Monday, June 13, 2022

A Change For a Difference and A Change For the Better

 



I have lived on Long Island for all my life, short four months, as I was born in Fort Benning, Georgia in 1951 just before my Dad was shipped off to Korea, the Forgotten War. I was born in May and my Dad was deployed in September.

When I came back to Long Island, my Mom settled near her parents in Ozone Park, Queens, a thriving Italian-American community, which if you look at a map, is actually on Long Island. From there, after my Dad returned, we moved to Howard Beach, a deep-rooted Irish and German community, also in Queens and also on Long Island. In 1955, we once again moved, this time to Corona. You guessed it – Queens, Long Island.

 Finally, in the summer of 1957, we moved to suburban Floral Park, located in Nassau County, which most Americans, and most New Yorkers, consider one of the two counties which make up Long island, the other being Suffolk. But once again, that pesky thing, called a map, will show you that Long Island actually comprises four counties: Kings (or Brooklyn), Queens, Nassau and Suffolk. And maybe, someday, Peconic will be created on the twin forks beginning with Riverhead. And, someday, Long Island, with a population of over eight million people, more than thirty-eight other states, may someday become the fifty-something state, too.

 

Long Island is comprised of four interstates, three cities plus part of New York City, several major, highly trafficked highways and parkways, three commercial airports, three private airports, countless bagel and bakery shops, various ethnic foods, of which you will find hundreds of pizza, Chinese and Latin takeouts in just about every strip mall from Coney Island to Montauk Point. We have the largest commuter railroad in the country to take us to work every day to that little town to our west.

 Plus we have two minor league baseball teams, a major league team and both a professional hockey team and basketball team. And countless theatres for off-Broadway shows, concerts and other means of entertainment.

 Finally, we are surrounded by water, with some of the greatest and most famous beaches in the world, including the Rockaways, Jones Beach, The Hamptons and the exclusive north shore.

 But, as usual, I digress. I share all of this with you because after seventy-one years of calling this Island home, I am finally starting a new chapter in my life, leaving all of this behind to take on the easy living in the Free State of Florida. I have wanted to go for many years and finally I have made my decision that the time is now. I am tired of being told I must do this or I must do that by people who have forgotten that this is The Land of the Free because of The Brave.  And who are proving that they are dumber than a box of rocks. Plus I get to live in warm weather, sunshine, longer days and true peaceful contentment for my weary soul.

 And through the magic of television, the internet and so many other modern conveniences and technology, I can still watch my Mets and Jets, or grill a burger, or drive to a strip mall for some pizza or Chinese or Latin food. Or go to a beach, in December. On Christmas. Which is something I can’t do now unless I want to freeze my buns off.

 And, I can go to a Spring Training game in February and March, and not be cold in the stands like I was in April, sitting in Citifield. In the sun. With the wind blowing right through me.

 So, in all fairness, I will tell you that I will always be a New Yorker at heart, a Long Islander in my soul, and of course, a free spirit doing what I want. And what I want now is to enjoy my remaining years living the dream. In warm, sunny climes, maybe sipping on a frosty alcohol-free pina colada, on my lanai, in my lounge chair.

 And knowing that the life I left behind on Long Island is filled with fond memories that I can recall with a smile and a song, about all the wonderful people who crossed through my life. And made a difference.

Cya, Long Island! Hello, Florida!!

 


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