Episode 126

Vinnie's Left Overs - MY LIFE 1950-1970 NEW YORK TO CRYSTAL RIVER FLORIDA

Published on: 21st September, 2026

Transcript
Speaker:

Hey, it's, uh, Vinnie at the Cousin Vinnie Network.

2

:

Ever have those senior moments?

3

:

Yeah.

4

:

Yeah, I had one, uh, couple of weeks ago.

5

:

I was recording, uh, a series of podcasts

talking about my life from:

6

:

1970, and I really didn't do any notes.

7

:

I was just, you know, generally

from the top of my head, things I

8

:

could remember that, that stood out.

9

:

And then, gosh, I got done with

it, and I go back and listen.

10

:

I go, "Wow, I missed

some other good stuff."

11

:

So, so I don't wanna bore you, here

are my leftovers from:

12

:

a part of my life It's not gonna be

very long, but it was just some other

13

:

things that, um, what's making me

aware of, of all of that I'm doing is

14

:

that I don't have children of my own.

15

:

I have nieces and nephews, you know,

and I've got friends and people who,

16

:

you know, have known me over the

years, but really don't know who I am.

17

:

They think they know who I am.

18

:

Um, they have suspicions of who I am.

19

:

And I, and I go back and look at those

first 20 years of my life and think,

20

:

"Wow, I had some opportunities that

most people don't have in a lifetime."

21

:

And that was just the

first 20 years of my life.

22

:

And then from, you know, 20 to now 76,

oof, those next few years of bundles

23

:

that I'm gonna put together, I think

some of you are gonna go, "There's

24

:

no freaking way he's done all that."

25

:

Well, I sometimes think, think about it

myself and go, "Did I really do that?"

26

:

Yeah, I did.

27

:

Um, you can't make this shit up.

28

:

Things occurred in your life that,

you know, you go back and look and

29

:

you go, "Wow, that was pretty wild."

30

:

So these are leftovers from 1950 to 1970.

31

:

In no particular order,

I, I try to classify them.

32

:

I'll put them into groups.

33

:

But there are a few people in my

life back then that I kinda forgot.

34

:

Um, I'll start with our deli.

35

:

We had a g- you know,

a deli on Long Island.

36

:

It was Pete's, um, Superette,

the name of the place.

37

:

And there was a guy that worked for my

dad, his name was Bobby, and I can't

38

:

remember his last name to save my life.

39

:

But Bobby was a young man, I think he

was either out of high school or just

40

:

graduated from high school and came to

work for my dad, and he had a younger

41

:

b- brother called George, Georgie.

42

:

And Georgie was about my age, and

he was going to East Islip, uh,

43

:

School, and I was going to St.

44

:

Mary's.

45

:

So he was pretty much my only really

close friend in the neighborhood because

46

:

I was going to Catholic school and

there weren't a lot of people from the

47

:

Catholic school in the neighborhood.

48

:

So Georgie and I became

really good friends.

49

:

And Bobby, you know, worked for my dad

in the grocery store until we sold it.

50

:

And unfortunately, the year that

we went to Italy, he and a few

51

:

others ripped my dad off pretty bad.

52

:

Uh, we came back, the shelves

were empty from our trip to Italy,

53

:

and, uh, that pretty much put

the icing on the cake and Dad…

54

:

when Dad decided to sell the, you

know, the business and, and concentrate

55

:

on his, his Florida adventures.

56

:

So that was kind of the negative

side of tho- those years of

57

:

having the grocery store.

58

:

But unfortunately, I get…

59

:

It was years later, uh, I took a trip back

up to New York, one of those few trips I

60

:

ever went back, and I didn't go back to…

61

:

I, I gotta take it, take it back.

62

:

I did return to New York in my, um- junior

year of high school, I had to go back

63

:

to New York, had to go back to New York.

64

:

I was living in Florida.

65

:

This was 1969.

66

:

Couldn't stand it here.

67

:

So I, uh, got two friends of

mine to drive with me from Golden

68

:

Hills, and unbeknownst to me, Mrs.

69

:

Castro, who owned Castro Convertible

Furniture, who owned the school, Golden

70

:

Hills, was in New York at the time, and

I happened to take her nephew with me.

71

:

So we drove to New York

and we stayed at Mrs.

72

:

Castro's, uh, house there.

73

:

And on the way back she goes, "Can

you take this back to Florida for me?"

74

:

And it was some stuff, and

we put it in the trunk.

75

:

Didn't pay attention to it.

76

:

She just asked me to, you know,

take it back, and we took it.

77

:

So we ran off to New York, and

boy, did I catch hell on that one.

78

:

We just, you know, got in the car, it

was a Friday afternoon, and we just

79

:

drove to New York City and got there.

80

:

And, and by then, you know, Mrs.

81

:

Castro found out that we were on our

way, and my parents found out, and,

82

:

you know, I caught hell at that end,

and I caught hell on the other end.

83

:

So that was that little escapade

back to New York, and that was

84

:

pretty much the, the clincher for me

about is New York out of my system.

85

:

Well, it's never out of your system,

but it became apparent to me that

86

:

it was a completely different life

environment, uh, attitude, and I, I

87

:

never had any other urge ever to go back.

88

:

You know, you hear a lot of pe- people

say, "Oh, I can't stay in Florida, the

89

:

heat," and this and that, and I go, "Yeah,

it's, it's, it's terrible sometimes."

90

:

The heat can be, uh, a little, uh,

overwhelming, and what you tend to do

91

:

is you, you, you, you work around it.

92

:

I'm putting a little background accordion

in here if you hear it in the background.

93

:

Uh, O Sole Mio

94

:

Um, yeah, you know, the culture

shock of moving, you know,

95

:

to, to Florida, Crystal River.

96

:

And, uh, and then going back and seeing

our old neighborhood and our grocery

97

:

store and our home and some of my

friends, and it made me really appreciate

98

:

and focus that I belong in Florida.

99

:

And other people have asked me over the

years, "Would you go back to New York?"

100

:

No.

101

:

I've been back, you know, half a

dozen times or so over the years.

102

:

Uh, had a young lady I was thinking about

dating in New York, went to visit her a

103

:

couple of times, and I'll, uh, you know…

104

:

That was in the early '70s.

