Hi Al,

Your "indulgence" put a smile on my "punim." Please don't restrict yourself to just cruise discussion. I am so enjoying your posts.

I fondly remember punchball, stickball, potsy and skully (remember that game with the bottlecaps?). It was a kinder time, where children could play outside without the warnings and fear today's youth has pounded into their heads at such a young age.

My Grandmother lived on Brighton 4th Street, a half a block from the boardwalk and beach. I have such beautiful memories of many, many precious times spent with her wandering on the boardwalk, sitting on the beach and atop the jetty, stopping in the old Pavillion to listen to her Russian contemporaries speak of the "old country" and sing Russian folk songs. The best pizza and knishes were right across from the Pavillion. My Grandfather played cards in the card club right next door to the knish store.

We would go shopping on the Avenue, visiting the "Chicken Lady" who, after you chose a chicken that was dangling in the window, would take her meat cleaver and cut up the chicken to my Grandmother's specifications. My Grandmother would then prepare chicken soup with that chicken - feet and all - in the sumptuous broth! Then off to Ebinger's for cake or Charlotte Russe for desert.

Lots of fond and loving memories! Thanks, Al, for starting such a great dialogue!

Please keep the conversation going!