When I first got to Brooklyn,
obviously we had to drive from JFK through East New York,
and back in the '80s East New York was not what it looks
like now. So,
in my head I'm imagining the beautiful city, New York, the Statue of Liberty
that greets you as soon as you get to the airport.
So we drove through East New York and I seen burned down houses
and I'm saying to my family is, "This is New York?
Are you kidding me? This is not what I'm thinking." They said,
"Yeah, well, you get to see it." So, we drove through Atlantic Avenue,
Eastern Parkway, and eventually got downtown Brooklyn, and I
was able to see the Twin Towers. I was like, "Wow,
this is what I came for." So, that same day, believe it or
not, I walked to the promenade, just down here, just to see that
view, and it was an amazing sight. I took some pictures,
too, just to prove it. To be honest with you I think Brooklyn
is home for me in a lot of ways.
And when I think back...
I don't know why I'm choking. I know why. I think when I
first came here,
even though it was strange and I started new, I felt that this
was home.
And I used to think, "I'm gonna be working here for a couple
of years, get my education, make my money and leave." But then
it didn't take too long to realize this is home, this is where I
changed my life to better. Wow, I guess I love Brooklyn. Yeah,
I look at it like really more than home. This is where met
my wife, this is where I had my kids,
this is where I lived most of my life. I think Brooklyn is
home for me, and I think it's gonna continue to be home even
when I retire. Brooklyn is part of us,
as we are part of it, and I wish the best for Brooklyn. That's how I see
it.