105

:

When I get to that v- that section,

I'll, I'll talk a little bit about that.

106

:

But I don't know.

107

:

Um, you know, I've had friends of mine,

you know, ask me here locally, "Well,

108

:

you know, what's the, you know, what

was the draw of coming back here?"

109

:

I said, "I don't know."

110

:

I think once you get it between

your toes, uh, you're here.

111

:

Now, look, not everyone loves Florida.

112

:

Thank goodness for that.

113

:

If it were, we'd be up the creek.

114

:

Uh, not everyone loves the state.

115

:

But I think once you have lived here

and, uh, assimilated, you know…

116

:

I, yeah, I get, I, you

know, I missed New York.

117

:

I mean, my friend Georgie, unfortunately,

you know, committed suicide

118

:

jumped in front of a train, uh, and that

was the last thing I ever heard about him.

119

:

Um, you know, and, and the grocery

store, you know, remained on.

120

:

It stayed on there for

years, and it's still there.

121

:

The building's still there.

122

:

I was up there recently within the last

couple of years and, um, but I, I look

123

:

at, you know, the lifestyle of there.

124

:

I can remember being in the grocery

store, and it was the day the

125

:

blackout happened in New York where

they had this major, major blackout.

126

:

I mean, the city just…

127

:

Everything went out, the lights, power,

everything went out, and it was kinda

128

:

funny 'cause that was the day my dad

had gotten a new dog for us called King.

129

:

It was a German shepherd, and the

poor little pup was just freaking out.

130

:

Had him in the grocery store in a little

box and, um, you know, just, just,

131

:

just thrilled to death to have him.

132

:

Uh, we had a, a dog before that.

133

:

Her name was Lassie.

134

:

She was a collie, and she was

basically the yard dog that stayed

135

:

behind the stores inside the fence

that protected the back of the store.

136

:

And then we got King, which

was, uh, um, a beautiful animal.

137

:

He, uh, he was really great.

138

:

We brought him, uh, to Florida

with us and, uh, uh, um…

139

:

The other things about the grocery

store just came in my head.

140

:

I remember wintertimes, the snow.

141

:

If you've lived in New York or out on Long

Island, you know, during the winter the

142

:

snow piles up, and back then, you know, we

didn't have the snowplow services that you

143

:

had back then, you know, today up there.

144

:

So my dad bought an old Willy's Jeep

with a snowplow on the front of it.

145

:

This just come into my mind

as I'm thinking about it.

146

:

And it's interesting about sitting

here be- behind a microphone and

147

:

having some crypt notes that some

of the things come into my head.

148

:

So if I wander, bear with me, because

I, I wanna get this on a recording

149

:

somewhere so that if my, you know,

nieces and nephews ever f- fondle around

150

:

and find it and hear it go, "Wow, I

didn't know that about our family."

151

:

So Dad had gotten this, um, Jeep

with a snowplow on it, stick,

152

:

and, uh, he let me drive it.

153

:

Uh, I was, you know, park- doing

the parking lot scraping it.

154

:

Scraped a little bit too hard

one time, took some asphalt up,

155

:

and he started screaming at me.

156

:

Our house was only 75 feet from the

grocery store, and before that, you

157

:

know, before we got the Jeep, to get

to the house to the store, there was

158

:

a sidewalk that went from the front

door of the house all the way over to

159

:

the store, and my job was to shovel

out the snow between that 75 feet.

160

:

Boy, that was…

161

:

On some of those days, you know, if,

if you grew up there in New York out

162

:

on Long Island, you know what the…

163

:

How cold, how the wind can just break

through your body, and you just go

164

:

"That's just terrible, terrible."

165

:

So the, the, the Jeep was really cool.

166

:

I, God, I don't know

whatever happened to it.

167

:

I know we had it for a couple of years.

168

:

I don't know if dad got rid…

169

:

I, I imag- well, he had to, 'cause we

didn't take it with us here to Florida, so

170

:

he probably got rid of it at some point.

171

:

But that was the first thing I,

I learned how to drive, was that

172

:

Wi- Willy's Jeep, the, the stick,

which was kinda, kinda neat.

173

:

And, um, the other thing is

my mom did a lot of the prep

174

:

work for cooking in our store.

175

:

We had sausage and peppers and, and

meatballs and s- stuff like that

176

:

we would have, that she would make

sandwiches, you know, in the store.

177

:

She'd make the, ro- roll the meatballs

at the house, and dad would make the

178

:

sausage, and we would cook them at

the house and then bring them back

179

:

into the store, making sandwiches.

180

:

And we had an intercom system

between the house and the store.

181

:

And I think I saw it in a box one day up

in, in our, in our, my parents' current

182

:

house here in Crystal River, in a box.

183

:

It was just an old antiquated intercom,

where you push down and you talk.

184

:

So we had an intercom in the house

and one in the store, and mom, if

185

:

she was in the store, would bark to

me, you know, "Okay, do this with

186

:

the meatballs or the sausage," or

whatever it was, or vice versa.

187

:

We'd come back and forth

across the intercom system.

188

:

So that was kinda neat.

189

:

I mean, we were ahead of ourselves.

190

:

We had a little technology that, you

know, a lot of people didn't even

191

:

know what that technology was like.

192

:

But it was kinda neat to have

that intercom so that mom could,

193

:

um, you know, kinda communicate,

and dad could, you know, let her

194

:

know what's going on in the store.

195

:

Um-

196

:

Another strange event

197

:

My first adventure with horses around

the corner from us, uh, not too far

198

:

from the store, a friend of ours

or a kid I knew in the neighborhood

199

:

had a, a pasture, and he had ponies

200

:

So one day I'm at his house, and

he goes, "You wanna ride my pony?"

201

:

And I go, "Yeah."

202

:

I'd never been on a pony

befo- I mean, a pony.

203

:

I was probably 9, 10, maybe 11 years old.

204

:

So I'm, I'm, I'm getting on this

pony, have no idea what I'm doing.

205

:

Got my foot in the left stirrup, saddled

up, sat down, and I'm just walking the

206

:

pony around the, the corral there or

the rink or whatever he had that was

207

:

fenced in, and the pony got spooked.

