The New York big snowstorm was not as big as expected. Large enough to be troublesome, but only minimally so.
Many the snowstorms this 90 year old has experienced. The big ones ran a foot or more. Yesterday’s a mere 4 plus inches in the New York City area. Enough to be troublesome if the City were not ready. The whole State was ready! So 4 inches was nothing. Nor would one foot have been.
New York City experienced its heaviest snowfall in 4 years. That mere 4 inches.
My former home town of Utica experienced lake effect snow. Heavy. A pain to deal with. Not bad yesterday, however. As with New York City, much less than expected. With Utica ready for it, of course. Street falls varied, as were neighborhoods. Some a mere bit, others a few inches.
I suspect not the fun they were years ago when families were stuck home 3-4 days. Fun time. Families got to know each other again.
On the last day or two, many families were able to walk several blocks to a park snow covered hill. Good sized. We brought sleighs and toboggans with us. Up and down the hill. Whooping it up. Followed by cups of steaming hot chocolate at a chalet at the bottom of the hill.
My Father broke his nose on one of the toboggan rides. He was on his knees at the back steering. We hit a bump. Toboggan and its passengers up in the air! My Dad came down with his nose hitting the back edge of the toboggan.
His surgery painful. I still recall standing by his bed following his surgery hurting with him.
Live and learn. The beloved Statue of Liberty began as a monument for Egypt. Plan was to call it “Egypt Carrying the Light to Asia.” A statue of a Muslim woman. It was to be placed at the entrance way of the Suez Canal in Port Said.
However the Egyptian statue was deemed too costly to produce and the Port Said Lighthouse was erected instead.
A second site was decided upon. Its present location in New York City harbor. Its purpose to honor the century old alliance between the U.S. and France, as well as America’s successful effort in abolishing slavery.
I have been to the crown in the Statue of Liberty on two occasions. Once in my youth when my Father took me. As an adult when I took my four children.
Hundred of stairs to climb. Hundreds of people climbing with you. The crown our goal. The hand and torch had been closed years earlier as being unsafe.
The crown has 25 windows. People crushed together to get a window to look through.
The Statue of Liberty was originally copper colored. Lasted 35 years before it began to turn green.
The world’s first commercial movie screening took place this day in 1895 at the Grand Cafe in Paris.
A sport’s first! On this day in 1958, the Baltimore Colts defeated the New York Giants 24-17 in overtime in the NFL Championship Game. A back and forth thriller. Considered the “Greatest Game Ever Played.”
Italy got nailed! The worst European earthquake in recorded European history. Struck the Straight of Messina in Southern Italy. Leveled parts of Messina and Reggio di Calabria on the Italian mainland. This day in 1908. One hundred thousand killed.
America’s first test tube baby was born in Norfolk, Virginia this day in 1981.
Denzel Washington: “You pray for rain, you gotta deal with the mud too. That’s a part of it.”
Attorneys and outdoor billboards. In 2024, attorneys spent an estimated $541 million on outdoor ads. A terrific marketing tactic. Brought their names to an oversaturated market.
Mark Kelly again! My candidate and should be yours also for President in 2028.
Enjoy your last Sunday of the year!