Friday, November 18, 2016

City Views, Country Dreams

Good evening from New York.

I've delayed attempting a new post because this has been a tough week.  It seems longer than ten days since our Election Day.

I cannot believe that Donald Trump will be sworn in as President of the United States of America in January.  I am 71 years old.  When I was 18 and in my first year of college just about this time of the year, President Kennedy was assassinated.  Classes were cancelled and we were allowed to leave for an early Thanksgiving vacation.  Thanks were given for different reasons at different family dinners.  My parents were not Kennedy fans.

I remember Nixon, the Vietnam War.  I remember being amazed that Reagan could be elected President, and then that he dismantled the union movement in this country.  What I mean to indicate is that I have seen a series of historic changes.

I remember growing up in the segregated south.  I remember being in college before I actually met a black person as a classmate.  My private college allowed black students to enroll in order to have Federal funds help to renovate the Library building.  The funding laws had been changed.

Starting back in the Nixon years, I volunteered on many political campaigns, and my recollection is that the candidates I supported lost, but I continued to volunteer in other years.

I remember being disappointed by President Clinton, and not voting for him in his re-election attempt.  I voted for a third party candidate.  The second President Bush took office, and I took part in anti-war marches, not that different from those I participated in back in the Vietnam years.  I remember many things, and try as I might, I cannot stop being a news junkie.  Lots of "I" this and that in this post, but these are my memories.

I was glad to be able cast my vote electing President Obama.  

This year was difficult.  I am not a fan of Hillary Clinton, but felt that Donald Trump was and is beyond the pale.  And now, he will become President.

Over on my Instagram page I have posted my first ever video that shows folks passing through the underground passageways of the Union Square subway station where a spontaneous conceptual art project has taken off.  Anyone can leave a post-it sticker message about the election.  It is true freedom of speech.  Write and stick whatever you wish.


Those of us who were living here when 9/11 took place remember all sorts of messages being left around the city from friends and relatives seeking information about the whereabouts of their friends or relatives feared to have perished in the terror attack.


The visual appearance of these subway messages reminds me of those days, even though the messages are coming from very different impulses.  The earlier messages were and these are very moving.


The farmers market continues to offer autumn harvested bounty to us city dwellers.  Life's routines continue.  We hug friends, get flu shots, meet for coffee, bundle up on chilly days. select our favorite apples, dark green leafy vegetables and pretty potted plants.


Meanwhile, I keep on painting my Christmas cards and finishing complicated knitting projects and reading borrowed library books.  And...I keep tuned into news reports, hoping that there might be some sort of glimmer from the President Elect suggesting that he might want to throw a bone to those who did not vote for him.  That bone has not yet been tossed.

Today I took a long walk diagonally across Central Park to Fifth Avenue and 57th Street.  The weather was lovely.  My favorite luxury shop had a giveaway with purchase offer at a cosmetics counter I favor.  


Just across 57th Street from the shop is where the week's news has centered.  There have been numerous protests at street level, and many floors above, the President Elect has been making news by the process he has chosen to select people to fill his Cabinet.  The 56th Street block between Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue is closed to traffic.


The 57th Street intersection is a very busy one, particularly as the Christmas, or holiday as many deem it here, season arrives.  Many tourists are in the City to enjoy next Thursday's Thanksgiving Holiday.  Fifth Avenue is not a wide avenue.  Currently, police are everywhere, news trucks and news camera crews are everywhere.  Barricades extend beyond the boundaries of the sidewalks taking up two lanes of street.  Pedestrian and vehicular traffic moves very, very slowly, even when there is no ongoing demonstration.


The sound of an ambulance siren is different from that of a police car or a fire truck.  While I was briefly in this area, I did not witness any such emergency vehicle trying to make its way along Fifth Avenue.  I did notice that the many various NYC buses whose route includes Fifth Avenue did seem to be few and far between.


Yesterday, the Mayor met with the President Elect to try to work out some way to make this area safe for all.  It is unclear whether the President Elect has chosen to actually live full time at the White House, or whether he prefers to commute between DC and NYC.


The President Elect and his family, including the grown children involved in his campaign and the family business, are spending the weekend at a Trump golf club in New Jersey.


After taking these few photographs to give you all an idea of the scene, I walked home, passing by yet another Trump property (in name anyway...I don't know if he actually still owns this building) where opportunity knocks.  The building is at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Central Park South.  The former tenant was Whiskey Bar.

Thank you all for visiting here and for your comments.  I hope to be a little more cheery in my next post.