208

:

I don't know what caused it.

209

:

Reared up I'm trying to stop it.

210

:

I didn't know how to stop it.

211

:

I fall backwards, my right foot comes

out of the right stirrup, my left

212

:

foot gets stuck in the left stirrup,

and I got drug across the pasture.

213

:

I'm screaming, hollering, "Ah!"

214

:

You know, I mean it…

215

:

I didn't know.

216

:

Horse stopped finally, or he grabbed it,

whatever he did, and I get up and I start

217

:

wiping myself off, and I wipe my left

ear, and I got a wad of blood from ear.

218

:

Now, if you know your

ears, they will bleed.

219

:

Now, it's not like a main vein, but

there's blood coming out of there.

220

:

So I'm holding this rag on my ear.

221

:

He lived around the corner from the

store, so it was about, I don't know,

222

:

maybe a quarter of a mile maybe or less.

223

:

So I'm running to the grocery

store, and my mom's in the store.

224

:

I don't know where my dad was at the time.

225

:

He was someplace.

226

:

And, um,

227

:

she takes me to Dr.

228

:

Papa, who was our family doctor,

brings me into the office.

229

:

I got my hand over my ear

with this blood gushing out.

230

:

He lays me on the table face down,

cleans up the wound, stitches

231

:

it, and says, "Okay, you can go."

232

:

And I'm thinking back today,

shit, that ain't gonna happen.

233

:

You go into an emergency room with

blood pushing out your ear, they're

234

:

gonna come out with all the, the

shields and the scrubs and, and the,

235

:

you know, all the protection material.

236

:

You know, I mean, he…

237

:

I just walked into his office,

lay down on the table, let…

238

:

And he, and he stitched it up, and I've

got one ear that's got a little bit of

239

:

a funkiness to it on the left side of

it, but that was my pony experience.

240

:

You know, and it was really strange

that back then, the way medicine was

241

:

practiced, you had a family doctor who

knew everything about you and took care

242

:

of all this stuff for you, you know?

243

:

And Mom didn't even think about it.

244

:

Just walked into his office.

245

:

He looked at me.

246

:

He said, "Lay down."

247

:

Stitched me up.

248

:

And that was pretty much the

end of the, the episode with Dr.

249

:

Papa.

250

:

But I mean, you know, stitching

my ear back onto my head.

251

:

I mean, that was pretty

sketchy stuff, I mean.

252

:

And my dad also had a couple of houses

in the neighborhood that he bought for

253

:

rentals, and I can remember going into

one of his house, and it smelled so bad.

254

:

This is just coming to my memory, and

I didn't even write this one down.

255

:

It's just coming back to me now.

256

:

Lady had cats.

257

:

I don't know how many cats she had,

but there was cat pee everywhere.

258

:

The house stunk to high heaven

We got all the cats, got them

259

:

to wherever they needed to go.

260

:

Probably back then they just

killed them, which was terrible.

261

:

But we got rid of the cats and

we were close to a, um, a forest

262

:

or, um, out there on Long Island.

263

:

I can't think of the for- it was

right behind us, not too far from our

264

:

stores, and I should have looked it up.

265

:

But there was a, a state forest, and there

was kind of a road that went behind our

266

:

house that circled around, um, behind us.

267

:

And, uh, a couple of friends of mine,

like I said, lived in that area.

268

:

So my pony ride was a disaster.

269

:

Cats were kind of funky, you

know, clearing out this house.

270

:

And, um

271

:

Um, a couple of other things that kind of

reminded me of that era is, you know, if

272

:

you lived in New York, a lot of houses had

basements, and we had a basement in our…

273

:

And my dad had finished two-thirds

of it, and it had a, a sink and a

274

:

stove and a bar, and I've got pictures

of my uncles, Mike, Johnny, Otto,

275

:

and, uh, who was the other one?

276

:

Those are the three I can think of.

277

:

Mi-Mike, Mike, John, Otto.

278

:

Uh, who was the third one, fourth one?

279

:

Can't remember now.

280

:

Anyway, they'd be behind the

bar drinking their drinks.

281

:

Uh, I didn't understand it at the

time, but one of my uncles was an

282

:

alcoholic, and he was always snockered.

283

:

But we'd have mixed drinks.

284

:

And I gotta say that my

parents, as we grew up, and my

285

:

grandparents never tabooed alcohol.

286

:

They didn't make us scared of it.

287

:

We'd…

288

:

I'd be at my grandmother's

and grandfather's.

289

:

My grandfather made his own wine, and

my Vinnie, cousin Vinnie and myself,

290

:

we'd squish the grapes in his, his

barrel to squish the grapes, and

291

:

they did it for shits and grins just

to watch us get our p- purple feet.

292

:

And we'd get a little bit of wine, a

little bit of bread, maybe a little

293

:

slice of cheese, maybe some prosciutto,

you know, and that was a treat.

294

:

And, and I think that was one of

the things that I take away from

295

:

that era, where it wasn't taboo.

296

:

You know, the wine was not a,

a big, um, mystery, you know?

297

:

They'd let us have a little bit of wine,

a little bit of espresso, you know.

298

:

And, um, it, it, it was just, uh, y-

you know, I didn't, I didn't think

299

:

like some of my friends when I got

older, you know, had to get drunk.

300

:

I'd go, "What's the big deal?

301

:

I had a beer.

302

:

Okay, I'm done.

303

:

Thank you."

304

:

So that was kind of a, um, a little bit

different of a, of a upbringing that a

305

:

lot of people would ever even think about,

you know, in their, in their upbringing

306

:

The basement was kinda neat.

307

:

Uh, I had a band.

308

:

I was playing the accordion, which

you can hear in the background.

309

:

And, um, we had five of us.

310

:

We were called the Undecided Five

'cause we couldn't come up with a

311

:

name, so that's what our name was.

312

:

And we had a bass player and a drummer

and a lead guitar and a rhythm guitar,

313

:

and I played the accordion, which

eventually migrated into an organ.

314

:

So we had our own little, uh, neighborhood

band, and occasionally we would

315

:

pay at-- play at the, uh, American

Legion Hall or the fire department.

316

:

And I can remember my first time,

uh, playing at my high school at St.

