HERE IS TO THE BEATTY ST. BOYS

Happy Tuesday Guys and Dolls:

Thinking of the places and things you did growing up brings back fond memories not only to me but I’m sure you readers too. I had a great time growing up in North Trenton, we played baseball all summer long, played cards in the evening, we lit up punks to keep the bugs away, played flashlight tag in the alleys at night and we were never bothered by anyone. My Dad took me down to the Delaware River about 3 times a week to go fishing, it was a special time he and I shared and I’ll never forget him for that.

My time was shared between my house and my grandmother’s in South Trenton. After my grandfather passed away, I kept her company and helped her over the weekends with errands around the house and running to the local stores. It was in my first or second year of high school I reunited with an old friend name Lou, along with my cousin Tom, a new friend Richie and there as always Ralph tagging along at times. A classmate of mine Jack and his brother Jim joined in at times and we all got along great. We called ourselves the Beatty St. Boys and on a Friday night you could find us on Lou’s front porch checking out the girls walking by and hoping to connect. The evening was spent having fun in general and I mean good clean fun, there was respect in the old neighborhoods for the people who lived there. I have to admit we did chug down a few beers that we smuggled out from time to time. Now of course at times my buddy Lou had to kick some A_ _ to a few big mouths but that was neighborhood cleansing. As for me I wasn’t much of a fighter I was a lover.

Once Lou met a girl named Georgette who lived in the Chambersburg part of Trenton and her house became a Saturday night hangout for us. Her mother making homemade pizza, we listened to records and just had a grand old time. We all remained friends until the times changed and we had to go our own separate ways. Jack married Georgette later in life and it’s my understanding they are still going strong. There were so many other things we did I can not recall them all but they are lying somewhere in my memory.

I reconnected with Lou who lived in Florida and now resides back in the Trenton area. My cousin Tom found me on Facebook and we have spoken several times. I even found Richie on Facebook and spoke to him. I’ve written a tribute to those guys in my second book that I hope to publish shortly.

Sometimes I wish I could close my eyes, make a wish and go back in time to spend one weekend in my youth with those guys again. That was what friendship was about with those guys and I’ll never forget them. Have a great day Speakies.