"Out to the Island"

Image via Wikipedia

Years ago while growing up on L.I. many of us Baby Boomers had grandparents living in one of the five boroughs. My grandmother lived in Brooklyn, on Grattan Street. She lived in a building with six railroad flats. Hers was on the third floor, right side. On the second floor, left side lived my great-grandparents and great-uncle. My great-grandparents owned the building. The other apartments were occupied by tenants who were near-relatives, all having roots in the same "old country", Lithuania.

Sometimes Grandma would visit us. She would come "out to the island" for the weekend. Her trip would start on Friday afternoon with a subway ride to East New York where she would transfer to the LIRR. The railroad delivered her practically to our doorstep since we lived half a block from the station.

After shopping and game playing with us on Saturday, going to Mass and and having an early dinner with the family on Sunday, my father would drive her back to Brooklyn. We couldn't wait for her next visit and always asked when she would be coming back.