55 comments:

  1. Very interesting and heartfelt post.
    I also have done many of the same things you have. I think there are many reasons both parties lost and they did, big time.
    I am planning a post myself but I have to write in small bits and pieces so I can make sense and people can read and understand.
    As always your photos are wonderful.
    Please have a lovely weekend. Fall is finally here in Tucson and I keep going out to smell the air.

    cheers, parsnip

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    1. Thank you, Parsnip. I do know what you mean about waiting a bit and taking your time to write. I expect that we will have many opportunities to think and write about in the coming years...including lots that does not involve Mr Trump. It's another beautiful day here today...another day made for walking. xo

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  2. Thanks again for your thoughts and views on life in NY . I hope life goes on as usual and the holidays ahead are full of joy

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    1. I appreciate your comment. This post just focused on one small area of this large city. We definitely still have much for which we can be thankful!

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  3. Enjoy your coming Thanksgiving. I hope that a light will shine in your head soon and you will see good things in the world and particularly in your city and you will be able to turn that corner and turn that page over. x

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    1. Not to worry Rachel. I can see all sorts of good things in the world, and love NYC. I am thankful for so much, including blog friends like you. xo

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  4. It is a strange and scary world we live in. I am not American but I share your thoughts on the two (then) candidates. It may have been America's choice, but it impacts all of us, every person on the planet, every animal on the planet. Just read about what happened when Mike Pence attended the Hamilton performance. True freedom of speech, a great speech by the cast.

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    1. Thanks Phyllis! I did see coverage of the speech made at the end of the Hamilton performance last night. (Perhaps you saw some of my posts from last summer about my watching the Hamilton softball team play over in Central Park's Broadway show league?)
      Please visit and comment again.

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  5. Another fascinating post, Frances. I have not met anyone in our locality here in UK who can understand the reasons for DT becoming president. In the Telegraph this week was a photo of him and family 'at home'. Gold plated everything, conspicuous consumption at its worst.
    The patchwork effect of the message walls is very intense, and I imagine makes for interesting reading if one has the time.

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    1. Elizabeth, our country has been quite divided for some time, and Mr Trump appealed to that division. Soon he will be President of all Americans. We wait to see how his actions match his words. xo

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  6. As always, your reports from the ground in NY make interesting reading. Following the internet news reports in final 2 weeks of the campaign and after the FBI announced their email investigation, my thoughts were - he's going to win this. I hoped I was wrong but waking at 3am on your election results day it was clear DT was going to be president. What a seismic shift of a year it's been on both sides of the Atlantic. Will it be as bad as feared? Will we ride out the rough patches and be resolved to make things better?
    Keep reporting from the streets - it's a view we don't get in mainstream media.
    xx

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    1. Thanks Celia. Yes, the FBI Director did influence the election, but it's possible that Mr Trump would have won even without that email announcement. The country is quite divided. My crystal ball is very unclear.
      Promise to keep up my reports, but keep in mind that NYC is very different from the rest of the United States. xo

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  7. Oh, dearest Frances, like so many New Yorkers, I'm wandering round in a state of dazed grief and misery.
    Your post captures so much of what is changing in our lovely dynamic city. This is a disaster of epic proportions. I'm glad I'm old - I only fear for the young people. COURAGE!

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    1. Elizabeth, every day since the election seems to bring something startling. Yesterday's good news was Mr Trump's decision to settle the NY State fraud suit with respect to "Trump University." Remember, Mr Trump doesn't like to settle; he likes to win.
      See you soon. xo

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  8. H.I. took advantage of the low Clinique prices when shopping in New York and bought a huge bottle of fluid which she would not be able to take back on the plane now.

    I see that Trump has finally agreed to pay back $millions to all the foolish students who enrolled in his property development 'university'!

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    1. The last time I was flying back from Heathrow, I was actually pulled out of the security line for an extra examination of my giant hand bag because I'd forgotten that I had a tube of Boots hand cream ...hadn't put it in the sealed clear plastic bag.

      Yesterday's $25,000,000 settlement is just the suit brought by the NY State Attorney General. There are other similar cases pending in California.

      Ever since the 56th Street block between Fifth and Madison Avenues has been closed to vehicular traffic, NYC Sanitation Dept trucks have not been able to collect garbage. Piles of black plastic bags are accumulating on the sidewalks. Small businesses along that block are suffering. I saw a restaurant manager interviewed and he was worried that his restaurant might not be able to stay in business. Perhaps Mr Trump will be able to help the restaurant out? Shop locally and all that.

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  9. Dearest Frances, I just want to give you a virtual hug (don't know if you want that ;-) ) and offer you my preferred mug with some comforting Yorkshire tea saying: "keep calm and carry on".
    We have no Trump here but a useless Belgian government who is not doing anything about the threatening nuclear meltdown in our 2 totally outdated power stations. Going outside now and let the wind blow through my brain....

