The greatest gift is knowledge
To be righteous and just to others
You will know the gift when it comes
All things will be brighter and look cleaner
And you will feel stronger and sure of yourself
~ Gemini Joe ~
I
didn’t want to move out of Brooklyn, but your mom missed her sister. I was always working and I thought about the unfinished steps and the neighbor and said, “Yeah, maybe we’ll check it out.”
That’s how we found the little pink colonial house in Massapequa. It only had two bedrooms, but there was an attic. I thought I could make it into two more bedrooms. There was only one light up there, and the switch was downstairs in the hall, but I knew I could run the electric off it.
The door near the kitchen led to the basement.
“This is perfect,” I said to your mom. “I can make an apartment down here for your father.”
“I’m not putting my father in the basement.”
“I’ll make it nice. He’ll love it.”
“Maybe, but until you finish it, he stays upstairs.”
Your grandfather wasn’t happy about leaving Brooklyn, but he had no choice. He was too old to live on his own. We took care of him and he helped with the bills.
The best part about the house was the garage. I always wanted to make a little shop where I could do my products. That clinched it. We borrowed some money from your mom’s sister and left Brooklyn to live in the country. Everyone in the neighborhood welcomed us, including Al from across the street.
“I hope you’re registered as a Republican,” he said.
“I really haven’t had time for politics,” I told him.
“When you’re ready, I’ll take you to one of our meetings.”
“Okay,” I said and promised to go with him once we settled in.
Turning my attention to the house, I finished part of the basement. And then set up the bedroom for your grandfather, with a bed, reclining chair and television. I even made a small kitchen so grandpa could cook for himself. You always asked if you could go downstairs and eat with him. Then Joey wanted to go downstairs to eat. I didn’t like that, but if I said anything, your mom made me look like the bad guy.
I was still working for Sears and Roebuck so I had a long commute to the city every day. Before long, it wore me down and I slipped into old habits. I’m ashamed to say, I started going to the bar again.
Your mom said, “If you keep drinking like this, I want you to get out.”
I said, “I’m under a lot of stress at work. You get to relax all day with your father and sister, while I have to drive back and forth to the city.”
“Either you stop drinking or I want a divorce. You can move back to Brooklyn, for all I care.”
I didn’t want that so I cut down on my drinking as promised, and tried to get along. We went for marriage counselling and for a while, things were very good. I was sober and she was more loving.
It lasted long enough for her to get pregnant. The news gave me reason to celebrate, but she didn’t seem as happy.
