I Found Love on a Two Way Street
Quincy Place was the first place I fell in love. I fell in love with the happiness that came from being in the presence of family. Those that know me know that my family is the number one motivating factor in my life. Everything I do is to make the people in my family proud. Any and every holiday I want to be surrounded by the love of my family, there is never a dull moment when we are around one another. Regardless of how hard a time may be we all band together and handle situations together.
Not too long ago almost every house on Quincy had someone who lived in it was either my “aunt”, “cousin”, and/or “uncle.” That was the type of atmosphere Quincy Place had, a family atmosphere that was fun to be around. It was fun until you got into trouble around the neighborhood and someone let’s your "aunt" know about it.
I used to sit outside after school with my cousin, Bug and her friends, they were older and I had no business being with them but I always found my way to her porch when I saw all of them. My mother got off of work at 6 everyday and she would always say to me “don’t the let me catch you out there on that porch with them, they grown.” “Ite, Ma.” I’d reply. Every time I’d sit over on their porch I’d be asking the entire time what time it was so I wouldn’t get caught by my mother. I got caught a few times, and paid for it but that couldn’t stop stubborn little Ryan.
Football games in the middle of the street we’re some of the greatest games I have ever played. High competitive, high intensity, aggressive football was played on Quincy. Ray and I created plays, we were a deadly QB/WR combo. Sometimes kids from other neighborhoods would come and we’d play a big game all together. Some so big we’d would have to go to a wider street in order for everyone to play. As we played we would damage vehicles and have the police called on us. Whenever the police would come we’d run or hide the ball and act like we were just playing tag. I remember one time a few officers came to us and threw the ball around a couple of times, I got caught trying to steal one of the officers gloves because they had the NFL symbol stitched on the front of them, they were too big for my hands anyway.
Graduations, birthdays, holidays, job promotions, or just about anything led to a family gathering at my house. My mother would make my sisters and I clean the house from head to toe as if we were expecting a king. The entire time we'd be upset while cleaning but once family started to stroll in we wouldn't even remember how much we were slaving just hours before.
No matter how old I am, I still light up when I see one of my aunts. I truly couldn't ask for better aunts than my Aunt Beverly and Aunt Cheryl. I could never leave neither one of them without giving them a hug and getting a kiss on the cheek. My uncles Kevin and Uncle Greg don't come to family gatherings as much, but whenever I see them I still feel the same love I have for the rest of my family. There was one event my mom had at the house and all of her brothers and siblings were there. Uncle Kevin, Uncle Gary, and Uncle Greg were in the basement watching the game with us arguing back and forth on different topics and I can remember just sitting back and appreciating seeing all of them together in the same place having family time with the rest of us. I can only imagine the celebration we will have once Uncle Derrin comes home,
I remember the night Uncle Greg came home and my mom cooked breakfast and the family came over to celebrate his arrival. This was my first time that I remember meeting Uncle Greg outside of prison walls. He walked through the door of my house having to duck his head down due to his six foot five height. I can remember looking up at him and saying to myself "am I going to be this tall when I grow up?" He mistook me for my cousin, Brandi because at the time I had long hair and everybody thought I was a little girl.
My grandmothers neighbors were the neighborhood characters and every one knew it. Whenever you saw them around, your best bet was to hide as best you could because they would find any excuse to crack a joke and embarrass you in front of people. We would spend hours sitting on my grandmothers porch going back and forth talking about one another's shoes, clothes, or anything. Never any hard feelings it was always fun and games. We'd always get complaints about how loud we were, mostly because of my cousin Maya, when she laughs you hear her loud and clear. We wouldn't care about the complaints though, we'd just keep going.
I remember boxing on Quincy Place, in the middle of the street. I was being taught by Ronald, Bugs friend. He was drunk when he was teaching me with some Fisher Price boxing gloves we use to use to fight each other with that had little to no cushion in them because of how old and beat up they were. Every punch he threw at me I could feel his knuckles hit as if he had no gloves on. He wasn't fully swinging or anything but he would put his fist to me explaining how to swing and I'd get chin checked here and there. Anytime it was my time to demonstrate on him I swung hard and I made sure I landed each punch.
This was my love. Being in the presence of family and just enjoying life with everyone. As I think back on the times spent on Quincy Place I'm always thankful because my neighborhood wasn't a place where people had any animosity towards outsider so there were never times where I had to feel like I was in danger while in my neighborhood. So every time I hear Love on a Two Way Street by The Moments I close my eyes and reminisce on the times shared on Quincy Place, the place I fell in love with my family's presence.