Native New Yorker

I am a native New Yorker who views the city with the enthusiasm of a first-time tourist. These are my New York City journeys...

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Donn Clendenon was the first baseman when the Mets won the 1969 World Series.  Keith Hernandez played first on the 1986 championship team.  Baseball history is important to me.  So I wandered around the Citi Field parking lot until I found the location of Shea Stadium’s bases.  I also enjoy classic comedy routines, such as “Who’s on first.”  For Bud Abbott, that was a simple statement. But for Lou Costello, it was an unanswered question:)  (Photo taken on March 6, 2017)

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"True heroism... is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost." (Arthur Ashe, tennis champion and humanitarian)  This is the essence of heroism.  Just possessing the quality of empathy (“Identifying with the feelings, thoughts or attitudes of another”) is also admirable.  I appreciate the courage and dedication of health care workers during the pandemic.  On a lighter note, a “laughter is the best medicine” memory comes to mind.  I was a teenager in this hospital, which was then called Astoria General.  After a painful knee surgery, an episode of “The Honeymooners” lifted my spirits.  I couldn’t stop laughing when Ralph and Norton were handcuffed together on a train:)  (Photo taken on June 7, 2020)

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"I hope you hear inside my voice of sorrow/And that it motivates you to make a better tomorrow…” (From the longer album version of Stevie Wonder’s “Living For The City”)  As he sings these lyrics, the listener can clearly hear the sorrow in Stevie’s voice. The song, from the “Innervisions” album, is a sad reflection on poverty and racism.  The “Respect” sign, at the Franklin Street subway station, was inspired by the classic Aretha Franklin song.  But I will end this message with a quote from Jackie Robinson on how to make a better tomorrow: “I’m not concerned with your liking or disliking me.  All I ask is that you respect me as a human being.”  (Photo taken on September 11, 2018)

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“The Dying Chief Contemplating the Progress of Civilization” - This 1856 sculpture, by Thomas Crawford, is at the New-York Historical Society.  A deeply insightful Native American story has recently been on my mind.  Its message can be applied to a person’s religious and political beliefs: “An old Cherokee told his grandson, ‘My son, there is a battle between two wolves inside us all.  One is Evil.  It is anger, jealousy, greed, resentment, inferiority, lies, and ego.  The other is Good.  It is joy, peace, love, hope, humility, kindness, empathy, and truth.’ The boy thought about it, and asked, ‘Grandfather, which wolf wins?’  The old man quietly replied, ‘The one you feed.’”  (Photo taken on February 22, 2019)

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"I like old fashioned things." (Nancy Drew)  The young amateur detective revealed that admirable personality trait in a 2007 movie:)  The nearby LinkNYC kiosk (currently displaying COVID-19 updates) has a 911 button to report an emergency.  But someone cared enough about this old fashioned fire alarm box (in Astoria) to give it a fresh coat of red paint! “Preserving the old ways from being abused/Protecting the new ways for me and for you…” (“The Village Green Preservation Society” by the Kinks)  (Photo taken on May 27, 2020) 

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“People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball.  I’ll tell you what I do.  I stare out the window and wait for spring.”  Rogers Hornsby was a Hall of Fame ballplayer from the same era as Babe Ruth.  His bad example has previously been mentioned, during winter, in my blog:)  However, it is spring and we are still waiting for baseball.  On Sunday, it was good to watch a live broadcast of a soccer match (without fans) from Germany.  But I would love to see Major League baseball, without fans.  As this picture demonstrates, Yankee Stadium is also the home of the New York City Football Club.  (Photo taken on July 20, 2017)

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“God bless America, land that I love/Stand beside her and guide her/Through the night with a light from above…” (“God Bless America”)  Father Vincent Capodanno is remembered at Fort Wadsworth, on Staten Island.  He was killed while administering last rites to the dying and giving medical aid to the wounded.  I also recall my visit to the New York City Fire Museum.  It was during the 2017 Memorial Day weekend.  Their “9/11 Memorial Room” honors the 343 members of the FDNY who died on September 11, 2001.  One of the heroes was Fr. Mychal Judge, who served as the FDNY chaplain.  (Photo taken on March 25, 2018)

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"Do I contradict myself?  Very well, then, I contradict myself, I am large - I contain multitudes." (Walt Whitman)  “I’m a man of contradictions, I’m a man of many moods/I contain multitudes…” (Bob Dylan) Contradiction and hypocrisy are not necessarily the same.  The journey of life contains paradoxes.  My blog contains a multitude of posts that have been inspired by the songs of Bob Dylan. I want to wish him a happy birthday. He shares a birthday with the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, which opened on May 24, 1883.  These Dylan lyrics can apply to houses, bridges, and people:) “May you have a strong foundation/When the winds of changes shift…” (“Forever Young”)  (Photo taken on January 28, 2015)

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“When I’m locked in the middle of New York City…” (“Central Park ‘n’ West” by Ian Hunter)  “No Refuge but Writing” was the title of a Tennessee Williams exhibition at the Morgan Library & Museum.  During this “stay at home” time, some people are finding an “oasis” by writing messages on a simple blog:)  “She leaves me sometimes when I write/Cause I write better on my own…”  (Photo taken on September 20, 2019)

