For all my nuu yawk friends ....

A TRUE NEW YORKER

YOU'RE 35 YEARS OLD AND DON'T HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE.

YOU GET READY TO ORDER DINNER EVERY NIGHT AND MUST CHOOSE
FROM THE MAJOR FOOD GROUPS WHICH ARE: CHINESE, ITALIAN,
MEXICAN OR INDIAN.

YOU RIDE IN A SUBWAY CAR WITH NO AIR CONDITIONING JUST BECAUSE
THERE ARE SEATS AVAILABLE.

YOU TAKE THE TRAIN HOME AND YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHERE ON THE
PLATFORM THE DOORS WILL OPEN THAT WILL LEAVE YOU RIGHT IN
FRONT OF THE EXIT STAIRWAY.

YOU KNOW WHAT A "REGULAR" COFFEE IS.

IT'S NOT 'MANHATTAN' - IT'S THE "CITY".

THERE IS NO NORTH AND SOUTH. IT'S "UPTOWN" OR "DOWNTOWN." IF
YOU'RE REALLY FROM NEW YORK YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO CONCEPT
OF WHERE NORTH AND SOUTH ARE.... (AND EAST OR WEST IS
"CROSSTOWN"!)

YOU CROSS THE STREET ANYWHERE BUT ON THE
CORNERS AND YOU YELL AT CARS FOR NOT RESPECTING YOUR RIGHT
TO DO IT.

YOU MOVE 3,000 MILES AWAY, SPEND 10 YEARS
LEARNING THE LOCAL LANGUAGE AND PEOPLE STILL KNOW YOU'RE
FROM HERE THE MINUTE YOU OPEN YOUR MOUTH.

YOU RETURN AFTER 10 YEARS AND THE FIRST FOOD YOU WANT IS A "REAL" PIZZA.

YOU'RE NOT THE LEAST BIT INTERESTED IN GOING TO TIMES SQUARE
ON NEW YEAR'S EVE.

YOUR INTERNAL CLOCK IS PERMANENTLY SET TO KNOW WHEN ALTERNATE SIDE
OF THE STREET PARKING REGULATIONS ARE IN EFFECT.

YOU KNOW WHAT A BODEGA IS.

SOMEONE BUMPS INTO YOU, AND YOU CHECK FOR YOUR WALLET.

YOU DON'T EVEN NOTICE THE LADY WALKING DOWN THE ROAD HAVING
A PERFECTLY NORMAL CONVERSATION WITH HERSELF.

YOU CRINGE AT HEARING PEOPLE PRONOUNCE HOUSTON ST. LIKE THE CITY IN TEXAS.

THE PRESIDENTIAL VISIT IS A MAJOR TRAFFIC JAM, NOT AN HONOR.

YOU CAN NAP ON THE SUBWAY AND NEVER MISS YOUR STOP.

THE DELI GUY GIVES YOU A STRAW WITH ANY BEVERAGE YOU BUY,
EVEN IF IT'S A BEER.

THAT'S NEW YORK, BABY! YA GOTTA LOVE IT. (AND, IF YOU ARE A TRUE
NEW YORKER, SEND THIS TO
EVERYONE WHO IS LIKE YOU...)

PLUS:
they never run down from talking about New York.
I have a neighbor on each side of me and probably know more that I want to about the city then anyone else I know. I have been there many times and never knew all that I missed.
Now, if that isn't bad enough I have two Brits from UK living across the street. After 8 years I have learned to understand them somewhat, and they claim they speak English
I think the last San Jose Native must have died a few years ago. Everyone is from elsewhere
Bebop

Amen Brother...I'm looking out my office window down on Broadway in Lower Manhattan as I type this. I couldn't agree more with that post and I don't even live in the city.

MAN, I miss that ... another line that could be added is: "You wait for the first warm, springlike day so you can stand outside your office building and watch all the BEAUTIFUL young women walk by, without their heavy winter coats !!!"

... My job relocated to RI 20 years ago, and while we really LOVE it up here, there is NO PLACE like "the city" ...
... had the grandkids down there for the Christmas show at Radio City Music Hall the day after Thanksgiving .. MAGICAL ...

t.