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Home Again, Home Again!!

Filed Under: Crazyiness, Current Events, Married Life, Writing/Blogging Tagged With: , ,

Home again, home again!!  You can take the girl out of the city, but not the city out of the girl.

It took 22 years, but I finally returned to the town I was born and raised in for 14 years of my life.  I wish it were under better circumstances and not for a wake from the subsequent tragic death of a dear family friend.

A side not, this gentleman was a wonderful man and loved and adored by his family and friends alike. Justice needs to be served for the man that mowed him down having been drunk running a red light, while my friend was minding his own business out on his daily walk and trying to just merely cross the street.  Just such a tragedy and still in a bit of shock over this to say the least, because I grew up two doors down from him and his family. To read the Daily News article about this, click here.

That said, I drove in with my parents while Kevin watched the girls.  I was in the backseat of my dad’s car and almost felt as if I were a kid again driving home from visiting my aunt and uncle, because this was the route we took.  No husband, no kids just me and my parents, which totally took me back to a different time and place.

It felt oddly surreal as we neared the exit and drove through the streets of Queens (yes I was born and raised in good, old Queens, NY).  Also the color commentary was good for the soul, because my mom, of course, was lecturing my dad on his driving. And my dad had to throw back at my mom that (in his words), “I have been driving before I could walk!”

My parents are definitely a trip and I do love them so though.  And as we neared my old neighborhood, all the places I had been and some of my fondest memories came flooding back.  Like the time we Trick-or-Treated for hours on end and went all over town even down to the “Big Rock”, which seemed like the other side of town to me back then.

Or the many walks on Jamaica Avenue, I took with my mom and grandmother as a kid, where we shopped at Lewis (a large discount store that had everything) and Scaturro’s (the local grocery store) or even got a cookie from Mondello’s (the local bakery, because I was that cute of a kid).  Or how we would walk up Forest Parkway, first going to the bank if mom had to pay bills, next the post office to mail some letters and always ending up at the library to pick out new books to read.

This Artist’s Rendition Is Gorgeous & Is Quite How I Remember Woodhaven from My Childhood Days!! (Painting by Madeline Lovallo)

Life was so simple back then and yet so good, too.  I truly had a very idyllic childhood and can remember so much of it even though it seems like a lifetime ago. My grandparents lived minutes away from us and even my great-grandfather lived around the corner from us. We were always surrounded by family and friends alike.

Even as we neared the Funeral Home, I remembered having been in that very same place for my great-grandfather’s wake, when I was only 12 years old (he lived to be 103 years old!).  He was even laid out in the same room as my very good friend was.  Talk about a blast front he past!!

All-in-all, it was a very somber wake and yet my friends who are so much like family made me want to cry and yet laugh at the same time, too.  And even down to one of our old neighbors, whose kids I used to play with and his pool that I swam in many a summer was there.  I didn’t recognize him at first, but when we realized who was who, we talked and shared like it was old times.  And he even made me laugh by referring to the neighborhood brat as a “little bitch” (by the way she just happened to be his niece, but as he said he calls them like he sees it). And man was she ever. This girl made the Bad Seed look like an angel, but I digress!!


And when the wake was over, we actually drove past our old house.  Oddly enough it still look pretty much the same, even down to the old mailbox my dad had put in back so many years ago!!

Then, it was time to drive back home and now it felt as though we were driving out to Long Island like we did so many weekends, when my parents were looking to buy a home out here.  Yes, this went on for almost a year back when I was about 13 years old and could do this trip like the back of my hand!

But this time, I was actually driving home to my loving husband and my two wonderful little girls.  I called them, from the car to let them know I was on my way, to have both girls tell me they were watching Kittens and Puppies and loved me oh so much.

And as much as I can’t help, but admit and feel a bit guilty through all the bad that had just occurred over the last few days with my friend, life is still good and I have so much more stories to tell and am truly thankful for all I do have at that point in my life.  And as much as a piece of my heart with always be with my old childhood neighborhood, home is where the heart is and I am right where I want to be with my husband and kids!!

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About Janine

Janine is a published author of the books, The Mother of All Meltdowns and Only Trollops Shave Above the Knee. She has been featured on The Huffington Post, Mamapedia, Today Parenting Team and SheKnows. She also runs her own graphic design company at J9 Designs.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. joan veronica robert says

    Nice post, Janine! It reminded me of my brief stay in NYC way back when! My haunt was the Bronx and Addie Valin's! Have a good day!

