I live in Riverview, Michigan, about 20 minutes South of Detroit.
I have lived here since birth. When I was married in 1990, I moved to the City of Flat Rock, approximately 20 minutes South of here.
Growing up as a Child here was wonderful. The World was different back then. I had a Party Store within walking distance where the owner would always give me a free hard pretzel out of his jar. It was a family town, grew up with some lovely friends and neighbors. Neighbors were close and would talk to each other. Riverview is included with a few other cities that call themself "Downriver ". I was always happy here. Big change in the late 70's when I started Junior High at Seitz, West of Fort Street. When I started there I thought everything was going to be the same, I was so excited. I quickly learned that most of the children that grew up on that side of Fort Street in the Rich neighborhood, were very unfriendly and cold. I was somewhat shy and really never fit in. It got somewhat better in High School, back to my side of town.
My Father worked at McClouth Steel, they came here from West Virginia in the late 50's before my sister was born. Steel Factory jobs were booming. He actually retired from there when he was 51. My Sister lived in Colonial Village off Sibley Road in the City. It was then a rent controlled complex and her husband had left her and her daughter.
I stayed at home with my Parents until the age of 23, then moved in with a friend in another city Downriver.
In 1990 I was married. We drove everywhere searching for a house. Flat Rock was a beautiful city and we found a tri-level we loved. We had 2 beautiful children who are now 29 and 27.
My father started with Alzheimer's in 2002 and I spent a lot of time over there helping my Mom with him. The neighbors were nice enough to watch out for him also.
As far as work, when I graduated in 1982, jobs were scarce. I had received my Associates in Early Childhood Education and found a job in a Montessori School in Grosse Isle.
My husband and I sadly divorced in 2001. 3 years later I married my husband who just recently passed away. He had a great job at Chrysler st the Trenton Engine Plant. I started working for 4 Pediatricians from 1985-2008.
I pretty much new it was my Dads last year of life as is Alzheimer's started progressing fast. It got so bad, we had to place him in a Nursing Home, he kept escaping from the house.
It was located in Trenton and it changed hands quickly. I think my Dad was their first case of Alzheimer's that severe, they couldn't even keep track of him in a lock down unit. The place turned horrific, they gave him a Triple Dose of Ativan when it was marked in red on his chart, "No Ativan " , because it had the opposite effect on him, made him hyper . My mom went to visit him one early afternoon and the Janitor told her he had been walking in Circles all morning. They found him slumped over in a room from falling. He was different after that, I begged the nurses for 4 days to look at his leg, they ignored it. I finally had a nurse who listened and said his one leg was 3" shorter, sent him out for Stat X-Rays where he was found to have a broken hip which required surgery. He spent his last 5 years in s wheelchair, which seemed to make the Staff happy. He sadly passed away in 2009.
My sister who was 8 years older than me didn't look right at his funeral, she passed away August of 2010 from complications of heart surgery.
My Mom and I were a wreck. 6 weeks from visiting my Sister's Gravesite, my Mom called me from her house in Riverview saying she had the flu and couldn't breathe. I called 911 and ran to her from Flat Rock. She went Septic and died within 24 hours.
I was left the original house in Riverview I had lived in until age 23. My stepdaughter who was very evil spirited drove me and my 2 Children out in 2010. She did some terrible things I can't even put on here. I still loved my husband, by that time she was 25, had already been in so much legal trouble. We packed for a couple of days but because of her Evil ways she put a wedge in between us.
I moved back into the house my Parents bought new in 1957 and am still here. A lot had changed, not only do most neighbors not talk, it's gotten a lot Colder. There is a Riverview Discussion Board on Facebook, it's all complaining. Younger people are moving in and trying to get all the older Council Members out, actually they did. I just see lots of arguments, the City does not seem as safe. After all kinds of Arguments, the city of Riverview, like I said, 4 square miles, approved marijuana dispensaries. I have no problem with that, but 2 more are being built in the City now, which is a little overkill. Now I see there is a massage parlor opening next door to the dispensary that is open. Everyone is up in arms over that.
There are plenty of grocery and drug stores for convenience. It just seems like everyone is always in a rush.
My children and I plan on moving within the next year, we are looking for a friendlier neighbor with neighbors who actually care. I am a Caregiver and very empathetic. I was thinking Down South, even Alabama where I still have family. Seems like everyone is close and I feel like an old orphan here. Sure, there are nice people, I just don't seem to run into them too often.