317

:

John the Baptist with my band,

and we had our Nehru shirts

318

:

on and our bell-bottom pants.

319

:

And my hair wasn't as long as

some of my friends because it was

320

:

Catholic school, so I was kinda

restricted on the length of my hair.

321

:

But we played a, we played a, um,

a Friday night dance party and

322

:

we, we-- It was, it was strange.

323

:

Um, I had just started to convert over

to the organ from the accordion and

324

:

still having, you know, learning curve

on, on playing the, um, the organ.

325

:

But boy, I became the chick magnet.

326

:

Not.

327

:

The guitar players had all the girls.

328

:

You know, I'm in the

background playing the organ.

329

:

And it was really funny because there

was a place in Bayshore, and if any

330

:

of you are familiar with Long Island,

there's a place called Bayshore,

331

:

and there was a dock there that took

the ferries over to Fire Island.

332

:

There was a ferry port there that

would take you to Fire Island

333

:

where my dad had that deli or

that restaurant on Fire Island.

334

:

But there was a little bar

on the dock area, and it was

335

:

called Vinnie's Happy Landing.

336

:

Uh, maybe two or three cycles

before when I went back to New York,

337

:

it was still there in Bayshore.

338

:

And I wasn't old enough to get

in, so a friend of mine got me a

339

:

fake ID, and we, we would go in

there and, you know, get a drink.

340

:

And they knew we weren't of legal age.

341

:

They just, you know, kinda

looked the other way.

342

:

You know, we weren't

being rowdy or anything.

343

:

And I can remember

344

:

that there was a band in

there called The Rascals.

345

:

They were just starting out or they were

at a point, and there was an organ player

346

:

in there, and his name was Felix, I think.

347

:

And I was so memor- mesmerized by

his organ playing that I went up

348

:

and said, I just said hello to him,

and I played a couple of notes.

349

:

He goes, "Wow," and kinda gave me

the incentive to keep doing it.

350

:

But that was kind of a neat little place.

351

:

I went back out there maybe two

or three cycles before when I went

352

:

back to New York, and it was gone.

353

:

But it was right there at

the marina in Bayshore.

354

:

I can, uh

355

:

Also think of, of times,

you know, when the, when the

356

:

weather got inclement, snowy.

357

:

I can remember one of the first times

I drove my dad's Cadillac, uh, from

358

:

our house to the, to my school at St.

359

:

Mary's, and it came over this bridge

that crossed one of the roads.

360

:

And because I'm a new driver,

I didn't pay much attention.

361

:

I hit the brakes and I skid

right through the intersection.

362

:

Luckily, there was nobody coming

through it because it could've

363

:

been a freaking disaster.

364

:

So, you know, I learned to, you

know, take it a little bit slower.

365

:

You know, don't get

too crazy with the car.

366

:

Just, you know, take your time.

367

:

Take your time

368

:

Um, what are other things that happened?

369

:

In my number one category.

370

:

Let's see what else I got in number one.

371

:

I…

372

:

All right, so now I'm gonna go on

to my, uh, next version or bunch

373

:

of stuff that I can remember.

374

:

In the grocery store

375

:

At Christmas time, we had these

Christmas displays in the big

376

:

plastic things where you had G.I.

377

:

Joe, and the car, and the truck,

and the guys, or you had a cooking

378

:

one, or a doll set, or whatever.

379

:

They were in big, um, big displays,

and people would come in and,

380

:

you know, put a deposit on it

for their kids for Christmas.

381

:

And I think we had, like, three or four

of those things up there, and people

382

:

would, you know, come in and make

their payments on it for Christmas.

383

:

And I can still remember those

things, and I would always think,

384

:

"Okay, what's gonna happen to them

when, you know, Christmas comes?

385

:

What's gonna happen with these?"

386

:

Well, they were sold,

'cause Dad sold them.

387

:

We didn't get any of them, that I

can remember getting any of them.

388

:

So he sold all of them.

389

:

I thought it was kind of a bummer that,

you know, here I am looking at this

390

:

stuff and we didn't get any of it.

391

:

Um, another strange thing was back then

when we got our cigarettes, or we got

392

:

cigarettes sold in the store, uh, the

state required us to put a tax stamp

393

:

on the bottom of the cigarette packs

394

:

So my job was, when I came home

from school, is take all the cartons

395

:

of cigarettes, open them up, and

take the little sticker and put

396

:

the st- state tax stamp on them.

397

:

So if the investigator or the whatever the

hell it was came in and looked, we had the

398

:

tax stamp on there so that, you know, we

wouldn't get busted for, you know, selling

399

:

cigarettes that didn't have tax stamps.

400

:

I may have said something

about this before, um, about

401

:

putting the, uh, chickpeas

402

:

in my pockets going to school as a snack,

and the little candies and stuff that I

403

:

would sneak into the store, or from the

store into my pockets going to school

404

:

I, um

405

:

I, I remember also that,

uh, when I was going to St.

406

:

Mary's, occasionally, you know, the,

I don't know who it was, somebody in

407

:

staff or the school janitor or something

said, "We need some help out here."

408

:

And they'd ask us to carry the

groceries in to the convent for

409

:

the nuns, and you're only allowed

to go into certain parts of it.

410

:

So, you know, they had groceries in the

car, and we'd get out and pick up the

411

:

stuff and carry it into the convent.

412

:

And I can recall, I think I was in

seventh or eighth grade, I can recall

413

:

seeing beer or wine in the bags

that were double bag covered, you

414

:

know, and kinda opened up and, aha.

415

:

So I don't think the nuns and the

priests there were just, you know,

416

:

not having a few drinks on the side.

417

:

But I thought that was kinda

interesting that we, uh, we

418

:

kinda caught a glimpse of it

419

:

In that year of 60

420

:

Five, six, someplace there.

421

:

'56.

422

:

No, '66.

423

:

Yeah, '66, not '56, '66.

424

:

'Cause we went to Italy

in the summer of '65.

425

:

I had gotten and went to, uh, summer

school to get my driver's permit.

426

:

You had to go take a driving course

at the school and, uh, I can remember

427

:

taking it at, uh, East Islip High

School or maybe someplace li- or

428

:

Islip Terrace, someplace like that.

429

:

W- I went to go in and take the, uh,

class and, uh, you did the driving.

430

:

The instructor was usually a

coach or one of the coaches, and

431

:

they taught the driving class.

432

:

So I got my learner's permit so

that I could, you know, go and

433

:

take the, you know, take the, uh,

test to get my driver's license.

434

:

And it was really funny because my dad got

me a driving instructor so that I could,

435

:

you know, get my license when I turned…

436

:

The learner's permit at 15 and

then a driver's license at 16.

437

:

So I was kinda in the tweens

getting ready to get my license,

438

:

so I had to go take the…

439

:

I took the written test and

did fine on that 'cause that's

440

:

what you did in that class.

441

:

But the driving test was, I think, when

you turned 16 is when you could legally

442

:

drive with a car without an adult.

443

:

15, I think you had to

have the adult in the car.

444

:

So I'm, uh, in the driving car, and this

guy that came in, it was a two-controlled

445

:

car, so it had duplicate controls on the

driver's side and the passenger side, so

446

:

the instructor could, if he had to, take

over the driving when you were driving.

447

:

And it was kinda funky because he

had, you know, all the same, the,

448

:

the brake, the pedals and all that

stuff on the other side of the car,

449

:

but it wasn't really the exact parts.

450

:

They were kinda, um, rods or metal,

you know, kinda like, um, the

451

:

things you q- used to grab shit

off the s- shelves, the little

452

:

clippers or the clamps or something.

453

:

It was, it was funky.

454

:

It wasn't a complete steering wheel,

but it had the ability to steer and stop

455

:

the car if something happened when you

were driving, and that's how I started

456

:

to learn how to drive, and that's how I

took my driver's test and, and passed it.

457

:

And that was kinda, um, kinda

really, really funky to, to have

458

:

that ability to, to, to do that

459

:

There was another, um

460

:

The thing that was in the community.

461

:

Where our store was located on

Connetquot Avenue, we were at an

462

:

intersection of Connetquot and

Lowell Avenue in North Great River.

463

:

We were on the east side of the road, and

then there was the west side, then there

464

:

was a spur off that went up Lowell Avenue.

465

:

So we were right there at the apex

with our, our store and our house.

466

:

And, um, my dad had, um, a customer whose

kid, I guess the parents took the car

467

:

away from it, was a 1975 Buick Grand Sport

468

:

And it was a two-door

stick, high performance.

469

:

I had no clue what it was.

470

:

It was a white one.

471

:

And he says, "Now, once you get

your license, you know, and you go

472

:

through the class and you pass, you'll

have a car that you can drive to

473

:

school with my, my sophomore year."

474

:

And I go, "Great."

475

:

So apparently he got the Grand

Sport from one of our customers

476

:

because he took it away from his

kid 'cause his kid screwed up.

477

:

So I'm, uh

478

:

I'm at the store working.

479

:

My parents, I think mom and dad, yeah, mom

and dad both came to Florida on another

480

:

inspection before we moved, and I decided

to take the car out of the garage, and,

481

:

um, came out of the driveway no problem.

482

:

And then I was heading

north on Connecticut Avenue.

483

:

I was gonna go to my Aunt Ava's house,

which was down the road from there, a

484

:

couple of miles on the left on a hill.

485

:

I was gonna ride that way, and I rode

out that way and, and she was not

486

:

there, I don't think, at the time.

487

:

So I came back, and in front of

our store, there was a, um, like a

488

:

little patch of dirt in the middle

of the road that cut off the two

489

:

roads, so it was kinda like a Y.

490

:

So I was on one side and there was traffic

to my right, and they had a stop sign.

491

:

I had the right of way.

492

:

And so I was going through and I was

gonna make a left into our driveway, which

493

:

was right at the apex of this corner.

494

:

I mean, not too far.

495

:

And another car was coming at me.

496

:

There was a car to my right coming at

me, so I hard righted it into a telephone

497

:

pole right in front of our garage

498

:

Holy shit

499

:

I was able to drive it into the

house, into the garage, parked it.

500

:

I knew I was gonna catch shit

when Dad got home, and I did.

501

:

He came home, saw it, they sold it.

502

:

That was the end of my car.

503

:

Boy, did I screw up on that one.

504

:

But I learned a valuable lesson, I think.

505

:

Maybe.

506

:

I don't know.

507

:

But it was one of those times in

your life you go, "Phew, at least

508

:

I didn't hurt anybody," you know?

509

:

And I didn't do a lot of damage

to it, but I, I looked up that car

510

:

recently, a 1965 Buick GS two-door.

511

:

It had, like, a 400-plus horsepo-

I mean, this thing was a beast,

512

:

because I had taken it out a couple

of times and went down to a local…

513

:

Uh, it was before McDonald's.

514

:

There was another little

place on, on, on, um…

515

:

God, what was the road?

516

:

No, it was on the Sunrise.

517

:

Oh, gosh.

518

:

It's just another place in, on, on

Long Island out there in Islip Terrace,

519

:

and it was a little burger joint.

520

:

And we were doing the circles

like, you know, you do, you

521

:

know, like back years ago.

522

:

You used to do the, uh, um…

523

:

Gosh, what was it?

524

:

There was a place where we'd do

circles and drive, like they did

525

:

in American Graffiti pretty much.

526

:

And, you know, we did the circle,

and everyone was looking at this

527

:

car, and I, I had no clue what I had,

but it was a beast of a car, and I

528

:

really, really screwed up on that one.

529

:

But, you know, I wrecked it.

530

:

I wrecked it, and that pretty much

was the end of that first car.

531

:

Um

532

:

At that intersection in front of

our stores, uh, on Connecticut and

533

:

Lowell Avenue, there was a piece

of dirt, not very large, but it was

534

:

treed, and you couldn't really see

across the intersection really well.

535

:

And, um, my dad got the, uh, the city

or the county to put a memorial there

536

:

for Vietnam veterans and World War

II veterans back in:

537

:

And he got them to donate the land, and

it was a, a memorial to, to veterans.

538

:

And that, that's something I'm gonna talk

about in a later episode about veterans.

539

:

But there was a fighter pilot,

his name was Philip Vampatella.

540

:

He was one of the first

pilots to fly over Vietnam.

