Alice

With her thick Hungarian accent, at 92, Alice likes to sit in her rocking chair and tell tales of a happy life as a young math teacher in Budapest. She managed to survive the war in Europe and has now outlived her husband, siblings, and most of her friends. Her 102nd Street apartment has been her home for more than 40 years. It is filled with memories and is where she wants to be. “When we moved here my son was the only child in the building. The old people were afraid he would make too much noise. Maybe he did. Who knows? Now I’m the oldest in the building. There are kids here, twins across the hall. I like to hear them. It reminds me of life”.

Because her balance is poor, she has taped the rugs to the floor and uses a cane for easier navigation around her apartment. Alice speaks of Citymeals as a blessing, “My son is too far away to check on me daily and I’m not able to cook any more. I can’t stand in the kitchen for even ten minutes. The food is not bad; it brightens my day.”