I have a friend who I've known 36 years.
He and I have similar backgrounds except that he's five years older than I am. We have a lot in common. A latent hippie dead-head type. Married to a delightful and educated woman with the most hippie like name you can imagine. He's been a good friend to me -- his wife also has -- and I hope he feels I've been the same.
He's no idiot. He has a masters and is now retired from teaching after having done so for 28 years.
Well, his wife won a three night all expenses paid trip for two to New York City from Nabisco with a stay at the Marriott Marquise in Times Square. Both these two Tucsonans were crazy excited about coming and visiting here for the first time, and I was excited to show them around, the way that a long time resident/native native would.
I met them in the city on both their mornings and I did.
Sunday: drove in and we cruised around and saw the sights and finally capped the evening off at a pretentious rooftop bar on the Upper West Side named Ink48. It was neither their style but the sunset, the Hudson River and the Mid-Town views were tremendous. You can see Paul Shaffer and his band on this rooftop in the opening sequence of David Letterman's show.
Monday: International Center of Photography, Museum of Modern Art, Museum of Natural History (breezed through all three), The Staten Island Ferry, Grand Central Station and a short beautiful hike through Central Park in the early evening.
Well, at Central Park we did end up doing a real hippie thing. Knowing Francis & Willow's affinity for the outdoors and camping, I suggested we swing by a nearby Duane Reade drugstore and pick up some tall boys and head into the park and do some people watch.
Although it may have been on a Monday late-afternoon/early-evening it wasn't really an overall the best of suggestions or idea.
Hello NYPD cop on a bicycle!
We could not have been approached by a more cordial, friendly, professional, astute, and understanding New York City law enforcement officer.
With an ear-bud in his left NYPD: Flellahs, Id's please. You from out of town? (two AZ drivers licenses one New Jersey). Me: They are my guests, officer. NYPD: I can divide the infraction with three summonses or just gently tag one of you. Me: I will take responsibility for this excess. Please tag me with the ticket. As he writes the ticket, Francis and I continue to discuss his nephew who writes for a D.C. based political magazine. NYPD: What's the weather like in Arizona right now? Francis: It was 110 degrees at noon today. NYPD: I can't imagine that around here. Me: 110 around here will disable mass transit and the rest of the city. NYPD: It would disable me for sure. Francis: Sooo, do we have to dump our beers? NYPD: No, you can drink them if you want to. If another cop does drop by, just show them this ticket. Francis: What about the cigarette I'm smoking (next to a no smoking sign!). NYPD: That's still up in the air. The force is not enforcing that tentative legislation for The Park at this time. Littering with the butts we will. NYPD: He rips ticket and hands it to me. "Wait a week so that my booklet makes accounting then submit your payment sir. Me: (Although NYPD appeared to be 25, I hate being called sir) Thank you.
We finished last Monday by heading back to the Marriott and getting loaded on tequila and Yuengling in their hotel room before I took the train back home.
I called Francis today to see if they got back home well and good and he said it's all well.
Me: Dude! Can't possibly be an adventure in NYC without getting busted by the NYPD!
Francis: Amen "hermano!"
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