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Bill Gralnick
Born in Brooklyn, NY where trees actually grew, front yard and back and all along the streets. I grew up in the Midwood section of Brooklyn, walking to both elementary school and high school (PS 21...view moreBorn in Brooklyn, NY where trees actually grew, front yard and back and all along the streets. I grew up in the Midwood section of Brooklyn, walking to both elementary school and high school (PS 217 and Midwood High School). My footnote in Brooklyn history is that I was a member of the last 8th grade graduating class in Brooklyn. Jr. High Schools were the educational rage of the day.
My early childhood was one of motion. I was born in Maimonides Hospital and was brought home to Prospect Place above the subway station. It was in walking distance of Prospect Park. Then in fairly quick succession we moved to the New Ponsit Section of Belle Harbor Queens, right across the Marine Parkway Bridge, a bridge I once bicycled across from my home to impress a red-headed beauty of my dreams (she was 12). I got a flat time and arrived looking like a grease monkey. But she did kiss me hello and goodbye at moment her older brother did not have an eye on her. From there is was back to Prospect Place and then around the corner to a larger, more modern apartment building 500 Ocean Avenue. It had a terrace from which one could see the Trolley Cars on Church Avenue and the occasional Organ Grinder with monkey in tow looking for money.
My final destination, before leaving for college, was to Waldorf Court. A 1906 3 story house with basement on a dead-end street. Now more idyllic place for city life could be found. We could walk four blocks to Avenue H, the local BMT stop, and drop in at Lou and Al's Candy Store, which sold a limited amount of candy but lots of most anything else a kid could want. Here I learned about lime rickeys, cherry cokes, and egg creams. The house was sold at first for about 8 grand. We bought it for maybe 20, sold it for maybe 40, and find out did I that about 10 years ago it went for a million bucks!
Graduating from Midwood in '60, I attended The George Washington University in the District of Columbia twice, BA and MA.
My work life started like my childhood. I spent two and a half years in Johnstown, Pa and 1 1/2 in Boulder, Colorado, then 4 in Stamford, Ct before beginning a 33 year stint with the American Jewish Committee followed by a 2nd career of 8 years with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.
My mother was one of those who believed that little pitchers should be seen and not heard. I've been writing then since I could hold a pen. I wrote probably 800 love letters to one girlfriend and finally had my first piece published in the 1970's by News Day Newspaper. And I haven't stopped since. Mostly an op ed columnist I've written from most of the major newspapers in the southeastern United States. I had four articles published in USA Today and a 3,500 word feature in the Sunday Magazine of the St. Pete News.
I'm married, have 3 children, two grandchildren, and a cocker spaniel named Jax.
That's all folks.view less
Books by Bill Gralnick
More Mirth Wind & Ire Mirth, Wind, and Ire Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings