7.29.2011

Stranger Reminds Me Of Days Gone By

Normally, when I'm going into the city it's in the early hours for a meeting, or late afternoon for an event. Yesterday, I spent the day riding up- and downtown on the F train going to various meetings. On the way home about 3pm, I got on the F train at Lexington & 63 street going downtown. I was hot and sweaty from walking 8 crosstown blocks from my last meeting.

The train was a little stuffy and I could barely feel the AC unless I stood up and cranned my neck upward. Out of the corner of my eye, I see someone waving their arms wildly. I tried to ignore, but he persisted and said, "Miss, there's a seat over here if you want to sit down." I thanked him but said I was trying to cool down by standing up. Then, of course, as soon as the words came out of my mouth I realized my mistake. It was an open invitation for him to start speaking to me, about everything that popped into his head. Of course he was going to Brooklyn, as I was. Of course he was hot too. Of course he was going to stand next to me talking and chattering about everything and anything. But, instead of leaving the car, I stayed and talked with him.  He seemed lonely. He seemed happy to have someone to talk with. So, I listened and he shared his life experiences being a Brooklyn boy, opening Johnnypumps for the neighborhood kids, and a bbq during last week's heat wave. He got me thinking of a few things about Summer fun with Peter and his Father.

Peter standing on the porch in the backyard on East 18th Street


You may have read the rest of this personal note about the subways on my FB yesterday, but this part is different.

As lonely train guy talked about his Johnnypump memories, he reminded me of hot Summer days and evenings when the pool had lost it's novelty and we wanted something else to do. If it was a Sunday afternoon and most of the family was over Nettie's house for Sunday supper, all the kids were there together. And bored kids do what we do best, we fight, scream and act-up. But Pete and Nettie knew how to keep us busy and less bored.

Pete Sr. would instruct his son to get the tool that opened the Johnnypump, while he strolled outside with 5 granddaughters clad in bathing suits ran behind him usually barefoot. With Peter helping him with something that looked like the largest wrench I've ever seen, together they'd unscrew the cap and water gushed out of the pump like an open firehose. If Pete's uncle Louie was around, he had a sprinkler cap that could be screwed in place so the pulsing water turned into a large sprinkler that covered the entire street and allowed for enough room for 10 people to run under and threw it.

With Pete Sr. keeping a lookout for cars, Peter, Nancy, Michelle, Tara, Marie and I would spend hours running under the cold sprinkler or taking turns sitting on the spout where the water gushed out until the sheer force of the water pushed you off and Peter would be there to catch us so we didn't fall down. Peter and Nancy would ride their skateboards through the water, or call their friends from down the street to come out and play, like Josh and Dennis.

We'd do this for hours, until Pete Sr. got tired of standing there, or some nasty neighbor would call the cops. But it was Peter who would nudge his dad on these Sunday afternoons to create a little fun for us. It's these hot days that you remember the good old days when you had summers off and you were able to make sprinklers for a bunch of bored city kids.

19 comments:

  1. Johnnypump hey! Though it must have been a fire hydrant but just to be sure I looked it up on Wikipedia..so now I also know why its called a johnnypump. Fireman were called Johnnies in the late 19th century. That would have been fun with so many people being able to be under the water at the same time. Couldn't Peter Sr kick the top off the johnnypump like Beyonce does in her Music clip for
    Crazy in Love (Ha Ha) in high heels too!
    I always look at talking to lonely people as positive thing, it makes them very happy that someone knows they are there and that they are not invisible to the world.

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  2. Darcie, it is always a pleasure to read what you write!
    I.

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  3. That is awesome. I always wondered what it'd be like doing that. In our small town we didn't have those everywhere, and I'd see kids on TV doing that and wasn't sure it that really happened but you answered my question. How cool!

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  4. Egads... that picture! I would have been following him home from school every day, leaving notes in his locker, and bringing homemade cookies to his grandmother, trying to get invited over for dinner. Just so I could look at him.

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  5. This is a wonderful story... Thank you for sharing :)

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  6. What Facebook page can I subscribe to so I can read the other part of the story?

    I enjoy this page very much. It is clear that there is so much love in the family - both Peter's blood family and fan family.

