How I fell in love with NYC. Part II

     I suppose that the cars beeping and the ambulance and firetrucks screaming down Broadway.
The people talking, laughing and yelling in three part harmony backed up by the lights everywhere, seemed to pulse along with the insanity that is Manhattan.
It's no wonder it sounded like music to me. The buildings in Mid-Town made me feel so tiny.
The 1960 children's book by George Selden "The Cricket in Times Square" came to mind immediately. Ironically the story is about a cricket from Connecticut (Like me) who ends up in Times Square. The cricket named Chester finds the City overwhelming. During the story chester reveals his musical chirping talent. Such a metaphor for what is to come in my future in the Big City. For now i'm still a young teen with a brand new place to dream about. 
In the coming years my sister Elizabeth, who is 7 years younger than me started modeling and trying out for commercials. I remember one trip into the City she tried out for a Strawberry Shortcake commercial. A character that was very popular in the 80's. My mother would take her to New York City by Metro North and would always ask me if i'd like to join. It certainly didn't take much convincing. Every trip to the City was one more chance at seeing what was like another world to me. After the casting call my mother would always do things like take us to the top of the Empire State Building or some of the other attractions before catching the train back to Bridgeport, Connecticut. In the meantime back home this cricket would learn to play guitar. But never dreamed that someday i would get to Chirp, Just like Chester.......