{"id":116692,"date":"2025-08-03T22:42:15","date_gmt":"2025-08-03T22:42:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/116692\/"},"modified":"2025-08-03T22:42:15","modified_gmt":"2025-08-03T22:42:15","slug":"livin-it-on-the-streets-of-mayfair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/116692\/","title":{"rendered":"Livin\u2019 It on the streets of Mayfair"},"content":{"rendered":"

Table of Contents
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\"\"Michael Perzel discusses his book over lunch at Gino\u2019s Pizza Cafe.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"Michael Perzel on the 3400 block of Bleigh<\/p>\n

\"\"Michael Perzel on his former street, the 3400 block of Bleigh Ave.<\/p>\n

Michael Perzel has an award-winning writer friend named Rick Mowat, and the topic of Perzel\u2019s childhood antics came up in conversation.<\/p>\n

Mowat asked Perzel to write down some of those memories and liked what he saw.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got a book here,\u201d Mowat said.<\/p>\n

The book, Livin\u2019 It, was published on June 27. It\u2019s described as, \u201cThe true story of a bad kid from Philly who defies the odds.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was difficult writing it,\u201d Perzel said. \u201cIt brought me to tears more than once.\u201d<\/p>\n

Perzel, now 69, was the youngest of four boys. He lived the first four years of his life in the Abbotsford Homes housing project in East Falls before the family moved to Mayfair, specifically 3430 Bleigh Ave.<\/p>\n

Later in life, Perzel became a successful insurance broker, with an office at 7338 Frankford Ave.<\/p>\n

The book chronicles Perzel\u2019s life from ages 11-19, from the late 1960s to the mid-1970s. While names were changed, Perzel said every story in the book is true.<\/p>\n

\u201cI let it all go,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

In general, young Michael was not a fan of authority, whether it was cops, nuns or his baseball coach for the Mayfair Red Devils.<\/p>\n

In those years, Michael hung out with a lot of kids who did things even worse than he did and who probably could write their own books \u2013 if most of them weren\u2019t already dead, due to a variety of causes.<\/p>\n

In Michael\u2019s case, he did his first drug and had his first drink and encounter with the law at a very young age. There were burglaries of pharmacies, department stores and a barber shop. Not much was sacred, from school candy money to suitcases, which resulted in an arrest while he was wearing his St. Matt\u2019s uniform. While at Lincoln High School, he and friends were arrested in a drug caper and had their names printed in the Bulletin, Inquirer and Daily News.<\/p>\n

The book includes some personal family information related to abortion, the Vietnam War and one of his aunts calling another a vulgar name.<\/p>\n

Finally, the thought of a prison sentence on charges stemming from an attempted burglary led him to stop dealing drugs and committing other crimes.<\/p>\n

Perzel said he had no thoughts of writing a book while his mom was alive or while he was still in business, but now believes he can reach young people who grew up the way he did.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not the end of the world,\u201d he said. \u201cYou can make something of yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

The book has received more than 50 five-star reviews on Amazon.<\/p>\n

One wrote, \u201cI highly recommend this to anyone who appreciates the \u2018real thing,\u2019 and not a glossed-over, politically correct recollection of half-made-up \u2018war\u2019 stories. This guy was actually \u2018Livin\u2019 It.\u2019 \u201c<\/p>\n

Another wrote, \u201cSuch a great read with fascinating stories of growing up in Mayfair. Outstanding job, Mike! Is a movie next?\u201d<\/p>\n

Well?<\/p>\n

\u201cThat would be the ultimate goal,\u201d Perzel said of a possible film based on the book.<\/p>\n

For now, Perzel will be doing an audio version of the book. He\u2019s invested money and will be executive producer on a short film, written and directed by Mowat, called Last Pint, about the largest bank robbery in Ireland history.<\/p>\n

As for another book, he\u2019d like to team with Mowat on some kind of Philadelphia-based story.<\/p>\n

Otherwise, he\u2019s enjoying life. He retired in 2022 at age 66. He and his wife Annette (they\u2019ll be married 33 years in September) live in Churchville and have a home in North Fort Myers, Florida. He enjoys traveling, woodworking and playing golf.<\/p>\n

Over the years, he\u2019s helped raise more than $300,000 for underprivileged kids, primarily through Optimist Club of Philadelphia and Susan\u2019s Charity for Children (named in memory of his mom).<\/p>\n

Perzel believes the money raised has made a difference. He recalls receiving a thank-you letter from a college student who had made the dean\u2019s list after being granted $1,000 to buy books.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was really nice,\u201d Perzel said of the letter, \u201cand it happens all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Locally, he donates to a St. Matthew School scholarship fund and the Mayfair-Holmesburg Thanksgiving Parade. His charity work also helps needy students at New Foundations, St. Matt\u2019s, St. Jerome, St. Hubert and Father Judge with Christmas dinners and gifts and other assistance.<\/p>\n

As the book cover says, Perzel defied the odds to be a success in business, have a fulfilling retirement and do a lot of good deeds along the way.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I\u2019ve given back to the little section of the city I terrorized as a kid,\u201d he said. \u2022\u2022<\/p>\n

Livin\u2019 It, by Michael Perzel and Rick Mowat, is available on Amazon in paperback and ebook. Buy it at https:\/\/shorturl.at\/UyTxN<\/a><\/p>\n

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