I've always thought my life is a
movie and that I have the soundtrack to prove it.
Okay, maybe not original score, but
definitely in the same vein as Quentin Tarantino who uses old pieces for
scoring his movies.
My first visit to New York was for a
job interview in 2006. At the time, I hadn't boarded a plane in eight years and
the stories of airport ordeals of post-9/11 terrified me, but the excitement to
visit The Big Apple proved enough to overcome the worries. I prepared for the
trip itself as much as for the interview. I believe what Aerosmith says that
"life's a journey, not a destination."
The schedule called for a change of
flight in Miami where I also had to go through immigration. Big mistake.Huge.
The line snaked about a mile long, and then the guy in front of me had some sort
of problem that necessitated the officer to call his supervisor. When I finally
arrived to the gate, they were screaming my name in the P.A. and I was the last
one to board plane and get the annoyed, some dirty, looks from passengers and
crew.
I did not let my old but trusted
portable CD-player embarrass me when I saw the plane practically flooded with
iPods. When the Captain announced we were approaching JFK airport, I turned on
my seat so fast I scared the lady sitting next to me. I switched CD's, skipped
three tracks until I heard what I wanted. I sat back and relaxed. The plane
landed while I listened to Frank's anthem to the city that doesn't sleep.
Cliché? Perhaps, but I'd do it again.
After the job interview, I had some
time off and went sight-seeing.
I walked from Grand Central Station
all the way to the Intrepid Museum
on 12th Ave. I was surprised to see the streets empty and not
crowded as you see them in the movies until I realized I was one of the few
people foolish enough to walk in the middle of a snow storm in early March. But
hey, it was my first time with snow too.
A quick visit to Madame Tussauds wax museum
boosted my ego when I discovered I was taller than all the Hollywood stars
except for Harrison Ford. Well, I'll hold the claim on George Clooney as his
statue was sitting down.
The cold weather played a part when
I had to choose between Empire State Building
and Central Park. No regrets as I visited Central Park the next trip during
early Fall. It was picture perfect!
One thing I never found out was why
they call it The Big Apple. Whenever I asked people just looked weird at me.
In FIREFALL, the
main character is a member of the FDNY, although he then has to move to Dallas.
And of course, what better city than NYC to make the introduction of my
character, the thief The Falcon in TREASURE
HUNT, here is the opening paragraph:
Frank Sinatra heralded New York as “a city that
doesn’t sleep.” There wasn’t a more accurate description of the Big Apple as
far as Falcon was concerned. Even in the wee hours of the night, one could
always find businesses running, factories producing, convenience stores open,
people working the graveyard shift. Overall, New York was a city of contrast,
people struggling to survive rather than to live happy lives. With over twelve
million souls in the city, it was easy to disappear, to blend in. One could walk
the streets without risk of being found—assuming that the other side was not
looking too hard anyway.
So you see, to me New York City has
a charm, a glamour you can't find elsewhere.
