It's My Life ...& Welcome To It.: A Beautiful Autumn Sunday

Nov 14, 2005

My neighborhood was alive with energy and activity -- the grand colors of autumn, which by now are only a memory upstate, are just now beginning to reveal themselves in Brooklyn. The weather was mild with a only a bite of fall chill in the air; the sky was blue and the sun, strong. And the populace was out to take it all in. Cyclists, skaters, runners and walkers, moms and dads with strollers - they were all there, enjoying one of those perfect fall weekends. My Aunt Bea, who long ago migrated to retirement in Florida, has often remarked that the one thing she misses most about living in New York was the change in seasons - the beauty of the changing leaves with their brilliant colors. But besides that, I think, there is an entire set of emotions that we associate with those changes - those feelings must be missing as well or are at least harder to conjure up down there with the absence of seasonal change: the coming of Thankgsiving and the holiday season and the warmth and excitement of pending family gatherings; the abandonment of shorts and t-shirts for long pants, sweaters and coats; the return to school and work after summer vacations and somehow a more serious and busier life after the laid-back days of summer laziness.
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On this particular weekend, we were busy too. Our old friend and director of Camp Kinderland, Alice Shechter, was holding a party to celebrate the marriage of her son Ian to his new bride, Marita. The wedding had taken place this summer in Washington state. Now it was the turn of us east coasters to rejoice. Alice and her boyfriend Lee have a beautiful apartment in Williamsburg with fabulous views of the East River and Manhattan. Williamsburg is one of those "new"-old Brooklyn neighborhoods that has been undergoing a transformation. Artists, young people (and I guess, some old people too) have been moving in over the years and have brought a new life to a moribund section of the city. Of course, the developers have followed the kids, and rents have been going up and up and so have new buildings. The plans for the future look like more of the same - 40-story high rises to line the shores of the East River - a coastline that lay dead and decaying for so many decades. Battles will rage as earlier residents get squeezed out or are forced to live in the shadows of the new Trumpvilles that will rise, wall-like, along the river. For now, though, Williamsburg, is very much alive and a great new place to inhabit or to visit - with an increasing number of restaurants, bars, clubs and shops.

Alice and Lee's loft apartment in Williamsburg - fabulous windows with fabulous views of the East River.

A beautiful spread was laid out to celebrate Marita and Ian's wedding.

Apparently, the food was realllllly good!!

Paul and Judy - discussing world affairs and ... whitefish.

Marita and Ian share some moments with Dennis.

Jody and Paul discuss old times.

Elaine and Lieber Katz - having a good time.

The younger Kinderlanders were there too.

Ora Gladstone, Kinderland's new director, joined in the festivities.

Alice - taking in the festivities - and enjoying it.

Wanna see more photos of the party?
Just click here!

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We left Alice and Lee's around noon - the day was still beautiful so I took my bike out for a few laps around the park. The sun sets early now so the foliage was illuminated by that lovely yellow low-angle light of a late day in autumn. Biking around the park road, the wind rushed in my face, bringing with it the fresh aroma of fallen leaves and grass and the abundance of oxygen given off by Prospect's trees. Being free of car traffic, the only sounds were ones of joy of young kids playing in the park and the gentle hissing sound of my rubber bike tires rolling down the blacktop surface of the park road. Heaven indeed ... right here in Brooklyn.