CARMEN VEGA:
CLASS OF 1972
Morris High SchoolClass of 1972
Bronx, NY
CARMEN's Story
I want to give thanks to all my teachers and Morris High School for investing and providing me with knowledge and a pathway to become a positive contributor to our community. I am also grateful to my teachers in Herman Riddler Junior High School and PS 66.
Lots of ups and down adventures since graduating Morris in 1972 but I’m sure not much in comparison to others. I was blessed to have a full ride scholarship and graduated from Long Island University/ Brooklyn Campus with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. I married after college & worked for Visiting Nurse of Brooklyn & Brookdale Hospital. In 1980, I relocated to Denver, Colorado. My son was born and raised in Denver, Colorado where he currently lives. My parents asked why you do not want to stay in New York. I replied, my husband at the time was a Certified Public Accountant and travelled nationally and felt it would be a better place to raise children. I followed by saying, just like you left Puerto Rico to live in New York in hopes of better life opportunities. In Denver, Colorado 1993, after my divorce of 12 years, I met my current husband & we raised a blended family of four children. I developed allergies in the 23 years in Denver, Colorado and I was hospitalized twice. When I visited my brother-in-law in San Diego, California after the last hospital stay, I felt like a smothering pillow was lifted. I was able to get off the nebulizers and high steroid within 1 week. I got a job transfer and moved within 2 weeks in 2003 from Colorado to California. While living In San Diego, California there was a time when we had five generations living with us; my grandma who died at 99 ½ yrs. old, my dad, our adult daughter, and her child. Now a days it is just my husband and me. We enjoy what I call our dating time in our golden years. We are both retired RN’s. We love to travel, and cruise and we are both handy with our hands and stay busy. I sewed over one thousand facial masks for my family during the COVID mask shortage. I cook foods other than Puerto Rican cuisine, bake cakes, breads, pizza, make honey almond nougat (TURRON), make bees wax candles, created my own whipped body shea & cocoa butter, enjoy bracelet beading & silver jewelry earring design making, knitting, photography, etc.
In 1969 (14 years old) I had major back surgery for scoliosis which entailed being in a body cast for nearly one year. They do not need body cast before or after scoliosis surgery any longer. Despite that I was home schooled most of my tenth year, I managed to keep my grades up. I thought my back after surgery would impose significant physical limitations, but it did not. I still could dance Salsa which was my main escape. I remember the times I went t...Expand for more
o clubs like the Corso to hear & dance live Fania musicians. With age and early arthritis, I no longer play stick ball or double Dutch as I did in the day (I have not seen kids play that anymore) baseball, or bowling. I cannot take up playing golf, but I noticed that even experienced golfers cannot play either. I do not have childhood friends because they were succumbed by the perils of the times, drugs, crime, prostitution. My parents were street smart and counted on folks to spied on us. Dad was the ‘super’ of two buildings. Mom was a beloved bookie because she could remember what number you played and tell you if it hit already. At times she would recommend another number which would hit. My older brother was not one to mess with as he was connected with a few of the gangs of the times. All three of my siblings did well considering our humble and rough beginnings.
My 42 years roles in nursing varied. I have been Discharge Planner, Case Manager, Public Health Visiting Nurse, bedside nurse in several areas as an outside contracting float pool nurse including medical surgery, orthopedic, pediatric and geriatric (nursing homes). I held management positions in the administrative arena as Utilization Review and Quality Assurance and program development.
I have met people who exposed me a life and world beyond my mean streets. For being a quiet girl who stuttered from the Bronx, who never had the luxury to go on family vacations and afraid to use the school bathroom because of drug use in the stalls, I have learned to take bold chances to live and have fun. I have gone para sailing, snorkeling, white water rafting, indoor skying diving, alpine slide sled riding, ride on my husband’s motorcycle, gone snowmobiling, rode on helium balloon to name a few things a girl from the Bronx only saw in the movies. My husband won a Portugal trip at the Price is Right show which aired December 15, 2021, which we hope to go this year 2022. In December 2021, I alerted my husband that I was going to have my hairdresser add more highlights, but it turned out to make me a blond. It is easier to keep up with my grays than being brunette. He likes my new hair color.
I still visit the Bronx, New York because of family such as my siblings. I was recently there in December 2021 & February 2022.
I am so sorry that my memory fails me at times, and I cannot remember people names of long ago. I lost my 1972 High School yearbook in 2003 during the emergent move to San Diego, California and I could not look up names of people in the pictures I posted. These are pictures of a fun day during the last week of our Senior year, that I and others for the first time cut class to go to Orchard Beach. Enjoy the pictures.
Register for Free to view all details!
Reunions
Photos
