When I think of the City of New York, I think of four boroughs filled with people to meet, places to see, and more than a state of mind. Unfortunately for Staten Island, in my ignorant bias for turf rights, I think of the fifth borough as “Jersey’s Island”. This thought may be similar to the perceptions of those who live in Manhattan and Bronx, who feel that Brooklyn and Queens should not be considered The City. Otherwise, I have wonderful thoughts, feelings and memories of the area I still refer to as “Home”. Growing up in Ridgewood, Queens, I had the convenience of everything. From shopping and travel, exploring nature, and having the opportunity to understand tolerance for those around me were invaluable foundational experiences.
To me, there is a sense of freedom as one can travel from one place to another using buses and trains with ease. Public transportation is one reason why I think most people from New York City are slimmer than those in the rest of the country. My mother never drove so we didn’t have a car. The shops were “up the Avenue”, and typically whatever we needed from clothes to the pharmacy was just about three blocks away. We were in great physical shape mainly because we walked everywhere. A part of me wishes I didn’t have to be so dependent on driving however these days, I choose to drive to, around and from the city.
The best of many worlds exist within the city limits. I had the pleasure of living close to the largest park in Queens, Forest Park. From picnics to hiking, throughout my childhood and into my teens, I enjoyed my version of the great outdoors. In the summer, we traveled by train to either Coney Island, Manhattan Beach or Rockaway Beach to experience fun in the sun, sand and ocean.
Contrary to what most people say about New Yorkers being rude, obnoxious or dangerous, I find the people of Manhattan and the surrounding boroughs to be friendly, and generally considerate. In my travels around the City of New York, I’ve been politely greeted while passing strangers on the street, and have felt comfortable to strike up a conversation with a random person in a store or on the bus. Of course, I have encountered the occasional ‘grouch’ but that is to be expected anywhere you go. And yes, it is true, the city can be a dangerous place and there are neighborhoods that are not safe. However, city life also injects an awareness of one surroundings in that ‘streets smarts’ is essential to be able to discern who to or not to converse with, or from whom to steer away.
Finally, the above shows my biases and feelings about the city I call “Home”. I haven’t lived in “The City”, as some Long Islanders may refer to Queens, in about 25 years and sometimes still miss it when I visit. I remember pre-Giuliani Time Square as Sin City, and my hometown as to what western Nassau County appears today. As an adult, when I visit the city, I love to ‘go in’ but am just as happy to return to my ‘new’ home, Long Island. In revisiting the City of New York during this course, I’m excited to experience what new feelings, thoughts and beliefs may emerge.
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ReplyDeleteVery nicely done!