More Proud New Yorker

You just can't take the New York out of a New Yorker. Even though I am in Texas for 7+ years, I still relate to all of this. Even though I want to retire on 100's of acres of pasture with livestock and horses, I will never completely lose those things that make me a proud New Yorker. I may lose the accent, but I'll never lose the attitude (or the ability to tell the difference between all of the Ray's Pizzas).

PERHAPS ONLY THOSE WHO GREW UP IN NEW YORK WILL UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF THIS:

There is no NORTH or 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 & WEST are 'CROSS-TOWN'.

It's NOT Manhattan..... it's 'THE CITY'.

You're 35 years old... and you don't have a driver's license!

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 cross the street anywhere but on the corner, 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 Brooklyn, Long Island or The Bronx the minute you open your mouth.

You return, after 10 years, and the first foods you want are a 'REAL' pizza and a 'REAL' bagel.

You know the difference between all the different 'RAY'S PIZZAS'.

Your wouldn't bother ordering pizza in any other city.

You know what 'REGLAR COFFEE' is.

You know what a BODEGA is.

You get ready to order dinner every night and must choose from the major food groups, which are: CHINESE, ITALIAN, MEXICAN or INDIAN.

A 500-sq-ft apartment is LARGE.

You are not under the mistaken impression that any human being would be able to actually understand a P.A. announcement on the subway.

You can nap on the subway and never miss stop.

You're not the least bit interested in going to Time Square on New Year's Eve.

Someone bumps into you and you check for your wallet.

Your internal clock is permanently set to know when ALTERNATE-SIDE-OF-THE-STREET parking regulations are in effect.

You pay ONLY $230 a month to park your car.

You cringe at hearing people pronounce Houston Street like the city in Texas.

You don't even notice the lady walking down the road having a perfectly normal conversation with herself.

Presidential visits are a major traffic jam, NOT an honor.

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!!!

SL