New York City through the eyes of children

The first time we saw New York City was just like the movies. The fortress of lights seemed to run forever. “Wow!” I remember my brother saying. A field separated us from that paradise, and it was too dark to see if it were one we’d be able to cross easily. We pondered ideas of what went on there and what we’d do when we visited. The longer we stared and shared thoughts, the more goosebumps I felt all over.

We had just arrived earlier to the small town of Oyster Creek. Moving from one small town to another was not exciting for two quixotic kids. We were meant for the big city, not some meager boondocks that offered nothing more than swings and seesaws. Entering Oyster Creek, the line of trailer homes and bungalows welcomed us. Unlike our mom who was looking forward to spending the rest of her life with her newly found man, we were more interested where we’d we playing hide and seek and meeting girls. The scenery thus far did not offer hope.

Arriving at our home, romantic thoughts of living some high life ceased immediately. The house that we imagined would be two-story with a pool and privacy fence, ended up being a single story, half-painted home, where unless you were less than five feet, seem to have very low ceilings. A black Labrador greeted us as we stepped out the car. Right then and there, reality hit. We had to grow up one day, and in the spring of 1979, my first dose of growing up occurred—this was our new home and it wasn’t the castle we saw in movies.

What we thought was New York City were the steel towers of the chemical refineries that surrounded us: DOW, BASF, Shintech. In the evening, the towers lit magically, and as kids, one could escape into whatever world they wanted. For us, it was New York City.

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