The blazing hot summer here in New York made me remember summers spent in Tar Beach in Brooklyn. What is tar beach you may ask, well for some people who grew up in the ghetto, it was an escape from the summer heat--by going to the roof of the building you lived in. The building we lived in, was a 3-story brownstone, whose roof had a paper black-tar coating. When we asked-- they told us that it was to waterproof it, whatever, it was the best place to be on a steamy, muggy, hot summer day. We would go up the fire escape ladder, and one by one bring a beach umbrella, towels, lemonade, water, sandwiches, a portable radio and of course suntan lotion and just hang out there.
It was great and it was free! No paying to be in a super hot subway, no crowds to fight with, no traffic jam on the highway, just go up the ladder and you were there! And what a view... you could see the other buildings, the people down in the streets, the pigeons (our seagulls) trying to eat, and feel the cool breeze as you were drinking your lemonade, listening to the music on the radio and considering yourself the luckiest, richest kid to have this luxury.
