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The Inspired City

We are proud of our city and happy to have people visit.

“Excuse me,” she said hesitantly. “Could you tell me how to get to Third Street?”

She was dressed in a jogging suit and sneakers. Behind her stood a man in a logo sweatshirt of some sort holding a little girl’s hand.

Tourists.

I love tourists. I love the idea that they have come to visit my city and that I can help host them. And I especially love to give directions.

“Are you visiting?” I asked.

“Yes,” she said, “From Omaha.”

“Really? I have a brother-in-law there. Okay. Now did you want Third Street or Third Avenue? There’s a difference. Third Street is pretty far away.”

“Thirty-third and Third,” the man said.

“Okay,” I said, “so you want the avenue. Just head that way two blocks and you’re there.”

The woman smiled. “You must be a native,” she said.

“No, not really,” I laughed, thinking of my own confused early days in Manhattan. “But I’ve lived here longer than I’ve lived anywhere, so I guess that qualifies me as a New Yorker.”

“Thanks!” they all three said at once and were on their way.

And so was I, feeling pretty good about my city. New Yorkers have a reputation for being tough customers, and some are. But we are proud of our city and happy to have people visit. Yes, we’re always in a rush. Yes, it’s a rough-and-tumble place sometimes. But yes, we love it when you visit.

How many of you out there have visited New York?

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