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"Sunday morning, and I'm falling/I've got a feeling I don't want to know…” ("Sunday Morning" by The Velvet Underground)  Although the lyrics are depressing, I love that song from the classic rock era.  On a Sunday morning, social distancing was not being practiced on the East River:)  I had mixed feelings.  It was good to be back at Astoria Park, gazing at the Hell Gate Bridge.  But life is certainly not back to normal.  “A Little Soon To Say” is an outstanding new song by Jackson Browne: “I wanna think it’s gonna be alright/It’s just a little soon to say…” (Photo taken on May 17, 2020)

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"Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence..."  I still refer to the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge as the “Triboro” because it connects Queens, Manhattan, and the Bronx.  However RFK’s words are appropriate for this message to the Class of 2020.  I send out my congratulations and best wishes as they enter into the next phase of their lives.  I recall a special day during my senior year at St. John’s University.  I was asked to help present a spiritual retreat for 8th Graders who were also about to graduate.  I could not choose between two favorite quotes to include in this post.  So here are both of them:)  “Promise me whatever path you decide to take in this life, be true to yourself…” (“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”)  “To be yourself, in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else, is the greatest accomplishment…” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)   (Photo taken on May 17, 2020)

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“From 594 to 404 BC, literature, science, philosophy, and the arts flourished in Athens…” Astoria’s Athens Square Park is currently closed due to the pandemic.  But I will take this opportunity to spread the wisdom of Socrates, who is seated in the distance: “To find yourself, think for yourself…”  This small park is located next to the Henry David Thoreau School.  Therefore I will add some wisdom from the distinguished American philosopher: “The question is not what you look at, but what you see…”  I pointed my camera through a space between the bars of a locked gate.  So my camera had a better view of the park than I did:)  (Photo taken on May 15, 2020)

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"I'm gonna lay down my burden/Down by the riverside..." The jam session of Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, and Johnny Cash (“Million Dollar Quartet”) included the spiritually uplifting “Down By The Riverside.”  For the past couple of months, most of my walking has been limited to my backyard.  I am grateful to have a small oasis.  But I realized how much I missed strolling by the river.  Today it felt good to be gazing at the East River from Astoria Park.  Another favorite song, by a rock and roll pioneer, describes the longing to be alongside the water: “Oh some sweet day/Gonna take away/This hurting inside…” (“Blue Bayou” by Roy Orbison)  This classic was also sung with deep emotion by the talented Linda Ronstadt.  (Photo taken on May 17, 2020)

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“If you told me you were drowning/I would not lend a hand…” (“In The Air Tonight” by Phil Collins)  “You’re drifting out all on your own/And you need a hand to hold…” (“Reach Out I’ll Be There” by the Four Tops)  The songs that I like sometimes have contrasting viewpoints:)  I have only made one visit to the New York City Fire Museum.  But it was memorable! "Race, creed, sex, status - these do not matter to us - we come as quickly as we can and we do so as we've done for 150 years, knowing the inherent risks of our job..." (Daniel Nigro, Fire Commissioner of the City of New York) (Photo taken on May 28, 2017)

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“I owe a lot of what I do to Little Richard and his style; and he knew it. He would say, ‘I taught Paul everything he knows.’ I had to admit he was right.” (Paul McCartney)  In his heartfelt tribute to Little Richard, Paul mentioned several classic rock and roll songs: “Tutti Frutti,” “Long Tall Sally,” “Good Golly, Miss Molly,” and “Lucille.”  I want to mention a lesser-known Little Richard song that I enjoy. He did a rendition of “Itsy Bitsy Spider” on a 1991 Disney collection titled “For Our Children.”  The album, done to benefit children with AIDS, also included “Gartan Mother’s Lullaby” by the multi-talented Meryl Streep. However, Little Richard’s combination of rock and rap was certainly not a lullaby:)  Regarding the picture, a show called “Beatlemania” once played at the Winter Garden Theatre!  (Photo taken on August 20, 2016)

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“Stay safe and stay sane…”  That is especially good advice for this troubled time!  It is important to remain hopeful so as not to fall into a downward spiral.  I am reminded of an uplifting holiday window display: “A Charlie Brown Christmas” at Macy’s. “He's the only free psychiatrist/That's known throughout the world/For solving the problems of all men, women, little boys and girls..." ("Have A Talk With God” by Stevie Wonder) (Photo taken on November 30, 2015)

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"There should be laughter after the pain..." ("Why Worry?" by Dire Straits)  Those lyrics came to mind when I first spotted this sculpture:) "Spot!" is located at a children's hospital on 34th Street.  Actor Tony Shalhoub has provided an example of laughter after the pain.  After recovering from COVID-19, he has appeared in a truly hilarious video.  Anyone who is familiar with the TV Show “Monk” will appreciate “Monk in Quarantine.” This short video makes the case that, with all of his phobias, Monk may have had it right all along!  (Photo taken on August 25, 2018)