I remember when my sisters and I would visit our grandmother in New York City. I remember her neighbors Morey Amsterdam from the Dick Van Dyke Show and another neighbor Helen Keller. Granna would take us to Central Park Zoo where we would spend the day. That's when I remember my first box of cracker jacks, the ones with the real toys inside, and the little boxcar with the handle filled with animal cookies. They're cookies, not crackers! We got to ride on a beautiful carousel and it was so much fun getting to pick out which horse you got to ride on. I remember taking long hikes with Denny, that one time ended up at the cliff where down below we would enjoy the Fireman's Fair. Yes the fair, it was then that I learned not to end up on the ferris wheel with your brother. In case you didn't know, those bucket seats will rock nearly all the way around! Yuck! I'm not a fan of ferris wheels, but my brother, I still love him. Another memory was the beach, my mom was a fish out of water and her little guppies followed right after her. All of us kids love the water. I remember digging for muscles and cooking them on the beach and actually liked them. Now that I'm older I'll have to reintroduce myself to that memory, or maybe we'll just leave that a memory. After being away so long, I returned to the big city. I love bright lights, Broadway shows, ballets at Lincoln Center, off Broadway shows, little corner coffee shops and delis, the hustle and bustle of traffic and people, the sounds of cabbies honking, sidewalk hustlers offering great deals on their wears (or other's). Christmas on 5th Avenue was awesome, the competition between Sacs, Lord and Taylors, Bloomingdales and Macy's window decorations was unbeatable. Oh, and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I remember one time standing so close to the street, that the sheer size of the Budweiser Clydesdale horses right in front of me made my jaw drop. Oh they are so beautiful! Another thing that was beautiful was a visit to the Cloisters, I loved that place. I found a room, a Grecian garden where the sunlight filtered through and all my worldly thoughts disappeared. It was so peaceful that I felt at home. Quite the contrast to the other parts that I love about the city isn't it. These are some of my memories of the Big Apple. I'd love these memories to be ones that are enjoyed by another generation. By working together to preserve good things, good memories and good relationships, we can build such a future for all. That's my prayer. Maybe there's one more trip and memory to be made in New York, NY.
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