Sex and The City

(Photo: J. Sivo)

Ok, there's no sex involved in this post. Got your attention, though, didn't it?

To explain my love affair with New York City, I have to go pretty far back. Back to 1984, when Madonna said, in an interview, that she went to New York City with $36.00 in her pocket and told them to drop her off at "the middle of everything." So the guy dropped her off at Times Square. Yes, blame Madonna for another influence! Damn her and her Coolness. Well, to be truthful, I think everyone in the U.S. just about is brought up revering New York City as the Ultimate Place To Be. So I told my parents for years that I would go live in NYC someday, right in the middle of it! They laughed. Across town, Bean had these same thoughts, although I wouldn't know her until I was eighteen.

For kids like us in Small Town, U.S.A., NYC was the ultimate symbol of Opportunity. If you have to live in a city, why not live in THE city? Well, life intervenes and we never made it to NYC to live. I'd still like to live in an apartment overlooking Central Park someday. If I were a gazillionaire.

When I was a Junior in high school, my Spanish teacher took me and two other girls to New York on what was called a 'Spanish Trip.' We ate at a real Spanish restaurant, went to see real Spanish dancers, and stayed in New Jersey. We walked what had to have been several miles through the city, past Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Center, and what was either United Nations or The World Trade Center; I can't be sure, because I had no ideas about either at the time, but I remember it was all offices and such and I think we went inside. Memory fails me on this one; which is rare. And we went to St. Patrick's Cathedral, which is the most gorgeous church ever.

I'll never forget seeing the city from the car for the first time. My friend Joan was one of the girls along, and she fell asleep on the drive in! I was nudging her awake as we came in, because, it's NEW YORK CITY, for God's sake! I'll also never forget the people, mobs of them, on the streets. I bought a pair of mirrored Ray-Ban knockoff sunglasses from a vendor on the street (it was the 80's still!), and the classic "I (heart) New York" t-shirt. In an odd twist of Fate, Bean was supposed to have gone on that trip, but did not go at the last minute. I always yell at her for that; we could have met that much sooner.

When 9/11 happened, I took it personal. Any attack on our Beloved is an attack on what's greatest in the U.S. It's not just about the pavement and buildings; it's about the Life that New York City is. All of our beautiful cultures convene there. Sure, we've got lots of great places and landmarks (The Blue Ridge Mountains come to mind), but New York is, well New York!

Bean finally made it to New York a few years ago on a bus trip. And the dream is to see it at night. We love cities at night. So we'll no doubt try to go again in the spring.

Why am I going off on this tangent? I'll be vacationing in CT in a few weeks, and one of the plans is to go to NYC for the day one day. The Dickinson house at Amherst is closed for the season. Damn!

Will I have panic attacks in the crowds, since this is an utter fear of mine (crowds)? Well, we hope not. That therapy should be good for something other than holes in my checking account!

Will my feet fall off from walking, like before? Well, I'm in much better shape nowadays, and I walk daily pretty much, so I think I'll enjoy that.

Will I make it to The Statue of Liberty? Shouldn't every American go there? We'll see.

Will I get some good food whilst there? We'll see.

Loads of pics will be taken, regardless. And I shall report back with an in-depth analysis. haha (i.e., I will make up a bunch of stuff and embellish my real adventures, 'cause that is what I do here).

Most importantly, I will smile because Cool Ones are in New York. You know who you are. Cool People.

Have a great day.