I'm so Bronx...

I saw the I'm so.... thread and at first couldn't think of anything. I think I get caught up in not being from the South Bronx or Castle Hill sometimes and even questioning my Bronx authenticity.

But screw that.

I'm all Bronx baby. 

I'm more Bronx in North Carolina than I ever was when I was in New York.

This is a snapshot of what I remembered.

I'm so Bronx I remember when the 28 bus was the 15 and blew out black smoke and had no air conditioning in the summer and no heat in the winter.

I'm so Bronx I used to buy my father's Pall Mall Golds...and I was 7.

I'm so Bronx I remember the Buster-Brown shoe store on Boston Road.

I'm so Bronx I remember when the hair beauticians wore uniforms and nursing shoes.

I'm so Bronx I remember skating at the Skate Key, that's now a Goodwill and an auto repair place.

I'm so Bronx I remember going to the Truman Highschool planetarium on school trips.

I'm so Bronx that going to shop at the Macys in New Rochelle instead of the one in Parkchester was a big deal.

I'm so Bronx I remember the garbage strike of '81 and the blackout of '77.

I'm so Bronx I remember when the Whitestone Movie Theater was a drive-through.

I'm so Bronx I remember when Bay Plaza was a swamp.

I'm so Bronx I got my 6th grade graduation dress from Alexander's on Grand Concourse and Fordham Road.

I'm so Bronx I remember the Melba Theater on Boston Road where I saw my First Movie Uptown Saturday Night.

I'm so Bronx I remember when the biggest bank in the city was Manufacturer's Hanover  or as we called it Manny Hanny (which is now Chase).

I'm so Bronx that going out for Chinese food was a big deal and we always ate in the restaurant.

I'm so Bronx I remember when Dewitt Clinton was all Male, and when they first started admitting girls.

I'm so Bronx I remember standing in line in the Magenta Houses waiting for summer snacks.

I'm so Bronx I remember when all the trains had graffiti on it, the more graffiti the more I wanted to get in that car.

I remember...fondly.