This ignited an intense memory of my upbringing as I was born and raised on 119th street and Amsterdam Avenue in New York City just a 2 block jaunt over to Riverside Park and Riverside Church.
I spent many a weekend day and Holiday there hanging out with my Dad, who passed in 1989 and it brought back so many memories.....
George Carlin grew up in my neighborhood - He attended the same grammar school as myself, and in his later comedy sketches used alot of material from the priests at Corpus Chrisiti Church where I attended Kindergarten, and then later grammar school - It was my first introduction to a "sort" of experimental education even though it was run by Dominican Nuns. Our Pastor was Father Ford and he was, in my mind now, the predecessor to people like A.S. Neil http://www.summerhillschool.co.uk/ and Leon Botstein http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_Botstein - He was a priest with a vision and a love of education and encouraged individuals in their artistic endeavors.
I was honored to have been taught piano and sing in the choir under the artistic direction of Sister Mary Lutious who I remember as if it were yesterday - My tiny hands floating over a sea of keys, my voice emoting as if I were an adult - she was tough and yet brought out this beauty from within me. It was the dawning of a new day...I was so young, yet had such artistic freedom here in this tiny Unorthodox Catholic surrounding. I was so blessed. I blossomed here. My parents didn't quite understand, but I knew what was going on.....they just thought they had done their duty by sending me off to Catholic School.....they had no idea of the freedom I was about to explore.... I was just simply afforded the opportunity to fly...
"God help my parents" I always thought....even as a youngster...
