Carmen Cruz:  

Life After graduating, in short, I worked practically everywhere in the Harbor, even at Inland Steel. Took a SER program, was accepted to go to IVY TECH in Gary, studied also thru a correspondence school and took up court reporting. Both of my parents are now deceased. Married in ’76 with #1, had a daughter, now 29 (she got married in Dec. of 2001), I got divorced in 80. Met my present hubby in 81, moved to New York, been here for 26 years now. I have 2 boys (one 23 and other now 24) and have been living here ever since. We owned a 'Bodega' (grocery store) in Spanish Harlem 'El Barrio', in Manhattan for the past 16 years.We just sold the business (retired) and we are taking a little break before deciding what to do next. I worked at home doing his advertisements for the sales promotions on my computer, which by the way I learned on my own!! During those years, there were many ups and downs, including me being a cancer survivor 3 times. My youngest sons' condition of suffering Epileptic Seizures, which really drained me because he died 2 times, but I never lost faith in him and the Almighty and he has been seizure free for 12 years now! Also when my oldest boy became a father at 16. Happy, I was not then of his actions, but now I have a wonderful fun loving grandson! I would tell my son, he made a big mistake, and he would tell me, that his son is not a mistake, and I believe that now. He worked in Manhattan as an Auxilary Police then he joined the service, Marines, and is officially a Military Police Officer in DC! He is now home (2005) trying to get back into the NYPD, but is currently working as a Loss Prevention Security Officer. MY youngest boy went to college too and is now an Insurance Agent working for a well known insurance company. Geez, I could go on forever! What I miss about the Harbor are my closest friends and my family, Lake Michigan, Washington Park, The Grill, the train ride to Chicago, and the old OLG Church. What I have learned thru the years is 'NEVER GIVE UP', no matter how bad times may be. To LOVE, I believe that "Love doesn't make the world go 'round, LOVE is what makes the ride worthwhile...Believe in yourself, Keep the Faith, and SMILE, GOD, loves you too! With God ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE! By the way, I have NEVER forgotten any of my friends. School I really did love school. Since my oldest brother really was 'popular' and played in all the sports in school, and was in in the Choral Club, so walking down the halls, i always got stopped by teachers, asking me if i was Juan Cruz sister, (well, yea of course I answered YES), so that made it easier for me to get in good with some of the teach...Expand for more