Thursday, October 20, 2011

East Side,West Side, All Around The Town......

   As I write my wife and I have just returned from
a bus excursion with two very dear friends to NYC!
   We went to see a play. Which, by the way, was
excellent!
    But we also had time to brave an all day rain as
we walked about town before and after the
performance.
     I've heard that New York City is very very safe
these days and it's easy to see why.
     During our evening visit to a Deli we're come
to enjoy we sat just about ten feet away from a
table where a half dozen of the city's  "finest" had
gathered to eat and chat. We were trying to kill
some time before our bus pick up so we had time
to waste. It would appear they did too!
      Outside the Deli window, three police cruisers
and a like number of officers looked like they
were guarding the curb. They must have been
doing a good job because nothing happened at
that curb during our stay.
       In fact we didn't "see" any crime at all. The
key word here is "see." New York has a noise
ordinance that prohibits drivers from sounding
their horns. It isn't working!!!!!!! You couldn't
walk a block without hearing the sound of
cabs and limos blasting their horns at the
slightest hint of any delay.
       We did learn, during a previous visit, that
you can't always count on getting directions from
at officer in the busy area between Times Square
and the shops along 5th Avenue.
      In order to show a police presence there the
city brings in officers from other parts of the
community on overtime pay. Many of them know
less about how to get to a particular store or
attraction than the tourists.
      Speaking of stores...you ought to see the
size of some of the securing people watching
the doors!
      And they do keep a sharp eye!
      One held the door for my wife and my buddy's
wife as they approached. Unfortunately he held
it shut!
      I guess their garb, a rain poncho on one, rain
boots on the other, didn't meet the "apparel code"
for the establishment.
     Ironically, they had no problem walking into
Tiffany's and were even invited upstairs!
    A live "Toy Soldier" greeted all of us at the
FAO Schwartz Toy Store. I even got a salute
as I wandered into the place where everybody
gets a chance to be a kid again!
    Another "unusual" observation.
    Have you even see a U.S. Mail Police Car
rolling down the streets with it's red lights
flashing?  It was a first for me!
    Initially I thought he might have been
chasing down somebody who tried to mail
a letter without a stamp. Then I noticed the
Mail Truck just ahead of him and realized it
as probably an official escort for some
very important mail....or payroll!?
    We could have used a security guard on are
bus or, perhaps, to accompany one older
gentleman  who just wasn't there when it was
time to leave.
    Our driver elected to wait longer than
usual and it paid off......at least for the guy
who finally made his way back to the bus.
    Then...he almost missed getting off at
his stop in Scranton!
    What a day!!!! For all of us!
    An old TV story used to end with the
phrase..."There are Eight Million
Stories in the Naked City."
    Yesterday I saw at least eight of them!
    Hope you'll visit sometime and that all
your NEWS is good!

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