My Eden was made of concrete. It was not a place to go barefoot. There was black soot blowing from the coal chute and rustling old newspapers wrapped around God knows what and broken glass and dog mess underfoot. My paradise smelled like old beer. Its soundtrack was pure jazz, the incessant mechanical syncopation of New York: the wail of sirens, the shriek of subway brakes, the exhaust exhalations of buses stopping and starting on Manhattan’s avenues.
So was Penn Valley a Levittown? You know who else has written eloquently about growing up the suburbs and a Levittown in particular? Bill Griffith, creator of Zippy, esp. in his graphic memoir Invisible Ink. PS: Chris feels exactly the same way about being snatched out of grim postwar central London and exiled to the the green suburbs of Middlesex.
Nicely done (as usual) Michael. Many echoes of my own history (Levittown, Great Neck), although mostly minus the anti-semitism. I grew up in a school system that was 90% Jewish, my Dad gave me a warning on my imminent departure for college in Ohio about how I would probably encounter anti-Jewish sentiment. I was baffled, what? I had no memories of living in New York City, so never missed it. Actually hated visiting The City because they made me wear itchy dress-up clothes.
So was Penn Valley a Levittown? You know who else has written eloquently about growing up the suburbs and a Levittown in particular? Bill Griffith, creator of Zippy, esp. in his graphic memoir Invisible Ink. PS: Chris feels exactly the same way about being snatched out of grim postwar central London and exiled to the the green suburbs of Middlesex.
I wish I had your memory Michael - wonderful stuff. Have you ever visited Narberth in Wales? You should
one day ...rather different proposition ...!
These are great, Michael - thank you
Fascinating piece, Michael! Will share it with my wife, who grew up in Far Rockaway, another place where, back when, everyone was Jewish.
Nicely done (as usual) Michael. Many echoes of my own history (Levittown, Great Neck), although mostly minus the anti-semitism. I grew up in a school system that was 90% Jewish, my Dad gave me a warning on my imminent departure for college in Ohio about how I would probably encounter anti-Jewish sentiment. I was baffled, what? I had no memories of living in New York City, so never missed it. Actually hated visiting The City because they made me wear itchy dress-up clothes.