Staycation - Part 2 - How to Pass Time on the NYC Subway

As my train crawled through a subway tunnel on a blistering summer day, I distracted myself with some real life stories my parents told to me as a child, dramatized and embellished for our entertainment at bedtime in lieu of fairytales.

Story #1 - The Ed Sullivan “Wink”

For those unfamiliar with the early days of television, Ed Sullivan hosted a very popular variety show with iconic, mostly American talent. People customarily tuned in to watch him on Sunday nights at 8 pm. It was usually a big family event.

Mom loved to tell how she ran into Ed Sullivan on her way to her new job at the Book-of-the-Month-Club in midtown Manhattan, soon after graduating from Eastern District High School in Brooklyn. With new found income, she glammed up her office attire, most likely copying the fashion of her favorite movie star idols.

Ed Sullivan noticed her on the street, after I’m sure she made it known that she recognized him first, and for just one moment, he gave her a “wink”. That moment became frozen in time.

As kids, we asked about this encounter repeatedly, delighted to see the giddy excitement in her face as she reenacted how Ed Sullivan winked at her, and only her.

Story #2 - The Wasps of World War II

Go figure, but my dad said he loved being in the Army. He said he liked being away from home and getting a paycheck for the first time. I get it.

He was drafted into the army to join the fight with the Allied forces when he was 19 years old, and was ultimately assigned to handling the soldiers’ mail. One would think he would have many hellish tales from the war, but the story he liked to share with us involved “the wasps”, so here it goes. 

One late night in his tent, my dad was snacking on Planters peanuts, when he unknowingly stuck a handful of wasps inhabiting the can into his mouth, and preceded to get stung. He was rushed by the medics to the hospital because his throat had became swollen and he needed immediate medical attention.

The incident coincided with one of WW2’s biggest and bloodiest battles, “Battle of the Bulge” where tragically, there were thousands of casualties and severe injuries to the troops.

The boys, as dad called them, started filing into the hospital wounded and despondent, assuming dad was in the battle and inquired about his circumstances. “What happened to you?” they asked. Frankly, he was too ashamed to give the real reason for his hospital stay in light of all the suffering.

So at the first opportunity, as he tells the story, he tells the medical staff, “doc, get me outta here now”. 

And so he did.

Story #3 - Small Victory 

My mom was so proud how she, being a sweet, innocent girl from Williamsburg, Brooklyn, called out a shady merchant in small claims court and won. 

She portrayed this event as David confronting Goliath. 

As it was told, Mom purchased custom shower curtains, but when she got home and opened the box, the curtains were torn. She returned to the store the next day to get her money back, but the merchant refused and accused her of shredding the curtains because she had “changed her mind!"

So what choice did she have but to take the man to small claims court.

The merchant appeared in court with reams of fabric to impress the judge with the quality of his goods and then made the absurd, unreal accusation again that mom cut up the curtains with her scissors. 

Judgment in favor of Mom. 

She got her money back but more importantly, was empowered winning the fight. Go Mom!