b"my eyes to a lot of opportunities. And I see how they help people that are not educated when it comes to retirement andall that. They break it down for you, so you could protect yourself. There are educational programs to help you achievewhatever you want, promotion on the job or to go to college. A lot of people have done that. That's awesome. And theyrecognize you, they recognize it when you deserve it or you do a good job. And, there are celebrations for who you are,your heritage. You have the Italian heritage, Latino, the African American, the Irish, you name it, it's just habit. We're amelting pot and it's beautiful. The collaboration among us. I don't see that in other places.The union's been very good to you?Very. I'm happy. I'm enjoying my retirement. I retired August 23, 2018 when I was 62.So now that you're retired, what does it mean to be a member of the union?The help and the assistance are still there. Nothing stops. On the contrary, they check up on you, they want to knowthat you're doing okay. And if you have any questions with your medical or your checks, whatever it is, they are there foryou. If you have a question about your eyeglasses, your dental, anything, they're there for you. And, they have activitiesafter you retire. It's all up to us to come out and enjoy them. I came here like three weeks ago and I saw them teachingpeople how to dance Latin. I used to love dancing, but because I injured my knee, I'm not doing it, but oh my lord, that'sbeautiful. Refresh your memory. And you can enjoy yourself. It's awesome.Is there anything else you'd like to tell me that I didn't ask you about? About your work your experience as afemale in a very much male environment or retirement?As I went up the ladder, it was a little harder. When I became assistant superintendent at Bronx River Houses, some ofthe men did not accept the fact that a woman was giving them instructions or orders. It was very difficult but I persevered.How did you handle it? What did you say to the men that didn't want to listen to you?Well, I went through the chain of command and asked for help. I also called the union and ask questions. There wasa time they had a program for caretakers maintenance training and I asked for that help because I was short of staff. I wasable to help a lot of those maintenance workers, female and male, to become maintenance workers in their job. I was oneof those assistant supers who was willing to have them at my location. A lot of people didn't. By giving my maintenancemen extra help, they were happy. They had somebody to carry the tools and they could even teach them somethings.And, I felt so good when the graduation came. I was able to help somebody else just like my supervisor helped me toachieve my goals. I tried to do that through all the years that I was in housing. I try to guide the staff to better themselves,not to stay as Caretaker Js, to be a better person towards others. We have our ups and downs but we cannot hold thosegrudges. Just move on and keep moving for something better. And a lot of them have done it. Like my supervisors taughtme. A plumber supervisor, Carmen Mingo [sp?], taught me. That man was such a sweetheart, I love him. There are somany memories here. People came along the way and guided me. They say: Carmen, don't worry mama, hang on, don'tlet go. And I hang on. When I became an assistant super, I went to a training class and thats when I met my beautifulfriend and sister, Doris Welch. I almost gave it up because I have a temper and I can confront anybody. So, she said: No Carmen, don't let go mama, stay, hang on. And I hang on. I had somebody to talk to, that was Doris Welch.139 "