541

:

I have the book in my hand right now.

542

:

I found it.

543

:

And he lived in our neighborhood,

and he used to come in our store.

544

:

So the dedication was the monument

to those who passed and those that

545

:

served and, and, uh, Phil was there.

546

:

And at the time I was in a group

called the Sea Scouts, and we were in a

547

:

parade, and I saw some videos years ago.

548

:

I was…

549

:

My dad, I guess, caught a picture of

me in the parade with him behind me.

550

:

But that was my attachment to

Vietnam back in:

551

:

Vietnam was just getting cooking

552

:

So the monument's still there,

uh, when I was up there a couple

553

:

of years ago, still maintained.

554

:

And it, and it takes me to something else

that I'm gonna talk about in a future

555

:

episode about monuments and memorials.

556

:

All right, a couple of other things that,

uh, were pretty interesting at the time

557

:

The World's Fair, 1965, in

Queens, in Flushing Meadow.

558

:

I saw my first Mustang convertible.

559

:

Or no, it wasn't.

560

:

Maybe it was a coupe.

561

:

1965 Mustang, that's when

they debuted at the, uh, the

562

:

World's Fair at Flushing Meadow.

563

:

And at that point I said,

"I want one of those.

564

:

I want one of those."

565

:

And it was just such a cool car.

566

:

Not high performance.

567

:

It was a Mustang.

568

:

It was just, you know, just the

beginnings of, of the, um, the,

569

:

the, the fancy, fancy cars.

570

:

But, um, speed cars.

571

:

And then the Camaro came

out shortly after that.

572

:

But, uh, I can still, I can still

remember there was a road between

573

:

our house to the school, St.-

574

:

St.

575

:

Mary's.

576

:

Can't think of the name of it.

577

:

It'll come to me.

578

:

But there was a Chevy dealership there,

and I'd walk past it on the way home,

579

:

and I saw the Corvette in there, the,

the split window '63 and '64, '65.

580

:

You know, the, the Corvettes

that were in there.

581

:

And I said, "One day I'm

gonna have one of those."

582

:

Well, I did, and we'll talk

about that one later on, but I

583

:

did have a Corvette at one time.

584

:

I had the Opel Kadett, which

was a freaking disaster.

585

:

I had a Vega, which I don't know

if I talked about it yet or not.

586

:

But I had a Vega, Chevy Vega.

587

:

I've had all kinds of funky cars

in my lifetime but, you know, that

588

:

was, um, that was part of the…

589

:

Part of life.

590

:

Uh, what else did I have here?

591

:

Oh, you know, when we went to Italy

that summer of, of '65, it was, it

592

:

was another one of those things where

593

:

Um, it was a different adventure.

594

:

And I'm thinking about, I, I found a

picture of, of a group of us that hung

595

:

out on the ship together, and this

girl I met was, her name was Beatrice.

596

:

Beatrice.

597

:

So everyone called her Trixie.

598

:

And, um, you know, we said, "Oh,

we're gonna keep together," you

599

:

know, "Keep in touch, keep in touch."

600

:

And pretty much, uh, after getting home,

I think I sent a letter or two somewhere,

601

:

never heard back from anybody, and pretty

much that was the end of my, uh, uh,

602

:

romance, long distance romance with Trixie

603

:

Why am I doing all of this?

604

:

I don't know.

605

:

I, I just felt like I had to say some of

these things because they're in my head.

606

:

Uh, like I said, I don't have children

to, to tell stories to, and most people

607

:

will hear this and go, "This isn't true."

608

:

Well, yeah, I lived it.

609

:

I lived 99.99%

610

:

of this.

611

:

You know, life is one of those

things where you either are a

612

:

doer or you're just a watcher.

613

:

I'm, I'm not one that likes

to sit around and just watch

614

:

You'll find this out as we get

further into the, into the '70s,

615

:

into the '80s, '90s, 2000s, recent.

616

:

You know, my life has

had many ups and downs.

617

:

Lost a few friends over the years.

618

:

And, um, I'm just trying to think of

anything else that was really a, a major

619

:

impact on me growing up those first 20

years before we moved here to Florida.

620

:

That was-- It, you know, it's, it's

been a whole different lifetime.

621

:

I mean, I was 20…

622

:

Oops.

623

:

Oh, shoot.

624

:

I didn't turn that down.

625

:

That was terrible of me.

626

:

Sorry about that

627

:

You know, I, one of these days I'm gonna

learn to turn the thing off when I'm

628

:

doing a recording like that, 'cause I know

it's gonna buzz or do something crazy.

629

:

All I can say is that if, if,

you know, you've had a life

630

:

That, uh

631

:

It doesn't have to be glamorous.

632

:

It doesn't have to be exciting

633

:

You got children.

634

:

You know, they probably would

like to hear some of the things

635

:

that you did when you were a kid.

636

:

You know, some of the screw-ups you made.

637

:

Um, I did tell, you know, my stepkids

about some of the things I did,

638

:

and I said, "Just don't repeat them

'cause some of them are pretty bad."

639

:

Not bad, but they're…

640

:

You know, we lived at a

different time back then.

641

:

You could do things and there weren't

so many people looking over your

642

:

shoulder saying, "Oh, that's bad.

643

:

That's bad."

644

:

Yeah, you, you screwed up,

but you didn't have the, um,

645

:

I'm not saying the word guilt.

646

:

You didn't…

647

:

You knew that it was wrong.

648

:

You did it and you go, "I

ain't doing that again."

649

:

And, and, you know, you learn from your

mistakes, and we all make mistakes.

650

:

You know, even as des- as adults,

you know, I'm still making mistakes.

651

:

Everyone still makes mistakes.

652

:

Um, I'm, um, I'm waiting for some results.

653

:

I went in today for my, um, cancer

and did blood work, so I'll get

654

:

results probably later this week,

and I maybe talk a little bit about

655

:

it, you know, down the road on it.

656

:

But as far as, you know, as far as my,

my health is concerned, it's, it's pretty

657

:

good, and it, it goes through its phases,

and I have good days and bad days.

658

:

My vision's better and, uh,

life has, has thrown some, you

659

:

know, wrenches against, you know

660

:

Am I going to, um, do a woe is me?

661

:

No.

