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The Umbrella, The Rats, and the Wino

THE UMBRELLA, THE RATS, AND THE WINO

The 1950s ---- A Blast from the Past -- Yes, where I grew up, with a mother raising eight (8) of us, 67 West 108th Street, Apt. 4, New York City, NY 10025; the area was known as Hudson Valley.

My brothers and sisters would kill me when they discover this photo published online.

There are many stories we can pile up about this photo. I will say only one, at least for now. Water always linked from the top, and when you had to go, you had to have an umbrella with you. Not only would you get wet, but from time to time, rats would trip and fall on you, the reason for the umbrella.

That is one of many stories, people that came and went, the friends that disappeared, the winos always looking for that change, adding up to buy the bottle; and one of those winos was my Godfather. I had to be baptized and needed a godfather. My stepfather went out looking for someone to step in so I would be able to be baptized. He found a gentle wino. He became my Godfather, and every time I would come home, I would pretend I did not see him, or I would go all around the block so he would not be able to see me. I was so ashamed of my Godfather... My friends were always goofing on me.

I think about it today, and I feel so ashamed of myself, and I wonder what happened to my Godfather. My family only used him to baptize me, but he took it seriously, proud to be a Godfather, always trying to get my attention, and when he was able to, he would sacrifice his change for his wine, giving me a dollar or some change. At the time, that was a lot of money for people in our position.

I never stopped thinking about him. I do not even remember his name...

 

Educational Pledge, by Coral Caporale

Life in Progress, Inside the Box

From the Puerto Rican/Latino Journal

By Alberto O. Cappas

I remember when poets were messengers of vision and information, not always positive, but always providing us a mirror to see clearly and get us to move forward… but now, all I see are evil spirits, rappers, and self-made entertainers passing as poets, penetrating their spells on the youth, and continuing to keep them inside the box.

But they never provide you answers to solutions or visions that will show you the light or guide you to your personal journey on this planet.

I don’t have all the answers, but I will try to remove some of the layers of bricks between us and see if I can leave you with some clues to your confinement inside the Box.

You should be happy to know that the box has no locks or chains. It is completely opened and you can walk or jump out any time your heart desires, and become the person you were born to be…the person you are supposed to be…..

You can do and be anything you want to be, just forward your dreams and aspirations into your hands and activate an action forward. Like Congressman Adam Clayton Powell once said:

“What’s in your hands?”
"What's in your hands?”

I want to end this article by leaving you with an educational pledge:

The EDUCATIONAL PLEDGE:

A pledge to help us become magical and powerful, able to become what we are supposed to become, based on what we want to do with our journey in life. If you can buy into this pledge, at least introduce it to our students, and to our young kids so they can begin to understand at an early age the concept of setting goals and understanding the essence of education, and finally, understanding the system of values and standards.

The Educational Pledge of Allegiance

I pledge to maintain a healthy Mind and Body

I pledge to stay away from the Evil of drugs

I pledge always to try my best to understand
The importance of Knowledge and Education

I pledge to paint a Positive picture of where
I plan to be tomorrow
Not allowing obstacles to stop the growth of my Plans

I pledge to seek Answers to Questions,
With the understanding that they
will lead to other discoveries

I pledge to work diligently
With the Awareness and Confidence
That hard work today will serve
As the seeds for my strong tree tomorrow
A tree that no one will be able to tear down

I pledge to learn proper languages,
Beginning with my Mother's
Always prepared to appreciate others

I pledge to gain a better understanding of who I am
By understanding my Cultural roots

I pledge to fully accept who I am as a spiritual and human being
A Rainbow of many cultures and colors

I pledge to overcome any Personal misfortunes
Becoming Stronger from such misfortunes
Always striving to become
A wise person.

(Revised copy 2021):