New York City, just like I pictured it

Took a well-deserved but long overdue trip to New York City. 

It was not only a chance to spend some quality time with my youngest daughter Abby, who works as Producer at Cartel Editing, it was an opportunity to escape the political nightmare that has become the fetid zeitgeist of our age.

It had been 10 years since I last visited the city of my birth. Don’t know why I’ve waited that long other than the fact that I hate flying on planes. I tend to white knuckle from the minute the pilot says to put your phone in Airplane Mode until the reverse thrusters do their thrusting and slow the plane to a safe taxi-ing speed.

Another drawback to being in the Big Apple is the density. It is impossible to escape the masses. Some of whom don't smell daisy fresh.

That’s me on the L Train, before 293 commuters stormed into our car to grab the last inch of handrail real estate. You might have noticed I’m wearing one of my trademark anti-Trump shirts (Are Cankles Fatal?). And while I generally abhor crowds, I must say Gothamites are noticeably more zealous in their appreciation of well hewn wit.

I only had 72 hours in the city that never sleeps. And I was determined to spend that time with Abby. That being the case, I did not have the opportunity to call on lifelong friends, or get upstate, or even catch a second breathe. It’s safe to say we packed 10 day’s worth of activities into 3. I did get to enjoy some latkes and mortgage-worthy bagels and lox at Barney Greengrass with my friend Jim.

It was a lot. 

And I was reminded how much I love “The City”, despite the crowds, the traffic, the non-stop buzz that hums 24 hours a day like a over-aged refrigerator about to blow a compressor.

I won’t wait another ten years to come back to a NYC that is noticeably, cleaner, safer and more presentable than I ever remember it. On the other hand, the hotel just emailed me the bill for my abbreviated trip.

Are they serious?