My Grandmother’s Plants
John Castaldo John Castaldo

My Grandmother’s Plants

Through the many times sitting in this office with my grandfather on days off from school, I vividly recall my grandmother (called “Nana” by my sister and I & “Aunt Sally” by the rest of the neighborhood) caring for the office plants.

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A Date Night to Remember
John Castaldo John Castaldo

A Date Night to Remember

My spouse and I are creatures of habit. We often visit the same neighborhoods, eat in the same restaurants, and are home by the same time most evenings. It’s wonderful being in our late-30s and being able to say, “Okay, that sounds amazing but my bed is calling me and it’s so much more amazing.” Still, every so often we get the urge to do something just a little different.

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The Old Bocce Guys - A Lesson In Community
John Castaldo John Castaldo

The Old Bocce Guys - A Lesson In Community

Growing up in Bath Beach, I distinctly remember the old Italian men playing bocce at the park on Cropsey Avenue between Bay 46th Street and 27th Avenue, as well as at the park on Shore Parkway near 17th Avenue. They were a neighborhood fixture, much like the Tai Chi ladies are today in the park on 84th Street and 18th Avenue in Bensonhurst or the Eastern European men playing chess are at Cropsey Park near Bay Parkway. Heck! There was even a group of old guys playing bocce at Seagate Beach Club. I remember our neighbor Andy used to see them playing bocce and sing, “Oh the bocce ball, the bocce ball. Everybody loves the bocce ball.”

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