Memory Lane - Stories

Debbie's First Memory of Cindy

Cindy was born when I was four years old.  When my mother went into labor (I don't even remember that), I stayed with my father's parents.  They lived 3 buildings from us.  I was there for about a week.  I had a pretty good time.  My grandmother made my all my favorite foods, we went shopping together, my grandfather joked with me, we watched Perry Como on TV, and I was the center of attention.  My father came to see me every evening.  One evening, he told me I had a little sister and he told  me her name.  It wasn't a name I had heard before and I couldn't remember it.  When it came time to walk back home, our neighbors would stop us in the street.  They congratulated my father and asked me what my sister's name was.  I drew a blank each time.  In fact, I couldn't remember it for a week.

Then the worst thing happened.  I was displaced from my room.  My father had hired a nurse to help my mother (that's what they did back then).  She was there for (I'm told but don't remember) a month - maybe longer .  My mother always talked about that nurse (I wish I could remember her name and it might come to me) saying hw wonderful she was.  But I was miserable every day and Cindy cried a lot.  Now I'm in therapy for being displacement trauma (not really).

Stories from Barbara (Schloss) Nachtigal

November 10, 2013

Debbie asked me to send her a story for you.  It’s impossible to narrow it down to just one story – we have had so many!  So I’m going to throw out a bunch of wonderful adventures and fun times that we’ve shared.  I hope it doesn’t hurt to laugh!

Remember how we first met and got friendly?  We were living at those condos in Bloomfield (sr. moment – can’t remember the name of them but you probably do). I had just lost Charlie #1 and offered to babysit Rufus while you and your roomies went out.  He no sooner arrived in my apartment then he broke thru the sliding screen door, jumped the mini-patio fence and took off for parts unknown.  Oy, oy, oy!  I was beyond frantic!  I had the whole apartment complex searching, calling for him.  That little imp was hiding within eyesight of the apartment the whole time.  Finally, thankfully, Hal showed up, opened your apartment, got the dog food, shook it, and out came Rufus.  He was a mess and I was mortified but very relieved.  We gave him a bath but not before you returned and very calmly reassured me that all was o.k.

That was the beginning of our very long, most wonderful friendship.  Remember how I used to hang out when you guys played poker?  I tried once to join you but couldn’t (and still can’t) remember which hand was better than which.  I was happy to just hang out with all of you.  And how about all the movies we saw!  We didn’t leave one out, even if it stank – Ishtar, Won Ton Ton the Wonder Dog, and probably many more.  The best were the foreign films at the Wadsworth, remember?  And how about at West Farms, where we snuck from movie to movie.  I haven’t enjoyed movies or seen everything that comes out since then.

How about our little vacations?  Didn’t we go to Newport and then somewhere else – was it Vermont?  We stayed in that bed and breakfast with the creaky floor.  And the Cape – Provincetown – where the ‘maid’ thought we were leaving daily ‘tips.’  The best were those murder mystery weekends.  So muchfun.  They were so realistic – remember the guy at our breakfast table who keeled over face first into his plate of eggs?  And how about the gun fight on the staircase, and we were standing right there!  Too realistic for me.

And I went home to Long island with you several times – once for Passover.  You introduced me to your Long Island friends – Fran, Terry.  Do you remember that I dropped my contact in your bathroom sink and I had to ask your Dad to open the pipe so we could look for it?  He was very nice to do that.

I’m sure I’ve left a lot out (Gracie and George, Barry and his roommate who used to paint his whitewall tires, Al and Betty and Doug and the snow penis) but I have one last one for you –‘DIVE, DIVE!!”  (Tell everyone it’s not funny in the retelling – you had to be there.)

So now, my dear, long time friend, I hope you will concentrate on you and on getting better.  You are the kindest, most selfless person I know, always putting others before yourself.  But now you must come first.  I’m keeping tabs on you thru Deb, and will send more good-old-time stories as I think of them.  

Lots of hugs and wishes for your continued recovery –

Barbara




Barbara

Story from Cyndy Holmes

One of my fondest moments with Cindy was your first day at rototilling my garden. We had spread out the compost and fertilizer over the top of the dirt. Then I went in the kitchen with CIndy. We were looking out the window, watching. Mary started the rototiller.  And you engaged the wheels and all that shit became airborne.... And you started screaming about the smell and Cindy and I were practically doubled over, we were laughing so hard! Practically peed our pants. We couldn't stop laughing. It was so entertaining!
Thanks for the laugh, Rita, and thank Cindy for sharing it so joyously with me.

Cyndy

Story from Jeff and Sandy Cohen

In 1976 Cindy was roommates with my wife Sandy when we met in Bloomfield CT just outside of Hartford.  

We spent LOTS of time together.  When Sandy and I got married on August 13th 1977 Cindy was a bridesmaid.  She gave us this gift which I hope I can send a picture (see below).  

I held onto it because Cindy was special in so many ways.  It has 13 VERY lucky pennies and a signed card signed LOVE ....ORIGINAL...which stood for THE ORIGINAL CIN as she likes to be known as.  

She also arranged for a bottle of V. O. whiskey, my favorite at the time, to be given to us once we boarded our flight to Bermuda on our honeymoon.  We were shocked and nervous when the stewardess called out our names before take off so she could give us this most thoughtful gift.  The V.O. is long gone but the memory will never be forgotten!  

We stayed close and eventually we all migrated to NY.  When we had kids, she was a HUGE help, offering to babysit MANY times so Sandy and I could go out.  All she asked for in exchange was some of her favorite meals that Sandy made. Spaghetti and meatballs mostly.   Amanda and Stefanie loved being with her as they grew up.  To them, she was Aunt Cindy. They are sad to hear about her situation.  They last saw her when we were out in SF a few years ago.  Amanda is REALLY hoping she will keep her promise to be at her upcoming wedding in June 2014.... And to finally give her the CORVETTE she promised her about 25+ years ago!!!  

Love hugs and kisses from her NY Cohen family.  

s

Love and Kisses "Cindy" story from Fran "Pandolfo" Cox and The Wayne'

I have known Cindy since I was 10 years old. She was best friends with my neighbor, Maria, and we eventually became best buddies. Besides, my house was cleaner! We  have been through a lot of fun times and also some sad ones, but Cindy is always there for you, no matter what. You never even have to ask, just think of her and she will call. This has happened so many times. She always manages to call when you need that laugh or "phone hug." Cindy has made me all my "sucker song" cassettes from the 70's and 80's. And I still have them. She also bought me my Thriller album and also Julio Iglesias ! Try explaining that combo to your teenage son. Anyway, my best story is when we borrowed my Mom's new car and we went to Adventureland on 110. I was so afraid of getting it dirty. So we went on this thing called the Trabant ride, like a roller coaster, except that it spun us up on our sides. Well, you can guess that Cindy threw  up all the way home on the Southern State parkway! I was screaming not to get the car dirty, so she hung her head out the window all the way home at 70 miles an  hour! Thirty years later and we still can laugh over this. Anyway, we all love her and are sending her prayers every day. Please let me know if she smiles when you read this to her. Love ya crazy girl, Fran, Wayne and Little Wayne.