Almost Heaven, Mayor Koch

I really want to see this.

Though I've never lived in NYC, I've spent at least 20 years of my career working in offices there. So I've always felt a connection to the mayors of New York. An ownership, if you will. They were, and are, my mayors, too.

I liked Mayor Guiliani when his young son misbehaved during his dad's speech. How human. I loved him for his strength after September 11, when he urged New Yorkers to get back to work and not let the terrorists win. He swiftly became "America's Mayor" in the face of that nightmare.

I've loved Mayor Bloomberg ever since I saw him riding the subway with his aides on my commute home one day. I like his intelligence, his authoritative pronouncements ["You are safer here tonight than you would be on the streets of any other city in the world"] and big-hearted, big-picture view as a moneyed man.

Mayor Ed Koch......I saw him in person once, at a John Denver concert with Moey on a Saturday night @ Radio City Music Hall in the 1980s. There he was, tall, very tall, and looking exhilarated to be recognized as he stepped into [or was it out of?] his special seating section up high. I liked his longevity in office--liked that New Yorkers loved him so much, they elected him for three terms. He was outspoken, colorful and commanding. He would take care of us.

They are all my mayors, because I spent so much time in their city, walking their streets, seeing their homeless, shopping their stores, waiting on line in their post offices. If the subway fare went up, it mattered to me, too. If my city was safer, it was thanks to them. And because Sis lived in the city and I stayed at her place often, I guess I felt I had even more of a stake.

Mayor Koch was larger than life, which was my first and only impression when I saw him in person. I was sorry to see him go on Friday. And am eager to see the documentary "Koch."

Good night.

Almost heaven, West Virginia
Blue Ridge Mountains
Shenandoah River -
Life is old there
Older than the trees
Younger than the mountains
Growin' like a breeze
Country Roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads    --John Denver

 TCOY

1. Good tooth care.
2. Lunch with my lifelong girlfriends, Moey and Lorraine.
3. H. and I walked Sug in the snow.
4. Nap.