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    1. Bayou, I appreciate the virtual hug and mug loan. It is indeed a very interesting time all over the world. xo

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  10. Frances, what a heartfelt entry. As a child, I made several trips to Washington DC. We just walked up to the White House and took the tour. It was, and the memories are still magical. The rooms were where great decisions were made. Foreign leaders entertained, and all past and previous President's and their familes have lived. My children were school age and President Reagan was making a quick visit through Columbia, Missouri. My husband and I took the children out of school so they and we could see the motorcade with President Reagan in it. I got chills. I love our country and want us to continue to prosper for all. I throughly enjoy your photos.

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    1. Thank you, Gabrielle. This post was heartfelt, and I really appreciate your recognizing that. I look forward to seeing you here again.

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    2. Your welcome Frances. I, too, look forward to returning. Happy Thanksgiving 🦃

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  11. I too am disappointed. I understand the frustration with our government because I feel that frustration too, but I honestly don't see how the president elect improves the situation. However, I have great faith in our system of government and the balance built into it by our founders. Time will tell. All embarrassments fade with time.

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    1. Oh Karen, like you, I am trying to remain hopeful. What you mention about the balance has historically been helpful. Right now, I am wondering a bit about an emerging imbalance.

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  12. A really interesting post.Wouldn't Michelle Obama have made a great president?What with Brexit here in the UK,Donald Trump and maybe France changing as well.Is there any truth in the rumour that California may go on its own?

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    1. It was always folks in the large state of Texas who wanted to break away. And yet, Texas is still a part of the United States.

      I think that Michelle Obama is very good at writing and delivering speeches, but I have always had the impression that she really doesn't like politics too much.
      The Obama family does plan to live in Washington, DC after Mr Trump is sworn in to office. That might prove interesting. xo

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  13. I thought as time passed that I would get over DT, but I am still in shock it seems. Just can't believe it. I wonder how his followers feel about his backtracking on promises already? I think he is proving himself to be the leader he's going to be by the appointments he is making. Such an embarrassment for our country.

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    1. Many more rivers to cross, Donna. xo

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    2. Donna,HE hasn't reneged on anything, those are just the usual lies coming from the left stream media. They have lied all throughout this election cycle and never learned a thing from it. Perhaps it would be a good idea to read some alternative media once in a while, and get both sides of the story.

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  14. What a courageous post Frances. Thank you for sharing some of your personal moments, and for protesting as you did about the wrongs human kind are able to inflict upon each other...
    And thank you also for reminding me that flowers still bloom, apples still grow. I am reminded of a wonderful quote from the Film The First Great Exotic Marigold Hotel ( I know that I have gotten this title wrong) which goes: it will be alright in the end, and it it's not alright, its not the end.
    I wish you a peaceful Thanksgiving. People around the world are thinking of all Americans right now
    Siobhan

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    1. Siobhan, I loved that line from the movie, and have often quoted it myself. Thank you so much for reminding me. I appreciate your comment very much.

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  15. Frances, this has been such a contentious election and I don't recall another that has aroused such strong feelings. It is particularly difficult given that Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by such a large number. However, as in the UK, that is the system. The difference for us here with Brexit is that it wasn't an election, it was a referendum and is advisory and yet it still seems to be ploughing ahead.

    Both in the US and the UK, time will tell where all this is leading us and we can only hope that it will be alright in the end.

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    1. Marianne, I am still keeping a close eye on what develops day by day. Mr Trump may say something in the morning and say the opposite in the afternoon.

      At the same time, I continue to also find ways to enjoy each day that I am given. xo

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  16. Frances - I cannot even bring myself to log on to Facebook at all or to read much of the news since the election. I am in emotional despair over the outcome of this election. I cannot see a way forward for the US when a person so hate-filled has been elected.

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    1. Wilma, I am so glad to see your comment, particularly when I know your vantage point.

      We are entering into a very new situation, a true test to capitalism and democracy. Everything so far since the evening of November 8 seems unreal.

      I am taking refuge in my creative attempts and in enjoying the company of my friends. Here in the city and in blogland. xo

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  17. I live on the other side of the Atlantic and I have watched the election campaign with disbelief and an increasing amount of worry, especially as the result came through. I am so sad that the world has come to this. Thank you for this thoughtful post.

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    1. Thank you, Givi, for your comment. None of us truly know what the next years will bring. We can only guess that we are living in interesting times. Best wishes.

