Category Archives: Family, Memory & Personal Essays

Family, childhood, memory, relationships, personal history, and reflective autobiographical essays.

Still Celebrating Life!

Posted on October 1, 2016 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

I saw the best minds of my generation drop out of school and get their education on the streets, in the schools of hard knocks: in group homes, reform schools, jails, reformatories and prisons. They dropped out of schools that … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Memory & Personal Essays | 1 Comment

A Father’s Day Message…for Mothers

Posted on June 15, 2014 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Beware the self-fulfilling prophecy! One day, in the South Bronx, I observed the following: a young Latina mother with two boys, around ages 6 and 10, standing in front of a bodega.  The mother seemed agitated.  The older boy was … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Memory & Personal Essays | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

What I learned from my mother about tolerance…and appreciation

Posted on June 18, 2013 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Growing up in Marcy Housing in Brooklyn, one of my neighbors was gay. Everyone in the building knew this. Everyone accepted this, because this is who he was. I won’t say that everyone in the projects accepted this, but most … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Memory & Personal Essays | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Spring Cleaning and Other Discoveries

Posted on June 3, 2013 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

During the Spring Cleaning that I mentioned in another blog, I did not mention that I discovered something else: two manuscripts I wrote in my 20s, when I was aspiring to be a novelist. The first, “Streets of Rage,” is … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Memory & Personal Essays | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Memorial Day (2013) — Remembering My Daddy

Posted on May 27, 2013 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

It’s Memorial Day, when we remember the men and women who have and are serving in our armed services. Today, I remember my father. He served his country during World War II. He enlisted in the Army on October 31, … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Memory & Personal Essays | Tagged | Leave a comment

“I’ll Always Love My Mama (Part 1)

Posted on May 12, 2013 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Today, Mother’s Day, if one turns on the radio one is bound to hear The Intruders’ “I’ll Always Love My Mama,” inspired by one of The Intruders’ (Kenny Gamble) Mama, Ruby. Although the song, released in 1973, didn’t make it … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Memory & Personal Essays | Tagged | Leave a comment

There is always a story…

Posted on October 31, 2011 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Just the other day I was walking by the Dunkin Donuts on the corner of Broadway and Halsey in Brooklyn when a man, probably my age plus twenty years of hard living on the streets, limped up to me and … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Memory & Personal Essays | Leave a comment

Remembering 9-11

Posted on September 12, 2011 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Everyone in New York City has a 9-11 story. Mine begins nearly two months before that fateful day. I was in the World Trade Center with my ex-wife, who is originally from Jamaica. (I am a born and bred New … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Memory & Personal Essays | 1 Comment

In your experience, what town has the most friendly people?

Posted on August 27, 2011 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

I am a native New Yorker, a born and bred Brooklynite. New Yorkers have a reputation for being rude, and the women unapproachable. Hey, we love you, stylishishly dressed in black, looking good but oh so unapproachable and mean. Sometimes … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Memory & Personal Essays | Leave a comment

I Didn’t Fly Last Night

Posted on January 22, 2011 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

I didn’t fly last night, but 6am this morning I was in the writer’s cockpit, navigating my way through my novel. Did some re-writing and got some writing in to boot. Right now I am on the runway, but plan … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Memory & Personal Essays | Leave a comment