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  7. PETER RODE A SKATEBOARD?!!! WAS HE PRETTY GOOD AT IT? WOW, NOW THERE IS A SIGHT I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SEEN. THANK YOU FOR THE STORY DARCIE. I TALK TO STRANGERS TOO OR HELP THEM OUT AT THE GROCERY STORE. PEOPLE COME INTO OUR LIVES FOR A REASON AND THIS MAN MUST HAVE COME INTO YOUR LIFE TO SHARE HIS STORY TO CONJURE UP THESE MEMORIES OF WHAT YOUR FAMILY DID AS YOU WERE GROWING UP. STRANGERS CAN BE THE VERY BEST PEOPLE. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE COME INTO YOUR LIFE FOR A REASON...A DAY...A LIFETIME...OR A SEASON.

    THANKS AGAIN. MUCH LOVE TO YOU AND YOURS ALWAYS.

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  8. HERE IS A POEM FOR ALL TO READ:

    People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person. When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, To aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are.. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, This person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on. Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for a season. LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, Things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, Love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant Thank you for being a part of my life, Whether you were a reason, a season or a lifetime. -

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  9. We'd not responsibly do something like that here in South Africa. We have summer drought and serious water restrictions.

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  10. Makes you sit back and go "Ahhhh, those were the days!"....fabulous story!! Grandpa's always know where the fun is!!

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  11. This is soo funny. A few weeks ago I was a party in Queens and a women who was much older from Brooklyn was talking about opening up the Johnny pumps. She explained that they were hydrants and I thought to myself I bet Peter and his family called them that to. I grew up in the burbs so we always had sprinklers, pools or slip and slids but I bet a Johnny pump would have been as much fun if not more. Thanks for sharing and Peter looks so 80s but cool in that picture. Miss you Peter!
    ----Jessica (Black Number 1)

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  12. @Amanda - The other part of the story was posted on my personal FB page about the crazy little world of the New York Subway inhabitants.

    It has nothing to do with Peter (other than Lonely Guy inspired the Johnnypump story). But if anyone is interested in reading it, I'll post it on Saturday with our Fan Postings.

    Go out and enjoy the Summer day !

    (Darcie)

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  13. Such a cool story!!! Jeez you guys really knew how to have fun didn't you : ) I grew up with pretty strict parents who never allowed us to play out much for fear of disturbing our neighbours!!! So when I read your stories about how much fun warmth and laughter you shared together as a family it really warms my heart : ) Darcie I love that you took the time to talk to train guy (I would have done the same) like Mary said people cross our paths for a reason : ) Being from London where everyone pretty much ignores everyone (you could drop dead on a train here and no one would come to help you) its cool to hear that your chance meeting with this guy brought these special memories back to you : ) xox

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  14. I love this blog. Please, who are the people who write here? Who runs the blog?

    Élly (Brazil)
    my blog http://fernandalimaguria.blogspot.com

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  15. Such beautiful memories....I did the same in NY when I was kid..we had a blast in the streets, watching for cars, laughing playing ball. We were never ever bored. No computers in those days. Sweet memories again from the family, brings tears and joy same time. We love you all so much. We are your extended family now. One world. Peter would love that being the sweet man he was. Thank you for making my NY memories come back and for making me smile to recall those happy days. Summer is here in NY I miss that..Calif is always sunny...oh well.

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  16. Thanks, Darcie! I didn't want to miss something. :-)

    Amanda

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  17. we didn't have much but we had each other and lots of imaginations!!!!

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  18. This is a great story. Makes me miss the days of no computers so, so much! There was plenty of non-virtual entertainment to be had and less likelihood of getting caught pursuing it. Sometimes I wish we could go back.
    In non-coastal regions no amount of AC handles the heat involved in being far away from ocean breezes, so keeping cool involved either working in the basement woodshop, sabbotaging a Johnnypump or hopping in a local creek, lake or reservoir. Family frowned on my 2-5am dam-sliding excursions, (NOTE: Potentially fatal. Do not attempt without guidance,) but it was the best ride in town, and provided we remained under cover of night where the Feds weren't patrolling, it was free.
    Thanks for the happy memories and for letting us know just how many uses that big pipe-wrench had for Pete. It's true, grandpa's always know where the real fun is!

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  19. cinnamongirl13132:03 AM, August 01, 2011

    Always love the stories, but a few special ones certainly stick out. I love that as silly and crazy as he could get, Peter was also conscientious and protective. Don't ever forget he was there to catch you if you fell :)

    Thank you over and over for everything you share

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