662

:

No.

663

:

No.

664

:

Oh, just a moment.

665

:

Um, the band, Undecided.

666

:

I, I did talk about the high school dance.

667

:

Yeah, we, we played at St.

668

:

John the Baptist.

669

:

Oh, I, and the band, I

tried to get in the band.

670

:

That did…

671

:

You know, I talked about that too,

and, and a little bit about my

672

:

athletic paralysis, which is zilch

673

:

Um, I think I did bowling pretty good.

674

:

My dad got me on a bowling team with the

cadet group, and we went bowling and did

675

:

the bowling thing, which was kind of fun.

676

:

Did a little bit as an adult, but, uh,

my, my main focus over the years has

677

:

been, I see an opportunity, I analyze it.

678

:

Sometimes I don't do enough homework

on it, and I just jump both feet in

679

:

and then go, "Okay, now what do I do?"

680

:

And you'll see that…

681

:

You'll hear that as we get

further into my, my, uh, my life

682

:

cycle the next 20, 30 years.

683

:

God, I can't believe.

684

:

I mean, I'm 76.

685

:

We just talked about the first

20 years of my life, and there's

686

:

probably some other bits and

pieces that I don't have in there.

687

:

Uh, did I have some girlfriends?

688

:

Yeah, I had a couple of

girlfriends during that period.

689

:

Um, you know, like everyone does.

690

:

You got a girlfriend, you know, going

steady, whatever that meant, you know.

691

:

And back then, you know, you didn't drive.

692

:

Uh, your parents either dropped

you off or there was a, um, a

693

:

local, um, burger joint, you

know, that everyone hung out at.

694

:

And, you know, the older kids who had

cars would drive around, and you'd sit on

695

:

the bench and kinda look and ooh and aah

696

:

Uh, the high school dances.

697

:

Uh, again, my cadet organization,

I was active in that.

698

:

You, you-- We grew up differently.

699

:

Most of the kids today, you know, you,

you see with their faces in their phones.

700

:

And, and I'm guilty of it, too.

701

:

You know, I get on a, on a, on a, on a

roll on some stuff on, on, on my phone.

702

:

If it's not, you know, looking at

crypto or, or, uh, weapons or travel.

703

:

Travel's been my big bug lately is,

is, you know, how you think, "Well,

704

:

I'm gonna go do that one day."

705

:

One day, one…

706

:

Well, one day may be gone.

707

:

So that, that's gonna be coming up.

708

:

That's one of my, my, um, hotspots is

I've done a lot of things, and I'm in a

709

:

g- I'm in a better place now health-wise.

710

:

And, um, I think travel with

my businesses, you know.

711

:

And, and people ask me,

"You're not retired?"

712

:

No.

713

:

Can't afford to.

714

:

I mean, geez, who can?

715

:

I mean, I, I really feel for,

you know, kids and, and adults my

716

:

age who, you know, tough times.

717

:

You know, we're, we're, we're

in a, you know, a not a great

718

:

point right now economically.

719

:

A lot of people are really hurting.

720

:

And when I get into the, you know, the

'70s and the-- or the '80s and the '90s

721

:

in real estate, and I start talking

about the, the turns that occurred

722

:

during those two cycles, and we're in

a third or fourth cycle that I've been

723

:

through since the 1970s, that it's scary.

724

:

It's really scary.

725

:

So I don't wanna leave on a bad note.

726

:

I wanna, I wanna leave

this on a plus note.

727

:

Um-

728

:

I think today, coming out of that,

uh, exam feeling pretty good.

729

:

With the blood work that was done

earlier in the week that came back not a

730

:

single one out of, out of, out of line.

731

:

Uh, I'm feeling good.

732

:

My eyesight is doing well.

733

:

My hips are healing.

734

:

Um, you know,

735

:

this is the reason why I'm doing

these recordings, is that I've been

736

:

blessed with a lot of opportunities

and I, I want others to think

737

:

that, "Oh, I can't do that."

738

:

Look, you can do it.

739

:

Yeah, it may not work.

740

:

You may fail, but you know what?

741

:

If you don't do it, you're

gonna go, "Shoot, I…

742

:

Why didn't I do that?"

743

:

Now, don't say, you know…

744

:

I'm not telling you you gotta go out and

do everything 'cause some, some things

745

:

out there are pretty freaking stupid.

746

:

Um, just don't do anything that

will hurt you or anyone else.

747

:

Think about it before you do it.

748

:

Yeah, there have been times when I

did things like drive the car, which

749

:

I shouldn't have done, and, you

know, put it into the telephone pole.

750

:

At least I didn't hurt anyone

else except me and my ego and,

751

:

and my car that got taken away

752

:

I was just making a mental note of

just anything else I could think of.

753

:

I don't wanna come back and do another

leftover, but I think I got pretty much

754

:

most of everything that's grown up.

755

:

I mean, my first 20 years of

my life, that was quite a bit.

756

:

When I get into the, the '70s

and the '80s, you're gonna

757

:

go, "No freaking way, man.

758

:

There's no way this dude did this stuff."

759

:

And I started doing a sketch of

it, and I'm going, "Holy crap-o

760

:

Now, for those of you who are not aware,

from the year:

761

:

when I turned 70 until this last August,

it's been six years, and I'm just

762

:

gonna give you a hint of the future.

763

:

These last six years I dealt with,

uh, loss of sight in both of my

764

:

eyes, went blind, had two cataract

surgeries, a cornea transplant.

765

:

My vision has now been restored to where

I have 20/30 vision in my good eye.

766

:

My bad eye has actually gotten better from

the cataract surgery, so I do have vision.

767

:

Now, if I don't put my lens in, eh, it

goes crappy, but right now I'm sitting

768

:

here with vision that's clearer than

it's ever been in the last 50 years.

769

:

So that was my vision issues.

770

:

Those are now better.

771

:

Uh, the other is the cancer.

772

:

Uh, had a colonoscopy in those period

of:

773

:

Had a colonoscopy at the VA.

774

:

They discovered cancer, told me that they

were gonna go in and, you know, get it

775

:

out and put me on a bag, but I had to go

through chemo and radiation and, and we're

776

:

gonna talk about that at some point again.

