Day 12: Reminiscing in NY

Before launching into the memories of my childhood...it seemed right to show this photo of Sam and Peggy and to ask you, the viewer, to add your own caption...what has just happened for the reaction of both Sam and Peggy one to be reflectively rejoicing and the other to be astonished...respectively???

Yep, the announcement of Jeannine as the SYTYCD winner for this season.. :))) Driving on Friday morning from Howie's house into New York, I wanted to show Sam where I grew up. First stop was the garden apartment complex, Edgebrook, where our family moved to from the Bronx, and I lived from 8 to 20...basically through college.l
The upper left of 76 Lawrence drive was our 2 bedroom, 1 bath digs, where I shared a bunk bed with Neil...There were nearly 150 families in this suburban complex, and it is here where I was protected from having to learn any house maintenance skills. We were so insulated from any work on these apartments, that even changing a light bulb had to be done by the "super".
The town, actually Hamlet, of Valhalla...where many famous people are buried in its cemeteries, like Babe Ruth et al..., is where I was bussed to high school.
The actual bide to the school took nearly 15 minutes each way, and I remember it being a typically interesting ride with some kids fighting, some fooling around, and my few friends and I trying to stay out of any mainstream activity. I can't imagine what these rides must be like today???
Then I took the team to where my folks moved just after we graduated from college. Time to downsize with us out of the house, and what do they do...buy this gorgeous piece of property, 2.2 acres, in Pleasantville NY, which turned out to be just a few minutes from Chappaqua where Bill and Hillary took up residence. It is a beautiful area and this house is what was built after my folks sold and moved to Las Vegas. Their 1 story, brick and marble beauty was razed, and his 2 story was put in its place...this is for you mom and dad...
Also for my folks....this house is on the lot just at the bottom of Oak Hill Circle. When you enter to go up to your place, this would be on the left. Pretty nice, but right next to the busier Pleasantville Road.
Then on to lake Peekskill, a summer community of cottages around a lake where my mom and dad met. This first picture is my Dad's folks house...where I remember staying as a very young boy and eating some of the best French Toast made from Challah Bread...
Here's the front of my mom's folks cottage, where when I dressed up in my Superman costume and flew out the front door, it seemed I could fly for miles before getting to the front fence. As I look now, the front yard was only about 10 feet wide. Didn't things seem so much bigger as a kid? It's in this house where my grandpa Ben would serve us breakfast for kings...bagels and lox, sour cream and fresh blueberries, and to top that off (this was all at the same time) we had graham crackers crumbled in cold milk. I love each of these to this day...
Here's the actual lake, where I would swim from this side to the weeping willow tree on the other side. I believe my dad was a lifeguard here and met my mom...the rest is history...
My grandfather had something to do with managing the actual clubhouse where the beach was located. It is still standing, but looks abandoned.
Having a bit more time before arriving at our dear friends Bob and Barbara's house, we stopped at Franklin Roosevelt State Park with Lake Mohansic in the background. This is how the Gubitz women chillax in a park...
When the bells of the ice cream truck were heard in the distance, big plans for an afternoon treat started to foment in Sam's brain...and although the driver only took cash and we had a mere $2.83 cents in our pocket, Sam's pleading got him to let her have this $3.00 treat!
Arriving at Bob and Barb's beautiful estate in Ossining, we enjoyed a great evening with a few other college friends. All of us from S.U.N.Y.A. the State University of New York in Albany. (Now known as Albany State to simplify...)
Larry and Carol continue to look amazing..I think golf 5 days a week helps many aspects of health...I'm thinking how I can receive those health benefits hmmmm...
Steve and his brother John. Steve, being the college buddy, runs a water company and does a bit of CPAing on the side.
I remembered a bit too late to photo this dinner, and that was unfortunate, because it rivaled any master chef cuisine...The shrimp in this photo were each the size of a small lobster, and tasted better.
Bob dry rubbed, cooked all day in the oven and then bbqed these beauties. The flavor was to die for...and the fellowship was sublime!
In New York, the Yankees are a big draw, and every game against the Red Sox is a big deal. So what a treat to sip a small adult beverage while the 15 inning scoreless game ended with A-Rod hitting a 2 run walk off homer. By then it was after 12:30 and time to turn out the lights. Tomorrow is a big 12 hour drive day to get us from NY to Greenville, SC... love you guys!