    • Janine Huldie says

      Oh thanks Joan and my grandfather actually came from the Bronx and used to go quite a bit as a kid to visit his family. Now you brought some more memories back for me, too!! Glad to share and thank you so very much 🙂

  2. stephanie says

    So sorry to hear about your friend 🙁 Stinks that that's why you were at your old stomping grounds but your memories of the place were so sweet!

    • Janine Huldie says

      Thanks for your thoughts about my friend and will say it still shocks me even though I have had time to digest and process a bit now. And must say I do hold my old neighborhood and memories only in the highest of regard though.

  8. Stephanie Sprenger says

    Again, I'm so sorry about the loss of your friend. Glad you had an opportunity to go "home" and be with friends and family. It really is surreal going back to your childhood home,isn't it? I love that kind of nostalgia, and I really enjoy going back to visit my parents and remembering all those good times…

  10. Cyndi says

    It's always surreal to visit the place of your childhood. Somehow, it just is so idyllic and yes, the memories. This happens when I go home to Colorado twice a year…and it's crazy how everything changes, yet remains the same. 🙂 Awesome post and I love your old house!

    • Janine Huldie says

      Oh thanks Cyndi and I totally agree with you on how it is crazy how even though so much changes, so much still remains the same! As for my old house, I have such a soft spot for it and it truly took all my restraint not to get out of the car and ask the now owner if I could just take a quick look around.

  11. Bill says

    It is cool to go back to the old days. I wrote about that before and it is surreal to visit places we knew so well as children. Love the pictures.

  14. Christy Birmingham says

    Janine, sorry to hear about the the passing of your friend. I do hope justice happens for the person who did the awful act. I can see how odd that would feel to be back in your parents' car, without your children or husband. Like being a kid again. Sending you hugs and glad you got to see your old house -what memories, I am sure!

  16. Lanaya @ Raising Rea says

    I am so sorry to hear of the passing of your family friend. That is truly tragic and I hope they do get justice for the ass that mowed him down!

    How exciting to be back in your hometown and the nostalgia you must have had the whole time! I am sorry it was for those circumstances though

    ¤´¨)
    ¸.•*´
    (¸¤ Lanaya | xoxo http://www.raising-reagan.com

  17. Ruchira says

    Sorry to hear about your loss. Friends are little treasures of life.
    Good part is you got to refresh all those childhood memories with your parents. priceless!
    voted for ya!

  18. Roshni Aamom says

    I too wish you could have gone back under happier circumstances, Janine. I hope justice prevails for your friend.
    I loved your dad's retort!! My parents too fought all the time in the car, with me and my brother giggling at them in the backseat!

  21. Paulina Dombrowski says

    Sorry for your loss. I have been to area you grew up in a lot too when I was young and it really used to be so nice and lovely. Now it can be a little scary.

  22. Kristi Campbell says

    First, I am so sorry to hear about your childhood friend. That's just awful. Second, I'm happy that you're home again. And try to not feel guilty about life being good. We have to move on through the sadness and appreciate the love in front of us. It's what life is, I guess.
    Hugs.

    • Janine Huldie says

      Thank you so very much for saying that Kristi and that is exactly what I have tried to do since I found about about our family friend. He was such a wonderful man and truly didn't deserve this and still trying to wrap my brain around this one. It was so nice to visit "home", but totally wish it could have been under better circumstances for sure.

  24. Janine Huldie says

    So true Melanie and you said it quite perfectly actually. It was definitely a sad occasion, but was definitely nice to get to see everyone and also visit my roots. Thanks and hope you too can get back to your old house in the future!! 😉

  25. gigigirl says

    Thanks for this trip down Memory Lane in Woodhaven. So sorry it had to be for such a sad occasion. May John RIP. Your old house looks pretty good and the old town looks a little different from wear and tear but the basics are there, like the el and "the Avenue." I may take a ride there on day for old time's sake. Love ya…..

    • Janine Huldie says

      Thanks Aunt Gloria and think you will find that it has changed some, but like you said the essentials are still there. And by the way they painted the brick on Pop's house a cream color. Also heard Neer's is booming now!! As for John, I do hope he rests in peace and the man that did this does get his. Love you too!! 🙂

  26. Mary Belle says

    "You can take the girl out of the city, but not the city out of the girl.' Can I borrow that? Hehehe. Except that I'll be replacing city with country. 🙂 But that is so true! You live in such wonderful place Janine! 🙂

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