The Bronx Board

On Wednesday, July 18th 2007: Cathy asks:

How did you get that name, "Laughing Lewis"?

I was always called laughing lewis. At home, in school, on the street and in the back alleys. It was fun for a while, and I think that I was so called because my given name is Lewis and I'm always laughing. If my name had been Ralph or Alvin, and I wasn't always laughing, I'm kind of sure that no one would call me laughing lewis. But, maybe I'm wrong.

Girls, (and later in life women) didn't seem to feel that having a boyfriend with such a handle was a good idea. People would often ask them "What the hell is he laughing about?" That would end any chance of a lasting relationship. To hide my shame, I left The Bronx in disgust moved to the wilds of Queens. No one knew me there and I controlled my laughter with drugs. When I became known as "loathsome lewis" I threw away the drugs, left Queens and returned to laughing. And here I sit today. I have tried to answer your question to the best of my ability.

Ron Hipschman on Tuesday, June 19th 2007 wonders what the most important date on the calendar is.

June 30th - the most important, wonderful, fantastic date on any calandar: Mayan, Julian and Chinese included! And the worst date? That would be June 1st. Because that's when the countdown would begin. And all of us kids knew that June was the longest month of the year. As I remember, it went something like this: June 1st, then June 2nd, then June 3rd.....see what I mean? It's like there's no end to it. The days grew longer and hotter. The classes grew more boring. The teachers harder to look at. I blame the Romans. If Caesar would have made another month in between July and August - let's say, Herbie, or Selma, or anything! That would have pushed September back another 30 days. And where would he get those days to play with? FROM THAT LOUSY JUNE!!!! I still hate that month!

In Reply to: Merry Christmas <http://bronxboard.com/messages/15397.html> posted by JMoro on Friday, December 21st 2007:

Hey!!!!No religious postings! How dare you break the first rule of this board???Just kidding, of course. I join in wishing one and all a Merry and a Happy and a Joyous and A Gay(the dictionary definition - not the San Francisco definition). Merry Christmas....I know what that means - but could someone explain the meaning of "Happy Holidays", or worse, "Season's Greetings"?
According to my calendar, this season is winter. Why the heck is this season worthy of a special "geeting"? What's wrong with the other three they they have no special greeting of their own? "Happy Holidays"...How come nobody says that on the Fourth of July or Halloween, both of which are really happy holidays???
Now there's "Happy New Year" That's the one that makes sense. I wish every reader of this message just that. And a healthy and wealthy one too. And let this be the last year that our military is in some overseas hellhole fighting other people's war. Oops! I slipped in a political comment. I hope it doesn't get me axed.

Steve asks: Was The Bronx a very diverse community?

Although The Bronx of the past was considered "diverse", it was, for the most part, just a home for a few groups of displaced Europeans. Let's look at real diversity:
From the Latin "diverticulitis" - an infection of the intestinal wall. And if you think diversity is a good thing, let's take a look at the world's capital of diversity: I'm talking about Los Angeles, USA. The town is clearly divided into 111 distinct neighborhoods. I'll list just a few here:
The Mexican
The Cambodian
The Vietnamese
The Jewish
The Philippino
The African American
The Guamanian
The Gay
The Japanese
The Chinese
The Iranian
The British
The El Salvadorian
The Homeless

Now, that's diversity! Each with their own language, own houses of worship, own restaurants and own reasons for thinking they're better than all the others. Mel Brooks defined Los Angeles as "5 Newarks". My own definition goes back to the original meaning: The Latin one mentioned above.

A contributor lists things under the heading

"I know that you're from The Bronx IF"

I respond with:

"I know you're NOT from The Bronx IF"

You drove a car to school.

You had a back yard.

When you hear "subway" you think "sandwich."

You joined a 4-H Club. All your friends had double names: Bobby Jo, Sue Ellen, Billy Ray, etc.

Daddy taught you to hunt & fish before you were five.

You don't know what a "concourse" is.

Yankee is a dirty word.

You use the letter "R" all the time. Shaw you do...of caws!

You think all NYers are so smart. You're right!

Your H.S. graduating class had 12 kids.

Your school closed for Robt E Lee's Birthday.

You and your best girl pitched woo behind the barn.

You ditched class to go surfing.

You shopped at The General Store. Your pickup truck flies the Confederate flag.

Culture to you means "Hee-Haw" and "Grand 'Ol Opry".

When you hear the name "Bronx" you think of a crime ridden, burned out, drug infested, overcrowded, dangerous, gang ridden jungle of corruption and violence. Where did you get ideas like that??? Well...it wasn't always that way. And it's not now.