When I was younger...

omg big city kitty you are in my head today...I was thinking about this on the drive home from work...so I got this one all set LMBO

I grew up in the little Italy section of city which back then was my universe and seemed sooo safe...today omg...not so much!

When I was young, I felt safe, played out front w/ all the neighborhood kids till the street lights came on...or if parents were outside sitting on the steps or the lawn chairs (on sidewalks) we could stay out later!

We'd play stick ball w/ a broom stick for a bat and a half a pimple ball or tennis ball, you had to throw it sideways...it took skills to fling it and hit it...lol and make bases on cars, peoples stairs and sewer covers.

Every summer we'd enjoy one or two block parties, where we'd block off our street, and all of the residents would bring out to the street; chairs and picnic tables and bbq's( no gas grills either...charcoal pits), tons of food, like sausages peppers and onions and all kinds of goodies, sometimes a band would play, always music though...and usually at least a few of the adults would get really silly...the vino would flow lol...

We would go on weekend trips almost every weekend to Walden Pond or one of the surrounding beaches to beat the heat and get us kids out of the city...my parents were like the only ones who'd take us and now as an adult I realize wow! they totally rocked!

Saturday mornings were cartoon time!!! and then creature double feature came on at noon and after that we got kicked out of the house! lol...mom's rules...

I had a purple bike w/ a big banana seat and mad yellow and pink flowers on it...lol, then graduated to my first silver ten speed, and a hot pink skateboard and white roller-skates w/ pink wheels and stopper I loved pink and purple lol!

Everyone knew you in the neighborhood, and also knew your parents...so ah no monkey business! lol
(until we were old enough to be sneaky lol)

the ice cream truck would come everyday after supper

I had the biggest crush on Shawn Cassidy and Andy Gibbs(rip)....loved the monkey's show...but didn't like Davey Jones like all my friends...I liked the goofy Mikey!!

watched Lawrence Whelk w/ my grandmother and me and my brother would dance like bobby and sissy lol ( he still says I owe him for that 30 yrs later lol)

We never had tonic (or soda) my mom would buy from the milkman our 1% Nu form milk..lol and OJ and sometimes we'd have koolaid or Ginger ale as a treat...we'd love going to friends houses that got soda anytime they wanted and come home all jacked up! lol

corner stores were run by neighbors and always had penny candy

I thought bonny bell flavored lip glosses were the best thing ever....I could wear makeup and didnt' get in trouble and it tasted yummy!!!

family dinners w/ my entire family, grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles every Sunday after Mass

Everyone would go in early when the Wizard of Oz came on (no cable or tapes then) and my mom would put out the big comforter and pillows, and turn the living room into a big bed lol...make us popcorn we'd all watch as a family

we'd go to drive ins w/ my parents in our pjs and again homemade popcorn and sometimes soda and candy as treats! woo hoo!

we'd go on mystery rides w/ my dad on weekend nights....even to just drive to another area of the city and see a raccoon diggin in someones trash....those were amazing nights to us kids!

omg...I could go on but I'm most likely boring you all LOL

hugs and great great thread!!!
I love going down memory lane!
Ali :flowerforyou:

We got outraged when gas went over $1.20!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I still remember (and miss) filling my car up for .99c per gal

I LOVED $.97 gas!

I used to put a double pumper on my car! I could actually watch the needle move as I drove it!

I only used it for running quartermiles, but it was pretty amazing to watch $20 go so quickly!