Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Quickie - The Big Apple, circa 1972

Hope you all are having a wonderful day, after the big celebrations last night!

With little else to talk about, this post is regarding the past...namely, back to December 1972.  My gosh, from December 1972 to the present is now 41 years....time sure flies when you're having fun!

Back then, my new employer "treated" me to a 2 month stint in the Big Apple, as a participant in an On-The-Job training program for my new job.  Hotel room cost and transportation to and from NYC were covered by the company, but meals had to be kept within a very small (by NYC standards) per-diem, or I had to pay the overage.  I managed to get by, but learned quickly the menus of all the delicatessens and cheap restaurants in the vicinity of the south end of Central Park.  

Training was boring and repetitive, but I sure did have fun sightseeing... 


Those of you from the NYC vicinity can probably recognize what memory says (not absolutely certain though)  is the long shadow cast by the Empire State Building in the low December sun, taken from the observation platform. 


How'd a dude get his picture into this blog?????

Who's rhe dude?????   OK, OK - it's me!   I don't recall who took the picture (with the Empire State Building in the background)  unless it was another visitor, or the guard.  At that time, my camera was one of the old film-cartridge-and-flashcube-using Instamatics (you youngsters probably don't remember them), without a self-timer or tripod socket.  And, I wasn't out and about with anyone.  Guess that's going to forever remain a mystery!

I had experimented with female clothes in my younger days (Mom's things of course,  whenever she wasn't around),  and the internet, as we know it today, wasn't even a gleam in Al Gore's eye back in 1972.  The Arpanet (from 1969 till its lights went out in mid-1990) was sputtering along, and I had absolutely no computer knowledge, access or equipment.  Thus, the above picture was taken well before I knew about my transgender tendencies, or even what transgender was.  Needless to say, I looked (and mostly acted) like a dude, and didn't (yet) wear dresses, makeup or the like.  


When I found the above picture in my archives,  showing both towers of the original World Trade Center under construction, it brought back lots of memories of 9/11/2001.

At home on that fateful day, my wife was supervising the installation of our lawn sprinkler system, and at work, several of us heard about it from others by phone.  While maintaining a semblance of work output, we found time to stand in a co-worker's office, watching the telly as the carnage unfolded and the plane flew into the other WTC tower.   We all were saying prayers for everyone in harm's way.

As I saw the above pic again, after having forgotten about it for all these years, I couldn't help saying more prayers for all those families whose lives were up-ended, and who continue to suffer to this day...  And I pray that nobody else has to experience such horror.


At least something hasn't changed on the NYC skyline...

Hope everyone enjoys the rest of their day, as well as a very Happy New Year...

4 comments:

  1. Mandy -

    NYC is a great place to visit, isn't it?

    Looking at pictures of you shot earlier last year, may I suggest getting your hair styled like a woman? That'll be the next step you can take towards femininity. It would greatly help your appearance - and you could share the experience of getting your hair done at the same time as your wife in the salon....

    M

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    1. Marian,

      NYC definitely is a fun place to visit...though for safety reasons, I wouldn't go "now" to some of the places alone, that I did back "then" in '72. I have some more pix I may post in the future...

      You are correct about getting my hair styled in a more feminine way being a good move. But my wife has given me her thoughts on that a number of times...and it wasn't what I wanted to hear! Maybe if I could find a picture in one of the hairstyle magazines that's androgynous, she'd buy into it and then my stylist could make sure it can be combed "girl or guy" depending on my presentation. I plan to start looking....

      As far as getting our hair styled together...that's something I can only wish for. She uses a different salon (in town) while I go to one 20 miles away. And she only goes twice a year for a trim, whether she needs it or not. Spring and Fall. So for now, that kind of togetherness is only "in my dreams!"

      Mandy

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  2. Mandy,
    Great photos of NYC. For over two decades I worked near Grand Central Terminal in the shadow of the Chrysler Building. I could look out my window and see the hubcaps decorating the upper floors as well as the replica hood ornaments that adorned the parapet corners. The Chrysler Building is truly a beautiful piece of architecture. We are the Empire State Building and that is a great shot of the shadow that it cases. I think the photo of you may have been taken from the GE building looking south.

    I was very moved by the photos of the World Trade Towers during construction. It is hard to believe that was 41 years ago. It is sadder to recall their demise on 9/11/01. I lost a cousin that day and some acquaintances as well. I was driving down to the city when I heard the first report of a plane striking the North tower. I parked in the Bronx and hopped a subway bot only got as far as 42nd Street. It was a terrible day.

    I love Lady Liberty.

    Pax.
    Pat

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    1. Thanks for the kind words on the photos...I have more from my trip, may publish in a future post.

      I looked closer at the photo of me...the sign on the pillar I'm leaning on says it's the "Rockefeller Center Observation Roof." So I guess that narrows it down as to location. Wonder if it's still as "open" as it was back then, or if they've enclosed it with a chain link fence to keep objects (or people) from being dispatched off of it??? I'll enlarge the pic a bit in the blog for you.

      Yes, 9/11/01 was a bad day for America. Pray for no repeats...

      Mandy


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