Robin Sultana
I live in Riverview, Michigan, about 20 minutes South of Detroit.
I have lived here since birth. When I was married in 1990, I moved to the City of Flat Rock, approximately 20 minutes South of here.
Growing up as a Child here was wonderful. The World was different back then. I had a Party Store within walking distance where the owner would always give me a free hard pretzel out of his jar. It was a family town, grew up with some lovely friends and neighbors. Neighbors were close and would talk to each other. Riverview is included with a few other cities that call themself "Downriver ". I was always happy here. Big change in the late 70's when I started Junior High at Seitz, West of Fort Street. When I started there I thought everything was going to be the same, I was so excited. I quickly learned that most of the children that grew up on that side of Fort Street in the Rich neighborhood, were very unfriendly and cold. I was somewhat shy and really never fit in. It got somewhat better in High School, back to my side of town.
My Father worked at McClouth Steel, they came here from West Virginia in the late 50's before my sister was born. Steel Factory jobs were booming. He actually retired from there when he was 51. My Sister lived in Colonial Village off Sibley Road in the City. It was then a rent controlled complex and her husband had left her and her daughter.
I stayed at home with my Parents until the age of 23, then moved in with a friend in another city Downriver.
In 1990 I was married. We drove everywhere searching for a house. Flat Rock was a beautiful city and we found a tri-level we loved. We had 2 beautiful children who are now 29 and 27.
My father started with Alzheimer's in 2002 and I spent a lot of time over there helping my Mom with him. The neighbors were nice enough to watch out for him also.
As far as work, when I graduated in 1982, jobs were scarce. I had received my Associates in Early Childhood Education and found a job in a Montessori School in Grosse Isle.
My husband and I sadly divorced in 2001. 3 years later I married my husband who just recently passed away. He had a great job at Chrysler st the Trenton Engine Plant. I started working for 4 Pediatricians from 1985-2008.
I pretty much new it was my Dads last year of life as is Alzheimer's started progressing fast. It got so bad, we had to place him in a Nursing Home, he kept escaping from the house.
It was located in Trenton and it changed hands quickly. I think my Dad was their first case of Alzheimer's that severe, they couldn't even keep track of him in a lock down unit. The place turned horrific, they gave him a Triple Dose of Ativan when it was marked in red on his chart, "No Ativan " , because it had the opposite effect on him, made him hyper . My mom went to visit him one early afternoon and the Janitor told her he had been walking in Circles all morning. They found him slumped over in a room from falling. He was different after that, I begged the nurses for 4 days to look at his leg, they ignored it. I finally had a nurse who listened and said his one leg was 3" shorter, sent him out for Stat X-Rays where he was found to have a broken hip which required surgery. He spent his last 5 years in s wheelchair, which seemed to make the Staff happy. He sadly passed away in 2009.
My sister who was 8 years older than me didn't look right at his funeral, she passed away August of 2010 from complications of heart surgery.
My Mom and I were a wreck. 6 weeks from visiting my Sister's Gravesite, my Mom called me from her house in Riverview saying she had the flu and couldn't breathe. I called 911 and ran to her from Flat Rock. She went Septic and died within 24 hours.
I was left the original house in Riverview I had lived in until age 23. My stepdaughter who was very evil spirited drove me and my 2 Children out in 2010. She did some terrible things I can't even put on here. I still loved my husband, by that time she was 25, had already been in so much legal trouble. We packed for a couple of days but because of her Evil ways she put a wedge in between us.
I moved back into the house my Parents bought new in 1957 and am still here. A lot had changed, not only do most neighbors not talk, it's gotten a lot Colder. There is a Riverview Discussion Board on Facebook, it's all complaining. Younger people are moving in and trying to get all the older Council Members out, actually they did. I just see lots of arguments, the City does not seem as safe. After all kinds of Arguments, the city of Riverview, like I said, 4 square miles, approved marijuana dispensaries. I have no problem with that, but 2 more are being built in the City now, which is a little overkill. Now I see there is a massage parlor opening next door to the dispensary that is open. Everyone is up in arms over that.
There are plenty of grocery and drug stores for convenience. It just seems like everyone is always in a rush.
My children and I plan on moving within the next year, we are looking for a friendlier neighbor with neighbors who actually care. I am a Caregiver and very empathetic. I was thinking Down South, even Alabama where I still have family. Seems like everyone is close and I feel like an old orphan here. Sure, there are nice people, I just don't seem to run into them too often.
Robin Sultana