I’M STILL IN THE BIG APPLE
COLUMBUS DAY
So what did we do this week? We saw the Columbus Day Parade, which takes place in New York City each year around the middle of October. Fifth Avenue, which runs north to south, was reversed on this day so that everything flowed uphill from about 38th Street to 72nd Street where the reviewing stands were put up.
Marching bands from all over the New York Metropolitan area were joined by a wide variety of participants, including ethnic dancing groups from overseas, the NYPD and NYFD as well as other city agencies, entertainment and media personalities, Mayor DeBlasio of New York City and other politicians to take part in this local and special extravaganza.
We sat among a group of spectators that spoke only Italian and all that we were able to do when they spoke to us was merely to nod our heads in assent. All I can say is that you don’t have to be Italian in order to appreciate the Columbus Day Parade.
SHOMRIM
Before this week we never heard of SHOMRIM, which we learned is a Fraternal Organization of Jewish Police Officers, both active and retired, that was originally established by the NYPD in 1924 when only 1% of its officers were Jewish.
The word means “watchers, guards or protectors” and their function is to honor those law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty as well as those officers whose exemplary services during the years are worthy of merit and to give out scholarships to certain family members of deceased officers. It was a very special occasion that reminded us of those who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving others.
We were invited to this auspicious annual event at Temple Emanuel in New York City by Arnold Wachtel, a retired officer himself.
ON YOUR FEET
When I was a kid, the only exposure that I ever had with regard to Cuban music was that of watching Carmen Miranda in one of her MGM, or was it 20th Century Fox, technicolor musical spectacles. Sure, there have been a number of Cuban musicians and or bands over the years that have made the cut but none like Emilio and Gloria Estefan, otherwise known as “Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine”.
The other night we saw a preview of “On Your Feet”, a rousing Broadway Musical that told the story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan. Their spectacular rise to where they are today did not happen overnight. It was a long, tiring and many times a bumpy road that started out with their humble beginnings as Cuban immigrants.
The play or musical, part drama and a lot of music, a whole lot of music and dancing, is a five star testimony to the American Dream and the American Way of Life. All I can say is, go see it.
What do you know? No politics this week.