoes for a school play. I fell madly in love with those patent leather musical instruments. I was hypnotized by the noise they made on the wooden stage. I  had  to have a pair of my own.

After the last two episodes, we need to get outside and have some fun. So, grab your bathing suits, put on your Keds and come downstairs. It's summer in the city!

This is the second and last part of an episode titled, "Not What I Expected." Like last week's episode, it comes with a trigger warning because it includes accounts of physical, emotional and spiritual abuse. 

In some past episodes, I've alluded to the fact that my grammar school wasn't always a healthy or safe environment. This week, I'm going to go into some details. So, if you don't think you can handle listening to accounts of kids being physically, emotionally and spiritually abused, then you might want to skip this episode.

The 4th of July is all about celebrating independence. And for school kids, it's a wonderful coincidence that our country's Independence Day falls just as students celebrate the beginning of their temporary independence from classrooms, teachers and textbooks. What a way to kick off a summer vacation!

Live streams from big cities, little towns and even from the cabs of cross-country trains, twenty-four hours a day. I would have given anything to have these when I was growing up while I was stuck in a classroom daydreaming of seeing the world outside of Brooklyn. This week, after a brief visit to my fourth-grade geography class, we're off on a cross-country trip to San Francisco!

Trigger warning: This week's story contains descriptions of situations involving a child being denied halvah for reasons known only to the perpetrator who is now deceased and no longer available for comment. Listener discretion is advised.

My father could hold his own with the best stand-up comedians. Whether he was happy or angry, the gems just flowed from his lips. I loved repeating his words of wisdom, especially at school where my teachers definitely did  not  appreciate hearing them. For Father's Day, here is "My Father Said."

I wish this story was all there was to tell about my first grade experience because today's account doesn't include the subject matter that requires a trigger warning. We'll tackle that version in the future when I think you're old enough to hear it. For now, here's the "suitable for all audiences" version of my year in the first grade.

When old treats fade away, do they go to the same place we do when  we  pass away? I hope so, because there are so many wonderful foods I miss and I'd give anything to taste them again just one more time.

Today's episode is four separate short stories, portraits of childhood in Brooklyn during each of the seasons. Take a walk through the old neighborhood with me and experience it for yourself.

John D. Rockefeller III said, "The arts are not for the privileged few, but for the many. They should function not merely as another form of entertainment, but rather should contribute significantly to our well-being and happiness." I say, "You were born with talent."

Since tomorrow is Mother's Day, this week's episode is a tribute to a very special class of mothers. Today, we'll sing the praises of mid-twentieth-century Brooklyn mothers.

Did you ever drive anybody to the 'G' Building while you were waiting for your ship to come in? You don't understand the question? Stick around for this episode. I'll teach you to "Speak My Language."

In school, they always told us we were made in our creator's image. So, didn't that mean we were born to be creative? Our teachers didn't necessarily interpret it that way, and they suffered the consequences.

The story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent... and the guilty. The problem is, I can't tell which is which. Let me introduce you to "The Brooklyn Art of Payback."

When I was little, we fantasized about a future when robots would do the housework and meals would be prepared with the push of a button. While we waited for those days to come, we marveled at every new invention that came our way. Some impressed us more than others. There were a few that we thought might be better off going back to the drawing board. Were they good inventions or bad ideas?

Three dollars for a cup of coffee. Seven dollars for two scoops of ice cream. Two dollars for a candy bar... Outrageous? It certainly is, but unless you're closer to my age, you have no idea just how insane today's prices are. Let's go back to the 1950s and talk about "The Price of Life."

There was nothing trendy or fancy about coffee when I was a little girl. It was just coffee. More than that, I'm not gonna say. I'll let this week's story speak for itself.

I always say, "Mama didn't raise no dumb kids!" And that's because Mama was no fool herself. Back in the day, parents were fond of telling us kids that we couldn't fool them. Sometimes they were actually right. But sometimes they were dead wrong, as you'll hear in today's story.

Why is it dangerous for a four-year-old to suck her thumb? Why is it a bad idea to put a goldfish bowl on top of a television set? How does one mother get two babies and a very large carriage down a flight of stairs? Where do babies come from? What should you answer when a pediatrician asks you if you want to see stars? All these questions will be answered as you come with me to revisit some of my...

Everybody had that one special teacher, the one who made a difference in their lives. Sister Myra was an open-minded educator who encouraged my creativity and broadened my perspective. It was the school year of 1967-68 and the entire world was on the brink of a cultural revolution. Let me tell you about the eighth grade.

Every generation loves to treat its children to lectures about the toys, technology, entertainment and conveniences they didn't have back in their day. Whether it was because of our elders' encouragement or simply because we were kids, our imaginations served us very well.

The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy defines circular reasoning as a fallacy "that occurs when the reasoner begins with what he or she is trying to end up with." Confused? You won't be after today's story. And you might never look at pigeons or cemeteries the same way again.

In the 1950s, a copy of Dr. Benjamin Spock’s book, Baby and Child Care could be found in practically every household. Dr. Spock encouraged parents to trust their own instincts. Did that strategy work? Listen to today’s story and you tell me.