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  18. Thanks for your blogpost about the situation in the USA an NYC these days. I saw the picture with the post-its in the underground and I was realy touched by it. Such a simple way to express how people feel and the whole wall full with the post-its is very impressive. Also very special to read about your history and that of America. Nobody knows wat the future will brings to the world. We can only hope for the best. Best wishes

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    1. Jolanda, I appreciate your words so much. It is indeed very difficult to predict the future lay of the land. It's important to remember that we all can participate...not just be spectators. xo

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  19. Dear Frances, it is quite understandable that you would feel gloomy during such changing times. It is hard to imagine anyone would want to vote for Donald Trump no matter who the alternate was... But they obviously did. I keep hoping he won't turn out as bad as we all imagine. Stay hopeful dear friend xx

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    1. In my wide circle of friends, family and acquaintances, I actually know of people who voted for the President Elect.
      I will stay hopeful and curious, and not a passive observer. xo

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  20. Familiar streets now but such a different atmosphere to that of just a few weeks ago. How extraordinary this all is. Thank you for posting this piece. On a lighter note I too had my lovely Aesop hand cream confiscated at the airport. I thought because the tube was rolled up it would be obvious that there was little more than 100ml in it but no. Into the bin it went.

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    1. You are so right, Lucille. Extra extraordinary.

      Sorry about that Aesop hand cream...it is lovely stuff.

      Do look for an email from me. xo

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  21. Obama has just confirmed my thoughts, that Trump won't be able to push through his wacky policies. He might be able to dilute them considerably, but that's about it. I'm more worried about Marine Le Pen here in France.

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    1. Yes, I've also seen that report on President Obama's words. The Republican Party was able to block most of President Obama's legislation, but the President does have some executive powers that can be exercised without Congressional legislation. Mr Trump will arrive in office with Republican majorities in both Congressional houses (many of whom do like his ideas.) Several of Mr Trump's controversial appointees will not require Congressional approval.
      I do appreciate your comforting words, but it's still very early days. Marine Le Pen and her followers are also to be worried about.
      Best wishes.

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  22. Frances, I am sorry to see so many folks on this post disheartened by the election. I was just as depressed when Obama won the presidency the first time around, but I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt in the hopes that he would be a good president, despite all that I knew about him. When he continually failed this country, by issuing one executive action after another, the Obamacare fiasco and foreign policy disasters , I was flabbergasted that he could be elected a second time around. SO, although I feel your pain... I just don't happen to agree with your conclusions. I do respect your right to reach them. Those who are rioting and acting out, as if we were some kind of Banana Republic, are a disgrace to the rule of law, the right wing did not behave this way after 2012 . The election was free and fair. I think it's time to stop arguing about this, accept the reality and give the man a chance to do his job.

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    1. Time will tell, Jeri. I appreciate your comment.

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    2. The depressing thing is that the election was free and, I assume, fair. That so many people, regardless of Democrat or Republican, feel so disenfranchised that they would vote for a racist, xenophobic, homophobic misogynist, is a complete mystery to me. I thought Brexit was bad enough, but I feel very fearful for the world now that Donald Trump is President-elect.

      And as far as i'm concerned peaceful protest is a good thing, which you may rbe thankful for once the enormity of what has happened sinks in.

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  23. An interesting post, thank you for sharing photos of the area.

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    1. Thank you. I was myself interested to see how that particular part of Fifth Avenue was getting along.

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  24. I loved reading your post Frances, it took me straight to the heart of Manhattan, which is always interesting but especially so now. Also the street art - truly wonderful.

    I also remember how avidly certain freedoms were fought for - women, people of colour, LGBT etc - and what disturbs me most is how many of these will now be eroded or completely eradicated.

    Sending love and wishing you a peaceful Thanksgiving xox

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    1. Dear Jane, thank you so much for both of your comments, which are greatly appreciated.

      Lots of folks didn't vote. Hillary Clinton received many more votes than Donald Trump, but the electoral college system is what determines the victor. What this means is that the President Elect received votes from a small proportion of those eligible to vote. That is another sad fact.

      It has been about 100 days since Mr Trump held a press conference.

      Thanks so much for your kind Thanksgiving wishes. xo

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  25. A very interesting post, so many shocks and dramas we have lived through in the past which you recall here. Your calm measured voice here makes me feel we agree on many things. As you also say, time will tell. I enjoy walking around NYC with you and absorbing the atmosphere. I hope things improve though and you begin to feel more cheerful.....if that is possible. In the meantime I send you love and a big hug X
    Helen xox

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    1. Helen, as I keep myself busy deep into Santa's workshop, making gifts for folks, I transcend many unpleasant thoughts.
      Truly, I love this time of the year! I would definitely recommend folks who might not ever have visited your sight to pop over there to find their spirits raised. xo

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  26. I am so glad to read your comments from NYC and to see photos to have a better picture of the NYC scene. It must be a beast there right now. It is hard to be hopeful, but I suppose we must.
    Reader from VA

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    1. Thank you for visiting and commenting. Please stop by again.

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