Floral Park Parade

FLORAL PARK CELEBRATES 100 YEARS
WITH GRAND PARADE
 

Floral Park is where I spent the first five years of my life --

We lived on Violet Ave. in a two family house. I have very few memories except the I think my room was blue, we had a towering oak tree in front that I use to hide behind and try to hug.

I use to ride my trike up and down the sidewalk, and there was a vast backyard (to a five year old) where we would scrounge around in the dirt and weeds.

My sisters and I alway went to Grandma's who lived on Cherry Street--{Gram made me the best BLT's!}and my Dad would always bring a big sack of laundry.

I I remember a kid knocking me off my  bike at nursery school which was down the block and I remember getting into the biggest trouble of my life--It was my first and only brush with the law! 

My sister Kathryn and I ,would scamper down the block, without anyone knowing {5 and 4 years old} and head right to the "corner store"  Then with stealth like precision--I would lift my sister up so she could grab two candy bars and away we went. 

I suppose we did this enough times to try the patience of the owner---because I have this memory of  being dragged home by my hair by my poor mother, {who was 21!} screaming at us for something that sounded like "What would make you to walk down to the corner store!!!??????

{Candy I said--which resulted in another tug on the hair}

  "Why would you take candy from the corner store??      

{ Because we don't have any!!--"OUCH!"}

Stealing Candy!!?? I had no idea we were doing something wrong--my mother kept saying this weird word "illegal" and of course I got the brunt of it because --well--I was the one who lifted up my sister and instructed her on which chocolate bar to grab! The way my mother carried on I thought for sure I was going to be locked away forever--I remember crying in my blue room and using my tears to paint a picture on the wall because my mother left me in there for days!!! :)

I loved living in Floral Park and down the block from Gram and Gramps--{come to think of it I spent alot of time--painting pictures with my tears --standing in the corner ---in trouble there as well-}

We eventually moved--{I think it was right after they posted my picture in the Candy Store}---out to the country--Huntington, Suffolk County--{there were cows and corn there} and we were moving into a big old house with what seemed like acres of land and I was going to go to school.

Floral Park is a big part of my life because my Gram still lives there.

She is one of the most amazing women in my life--and when she asked me if I wanted to come Floral Park's 100 Year Parade Celebration of course I said YES!

The Parade captured Floral Park's character and characters! :)  They even showed off their new garbarge trucks --{Gram said "Oh look there are our new garbarge trucks!"} { My favorite picture is the one with the guys behind the horse!}

 

I was telling my kids all about living in Floral Park {they were really excited as you can imagine} and about the Fourth Of July Parades and how the firemen would lets us ride on the trucks and how during one parade my friend--{gram will remember her name}--- let go of her red balloon.

As we watched it disappear--she began to cry--I promptly gave her my blue balloon--she smiled--and then let go of it as well!!!

{that memory still makes me crazy--why would she do that?? :)

I guess I realize I remember alot more than I thought--most of all the hugs--the kisses and the love that surrounded me--lucky me!!

http://www.fpvillage.org/