The other night while I was scrolling through the television schedule, I noticed a movie was on that I had watched years ago. I remember going to see it at the theater. I also bought the album to enjoy long after that.

“West Side Story” was on Sunday night. I thoroughly enjoyed watching it once again. The story line is a familiar one – even today. Oh, the factions may be different, but it was about warring gangs and the tragedy that they created for a young couple in love.

I could sing most of the songs right along with them. I had listened to that album so many times long ago. Maybe I ought to play it once again and enjoy it all over again. I still have the record and I happen to have a record player.

We put my husband’s stereo into an old Victrola cabinet. We were even able to find a handle to attach to it in an antique store in Ellington. That is strictly for decoration. The stereo works just great. I have some Christmas albums that I enjoy each year.

One year on a trip to New York City we were treated to the stage play on Broadway. It was a piece of art as well a piece of nostalgia. All of the travelers with us had probably seen the original movie when they were younger.

That night we ate at a famous restaurant, Sardi’s, near the theater district. Photographs of all of the stars that had eaten there were posted on the wall. When we got our menus, I saw something that I had no idea what it was. It was called caprese salad. Lucky for me one of the gentlemen at our table knew it was tomato slices with slices of mozzarella cheese. I ordered that as my appetizer. It was delicious. I think the main entrÈe was pre-ordered for us and we only had to choose the appetizer and the dessert.

Since I had that salad, I have made it several times at home and to take to tureen dinners. It looks so pretty. I usually cut up cucumbers to place in the center of the dish and dress them with a little balsamic vinegar, olive oil and salt and freshly cracked pepper.

Watching that movie was nostalgic. I have no idea who I went to see it with, but I definitely remember what it was about. When you find something on television that you really enjoy, it is a surprise. Many nights I have trouble finding anything to watch. I tend to lean away from network television. The dramas they present are not realistic. They are not humorous either. I used to love some of the old shows. Now they are on a couple of the channels as repeats or reruns. “I Love Lucy” was funny. We always watched that every week. The fact that she was from Jamestown did not hurt either. It was nice to see someone relatively local make it big.

I also liked “Sanford and Son” and “The Jeffersons”. We watched “Little House on the Prairie” and “The Waltons”. Then, there was Red Skelton. We usually watched him with my great-grandfather on Sunday night. The Ed Sullivan show was on Sunday night, too, I think.

When Don was around, I had no trouble finding something to watch. We usually watched one sport or another. After we bought a big screen television, he even watched hockey with me. At least the sporting programs were fresh and up to date.

If my memory serves me correctly, I think there had been a re-make of “West Side Story”. I recall seeing Rita Moreno on some show talking about it. I believe they wrote in a part for her since she was able to do it. I have heard no more about it, but I guess maybe it did not go over well.

Ann Swanson writes from her home in Russell, Pa. Contact at hickoryheights1@verizon.net.