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From the blog presents surviving winter while poor in Bronx, NYC.
Hearing about the folks struggling due to the inclement weather brought back some memories. I call them fond because it reminds me of how hard my mom worked to take care of our family.
We lived in the neighborhood during a time when landlords sometimes neglected their buildings. Even in the 80s and 90s, I remember some buildings experiencing serious issues under circumstances that raised questions. Because of this, repairs and general maintenance often weren’t a priority for landlords or their superintendents.
Thinking back to my childhood, I can’t recall a specific time when a building worker came by to fix anything. I do remember some of their names and faces vaguely, but no clear memory of repairs being done.
When there was no hot water because “La boila” was broken, our only option was to boil water on the stove for a bath. It was either that or bathe in cold water. I don’t remember actually bathing with the pot, but I do remember the water being boiled for us.
We also had to cover the drafts coming through the windows with garbage bags because the insulation wasn’t good. It’s kind of funny because we still do similar things now at home since we don’t take down the AC for the winter.
I remember my family bundled up inside because we didn’t have heat at home, again because “La boila” was broken. Back then, resources were limited and those in tough situations weren’t always prioritized. You learned to be grateful for any assistance, even when it fell short of what was truly needed.
With all that said, I feel for everyone going through hard times now. I hope you all make it through. We’ve been there too, and we understand your struggle.
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