When I became pre-teen age, I did spend time with Nana when she lived at Bloomers side, after my Grandfather died. I had a chance to get to know my cousin Babs at that time. I do remember going up to the Country Club grounds at night with a blanket to sit and talk with some of Bab’s friends. We had fun going over to the Pavilion and sitting on the porch. Also, when I became a teenager, my parents took me to Fort Lauderale, FL with my other cousin Christine where I was able to get my first bikini.. I am really surprised my parents allowed me to do this and Christine and myself got the exact same ones.. so cute spring green and white check hip hugger type.. somewhere in my mass assortment of pictures I have one of us wearing our newly purchased suits!
I liked sitting by the beach, but only in short spurts, as I was not like my sister who could sit for hours in the sun. I did love to swim and was told I was like a fish in the water. I especially loved going out to the float and laying out there for long periods of time. I loved the way it gently rocked me with the water currents underneath. It made me feel like I was on a boat out in the Ocean. I also loved to swim underneath the float where it was cool and quiet, and you could hear your own echo. I have always liked being alone with my own thoughts during my life. It kind of puts things back into perspective, don’t you think?
I have fond memories of going to the Pavilion on bingo night with Nana. She was the “Bingo Queen” and I can remember all the prizes you could win if you were lucky that night lined up on a table.
I also fondly recall picnics near the water, and sitting in the back porch of their cottage with Nana’s treadle sewing machine, and a crocheted throw blanket, and cooking out on the front porch.
My Uncle Pepe and Aunt Mickey (my father’s sister) were great to me as well as my Uncle Henry (my father’s younger brother) and Aunt Eleanor. Aunt Mickey was my father’s sister and she was married to Uncle Pepe. They had two children Bobby who was closer to my sister’s age and older than I was, and Babs. Nana lived with them as she became older. They owned a restaurant nearby called “Pepe’s”, and had the best meatball subs (we called them wedges) and sausage pepper and onions, and great Italian food. Westchester County area is the only one where they call Subs, wedges from what I understand from a show on the TV Food Network. Pepe's Place was probably what you would have called one of the original sports bars with a twist as it served really good Italian food along with the regular all american fare. They also at some point had a restaurant in Poughkeepsie, NY where my children were raised most of their lives.
Dad and Mom years later in Florida
With Mark when he was young, Aunt Joyce, Mom, Maureen Cooney and me
Family with Nana
Gwen and me at after parade party with Grandpa and Grandma Nickels
Our family on Father's side
My father had another older sister Sophie and she was married to Uncle John Joe and had a daughter who was near my sister’s age by the name of Joanie D. I don’t know why we always used the first letter of her last name all the time, I guess because her last name was Dwyer.. I never could figure that out, but she was a fun cousin to be around. She was funny and a tease like my sister. They did not have a bungalow at the Lake as I remember, but she seemed to be there quite a bit. My sister went to Cape May, NJ and such with them on summer trips. Cape May is beautiful vacation spot on the ocean in a picturesque setting of old Victorian homes and darling little unique and charming shops. If you ever are in the southernmost tip of New Jersey be sure to stop by that area and there is also a great restaurant my husband and I visit when there called ~ The Lobster House, 906 Schellengers Landing Road, Cape May, NJ 609-884-8296 and also a cute restaurant for breakfast overlooking the ocean: Uncle Bill’s Pancake House, Perry and Beach Streets, 609-884-7194
Cousin Joanie and my sister Gwen are still close and go on vacation trips and class reunions together to this day. We all live in Florida now. My sister about one mile away and Joanie about twenty minutes. I really should plan a lunch date with them as I have not seen my cousin in years!
©PEACH LAKE MEMORIES 5/21/11
Peach Lake Memories is a 15 Chapter book with vignettes about my childhood memories. It is copyrighted. Please ask for permission before using any information in my book. Thank you .. donnatrex@yahoo.com
No comments:
Post a Comment