A Different Take on Summer Camp

Buoyant and charming 88 year old Ina spent her early childhood on New York City's Lower East Side and loved the bustle of her neighborhood and life on the stoop. She was saddened when her family moved their garment business upstate.

On a recent visit as we were chatting about COVID times she reminisced about her experience with Polio at age 11 and how it brought her back to her beloved New York. After a restorative leg surgery Ina was sent to a Manhattan children's ward for four months to convalesce. Initially frightened, she joined a ward of 14 year old girls, became the unit mascot and learned all about the world; applying makeup, the birds and bees and pillow fights. Some of the girls were precocious enough to practice flirting with the medical staff. Every Wednesday Ina's two youngest aunts travelled from Ditmas Park Brooklyn for a visit and to shower her with hugs, candy and presents. Not bad Ina tells me for a girl who could never afford summer camp - she cried when she had to go home!