Saturday, September 01, 2007

Staten Island Has Changed

There have been many changes to my hometown since I left. When one thinks of Staten Island one must realize within this county is 3/4 of the population that resides in the entire state of VT.
Staten Island has around 650,000 residents and would be the largest city in many states including Vermont.

I find myself somewhat uncomfortable with the six lane highways that are always congested.

Many of the subtle NJ goodies that I previously enjoyed are now in Staten Island. Marty's shoe store is a local chain with killer prices. I am used to 150 dollar Rockports that I wear for three years until they fall apart. At Marty's the same shoe is 89 but there never seems to be staff.
The chain has a parrot that says Marty's in their advertisements that played on local talk radio.

Long term readers are aware of my enthusiasm for Popeye's Chicken. There is now a Popeye's Chicken on Staten Island. Maybe someday we will get our own Walmart. There are also no large dairy farms and I will gladly take Fresh Kills landfill over dairy farms any day.

I can also break out my Misses Buterworth syrup in peace. Local Vermonters get upset but I like the product that is taboo in VT.

The radio station is filled with every talk show imaginable except Glenn Beck. There is the return of the great oldies station CBS FM and several classic rock stations.

4 comments:

The Merry Widow said...

Quite a shock, isn't it? The old adage that says you can never go home, has some element of truth to it!
When we came back to Florida after 8 1/2 years in Californistan, it was a shock! Beachside is so built up, traffic is a killer(but NOT as bad as San Tomas during rush hour.)
Everything that you had to go to the mainland for is pretty much beachside, and the condos on the beach...try finding a place to park, even though we are only 100 yds. from the beach you take your life into your hands to walk!
I looked forward to getting home to escape the cramped feeling we lived with in Cali...it and Bofa followed us! ARGH!

tmw
Readjustment!

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

I think I know what you're talking about Beak, but in the other direction. The property lines of my childhood in Alabama were divided by barbed wire fences running through forested areas. Now they're divided by shopping malls and parking lots and residential subdivisions paved over clearcuts and rock quarries. "My" childhood cave / clubhouse was dynamited to make way for a row of luxury condos.

If I still had the mind of a child, that alone might make me a leftist.

One thing you will never truly know, Beak, is the sense of wonder non-New Yorkers feel about the city of New York. It's alluring. Most of us think people who live there are as tough as a Charles Bronson Death Wish movie.

Last time I was there, I was peering up at the skyscrapers looking for Spider-Man.

New York City kicks ass. One day, the whole planet will be New York City.

Always On Watch said...

Changes happen fat in particular areas. If I were away from Northern Virginia for two years, I might not be able to find my way around!

Interesting how much you miss Earl. Cats grow on you, don't they?

Sometimes I miss animals more than I do people.

jams o donnell said...

Changes aside it sounds like you're glad to be home