A NEW MEXICAN IN NEW YORK

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"OH, THAT'S THE STATUE OF LIBERTY!"
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By Wylie Dougherty, guest writer

My first trip to NYC was in 1971. One highlight was a meeting at Chase Manhattan Bank with David Rockefeller and Co. During lunch, on the 62nd floor, where the Executive Dining room was, a young VP gave me a tour of downtown. First to the building's East side and he proudly pointed out the East River, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, Queens, Riker's Island etc; I was properly awed. Then to the North side to see the Midtown area, Empire State, PanAm building and a view of the George Washington Bridge on the Hudson; West Side showed me a great view of the Hudson...all the piers and several ships loading and unloading their cargos.

When we went to the South Side, I reacted in the typical "hick from the sticks" as I saw the Statue of Liberty and blurted out "that's the Statue of Liberty!" ...this to a New Yorker. We also saw the World Trade Centers which were being finished and would be occupied by the next visit to NYC.
It provided a good view of Staten Island and the ferry docks and a good view of the NY Harbor.

All this which I later told my Mom, just to impress her, but she was dutifully proud of her middle Son and his visit away from the Deserts of New Mexico.

Thought you would enjoy a Country Boy's first visit to the Big Apple.
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More Eastern travels.....

Ruth and I went on a anniversary trip in 1980 that included Hershey, PA-then NYC. Stayed at Lorena Helmsley's Princess Hotel across from St. Patricks Cathedral. The lobby was a madhouse, as Michael Jackson was staying there for a concert, so we had to contend with the groupies who were always there in hopes of seeing the Great Michael. We had Tickets to "Cats" on Broadway, seats in 14th row. If you have ever seen "Cats", you know that you are almost part of the cast with runways running over the seats, wonderful. Saw the Rockettes at Rockefeller Center and also watched the ice skaters in Rocky Square. Had dinner in the Rainbow Room, the whole tourist thing.

Took Circle tour which went from a pier on the Hudson past the Statue of Liberty, past the point of Manhattan, with amazing views of the World Trade Center Towers, passed the Staten Island Ferry Dock, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, up the East River past the UN, Roosevelt Island, Randalls Island Park, Rikers Island, cross the Harlem River Canal to the Hudson, passed under the George Washington Bridge which connects NYC with New Jersey. Past Ft. Lee, Cliffside Park, W. New York, Hoboken then back to the Pier on West Manhattan Dock area.

Ruth was properly impressed, especially seeing "Cats" on Broadway. All in all, a wonderful trip for both of us, in spite of the blisters and sunburned tonsils.

Wylie Dougherty
For Mil's Place
9/15/13