777

:

Ugh, chemo, radiation, and then surgery

for the, uh, cancer, and I, I went

778

:

in today to have blood work for my

cancer, and I've been free now, and

779

:

I'll see what the report says this next

week when I see the doctor, and I'll,

780

:

I'll talk a little bit about that.

781

:

Then I had my first hip replaced, and that

was the first thing that started with me

782

:

was my hips, and I couldn't get it done

until I had a lot of this other stuff done

783

:

'cause it was such a strain on my body.

784

:

And then I had my other hip,

so now I have two bionic hips.

785

:

I've got a cornea transplant in my

other eye, and I've got, um, no poop

786

:

bag on me 'cause the doctor said

there was a way to do it without it.

787

:

And, uh, I've got still some neuropathy

in my feet, working on that, which is the

788

:

next, not major move, but it's, it's big.

789

:

And then I gotta deal with my teeth.

790

:

Uh, neglected the last five years.

791

:

I couldn't go to the dentist because the

dentist wouldn't touch me 'cause I was

792

:

going through all this, so now I've gotta

make up for the last five, six years of

793

:

my teeth, and I've got issues with them.

794

:

And I know it's gonna be a pain,

but I'm gonna deal with it.

795

:

And you kinda wonder,

"Why, why do you care?

796

:

You're 76 years old."

797

:

Why?

798

:

Because I don't wanna

think that I can't do it.

799

:

Why can't I do it?

800

:

Is what I feel like.

801

:

So I, I put myself through it, and, uh,

if this helps someone else think about,

802

:

you know, "Oh, I'm too old to do that."

803

:

No, you're not.

804

:

You're still breathing.

805

:

You still have something in you.

806

:

You have a story to tell.

807

:

You got people you can

help or guide or train.

808

:

Uh, this is not a, a woe is me.

809

:

This is a wow, it's me, and

anyone who comes around me

810

:

Uh, can feel it.

811

:

And there are some other things that

are in the works that as time goes on,

812

:

I'll, I'll talk a little more about it.

813

:

But I'm gonna give you some insight

as to, to where my, my life could

814

:

have been, should have been maybe.

815

:

I don't know.

816

:

I can't tell you.

817

:

Right now, I am happy where I am.

818

:

Yeah, it's a little lonely sometimes

because a lot of people don't

819

:

understand, and a lot of people…

820

:

And I, I don't say a lot of people.

821

:

I-- There-- You have friends, and they

have lives, and sometimes you, you don't

822

:

f- you feel alone, but you're not alone.

823

:

And I, I don't expect people

to, to be at my beck and call.

824

:

Everyone has their own lives to deal with.

825

:

A- and my focus right now is myself and

a, and a few others that are close to me.

826

:

And the rest, if you're

there, you're there.

827

:

I'm not gonna go hunting you down.

828

:

And I'll make myself available

if you make yourself available

829

:

So where are we?

830

:

Well, that was 1950 to 1970-ish.

831

:

It's, it's been an interesting 20 years.

832

:

I probably won't add any more to this.

833

:

This is pretty much it for now.

834

:

And then we'll do the 19, oh, '80s.

835

:

We're gonna break it down into 10-year

si- segments because there's so much stuff

836

:

that happened in each of those 10 years

that, uh, you're gonna look at it or hear

837

:

it and go, "Wow, it's been interesting."

838

:

So I wanna thank you for, uh, listening.

839

:

This is, uh, Vinnie, Cousin Vinnie.

840

:

And I did talk to my other cousin Vinnie

the other day, and I think we're gonna

841

:

do a little, uh, interview together as

growing up and maybe get my brother in

842

:

'cause, uh, he's the same age as my, my

brother, and get all three of us and talk

843

:

about their childhood and stuff like that.

844

:

If you have a chance to do the

same thing with your family,

845

:

sit down and have a chat.

846

:

Record it.

847

:

I, I have a few videos of my mom

and dad with audio, not many.

848

:

You know, with technology today,

you should be able to get all

849

:

this stuff on video with your

mom, your dad, your grandparents.

850

:

Do it because when they're

gone, you know, they're gone.

851

:

I mean, I don't have any-- I-- all

I have from my grand- grandparents

852

:

or grandparents are their pictures.

853

:

I don't have any audio of

their sounds, of their voices.

854

:

I got some of my mom

and dad from years ago.

855

:

Uh, just do it.

856

:

I think you'd appreciate it at some

time in the future that you're sitting

857

:

around going, "Geez, I miss them.

858

:

I just wanna hear their voice."

859

:

Well, there's no reason for

it today not for you to think

860

:

about doing that for the future.

861

:

Again, this is Vinnie DeRosa

at the Cousin Vinnie Network,

862

:

and thank you for listening.

All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for Vinnie De Rosa AKA Cuzin Vinnie

About the Podcast

Vinnie De Rosa AKA Cuzin Vinnie
CuzinVinnieNetwork.com
Welcome to the Cuzin Vinnie Network, with weekly shows that ask the question, did you know that? real estate education, real estate industry insights, food, fun, failure and maybe some future predictions with straight talk no BS.

I’m your host Vinnie De Rosa, Cuzin Vinnie your Cuzin in the Real Estate Podcast World, the podcast network that is part real estate education -oriented podcast host where you can get your career off on the right track completely free. Plus, fun stuff just to make it exciting to listen, cause you can never know what is coming out of my head and mouth.

Thank you so much for joining me on the Cuzin Vinnie Network. Remember to tell your friends that the show is available to listen to on any app that supports podcasts.

If you’re wondering what the best next step to take for your real estate future is, whether you’re a new agent or veteran agent I’ll help you to diagnose the main issue holding your growth back and give you access to me for free. YES free! You can email me at vinnie@vinniederosa.com

Contact me, Cuzin Vinnie, your personal tour guide. I look forward to helping you find things to do, a place to live or grow your business.

My cell phone is always on 888.286.2861 Contact me even if you have just a simple question at 888.286.2861

REMEMBER "YOU CAN GET EVERYTHING IN LIFE YOU WANT IF YOU WILL JUST HELP ENOUGH OTHER PEOPLE GET WHAT THEY WANT." ZIG ZIGLAR

P.S. go to my website VinnieDeRosa.com