Amazing stories! I love the idea of you just hopping on a plane and going to New York. I was there around the same time, Williamsburg and working at a tv company in Manhattan
I was, like 18. I was just blown away, really. Late '80s I was there. I remember looking for the subway station and asking some lads who were sitting on a bunch of steps directions and they kindly showed me to the subway stop. Turns out they were a group of Hispanic gang members. They were nice to me and I said hello every morning, which they found hilarious.
This is wild, Francis! I grew up outside of NYC in the 80s, but I was far too young for the coke scene ;-) Love your storytelling. Can't wait to read more of your younger years
What a thrilling time to be in NY Francis. Coincidently, my husband was working there in 94 and tells similar wild stories. Look how fabulous you looked (and still do) Beaut! X
Aww thanks Sharon , I’m getting a lot of that, re my old pics, making me feel crap about how I must have aged 🤣. That’s great your husband also had fab experiences 😊
What a story! There are so many more details I would've loved to hear, you could have gone into loads more detail and I would have hung on every word. It's so interesting the way you've described NYC. Around that time, mid-late 80s, NYC had the image of a cocaine and crime-riddled place full of either hotshot bankers or muggers. I remember being terrified of visiting NYC and then the AIDs epidemic was scaring the bejesus out of us and we (my classmates) all thought NYC was the most dangerous city on earth. It cleaned itself up a lot in the 90s.
A great book that captures some of the spirit of that time - Bonfire of the Vanities, Tom Wolfe. Your post made me think of that a bit.
You were such a rebel, hanging out with all those older people, underage drinking 😂
Thanks Daniel, I could have written so much more !!! I honestly could have, in fact I did and chopped a lot out! But I still have more stories of that time but felt that was enough. Maybe I’ll tell my Canadian story ? I really was a bit of reprobate 🤦🏻♀️🤣🤣
Wow, what a brave thing to do at 16 and an intense experience to have. I was 22 years old the first time I visited New York City for more than a few hours of tourist exploring. Even then ,it was overwhelming. I stayed with friends who were working as Teach for America teachers in Harlem. Sometimes I rode my bike into lower Manhattan. I was always amazed to survive the ride. I made my friends go to CBGBs with me ... this was after its punk rock heyday and it seemed a seedy place for this naive former Mormon girl. That was the only time I tried something resembling clubbing in New York.
Thanks Jill, I think you’re brave , all that you do ! I just wanted to escape, one crazy place for another 🤦🏻♀️ I can imagine New York, like London, being very overwhelming if you’re not used to it.
I do dream of peace, calm, serenity , sweeping mountainous / country views. One day 🙏🏼 thank you for reading and commenting Jill 😊
My whole life could be a movie 🤦🏻♀️🤣 including my crazy dating stories 😆 really capped at 2 !! The are lethal , but so goooooddddd. Are they really a thing over here? Not had one since leaving the States.
Thanks Diane, yep ! How I had the strength ! I’ve no idea 🤣 those muscle guys behind were off their head on weed !! Most got thrown out the boat 🤣 but not me !! I loved it.
That was fascinating - my sister was an au pair in America at around the same age as you, but in Salt Lake City. Being that's Mormon country I think it's fair to say her experiences were a little tamer!
Amazing stories! I love the idea of you just hopping on a plane and going to New York. I was there around the same time, Williamsburg and working at a tv company in Manhattan
No way !! How old were you ? Did you love it ?
I was, like 18. I was just blown away, really. Late '80s I was there. I remember looking for the subway station and asking some lads who were sitting on a bunch of steps directions and they kindly showed me to the subway stop. Turns out they were a group of Hispanic gang members. They were nice to me and I said hello every morning, which they found hilarious.
Hahaha , amazing !!! Can’t believe we were there the same time.
If you saw a lanky, unconfident young man with long hair, a penchant for flannel shirts and Timberlands...that was me.
This was grippingly narrated. NYC is a different place now :)
Ha! Thank you 🙏🏼 yes it must be totally different these days. I will get back there one day. Thank you for reading 😃
Wild child! Knew it…
Hahaha. I guess I was a bit ! 😆
A bit!!???. : )
Haha, probably still am 😆
Good for you!
This is wild, Francis! I grew up outside of NYC in the 80s, but I was far too young for the coke scene ;-) Love your storytelling. Can't wait to read more of your younger years
Thanks Sara, I loved New York in the 80’s it was so gritty. I had an incredible experience. 😊
From everything I was told about NY int he 80s by those who went there, it sounds electric, as if something was in the air. I regret missing it.
It was a great experience 😊
What a thrilling time to be in NY Francis. Coincidently, my husband was working there in 94 and tells similar wild stories. Look how fabulous you looked (and still do) Beaut! X
Aww thanks Sharon , I’m getting a lot of that, re my old pics, making me feel crap about how I must have aged 🤣. That’s great your husband also had fab experiences 😊
What a story! There are so many more details I would've loved to hear, you could have gone into loads more detail and I would have hung on every word. It's so interesting the way you've described NYC. Around that time, mid-late 80s, NYC had the image of a cocaine and crime-riddled place full of either hotshot bankers or muggers. I remember being terrified of visiting NYC and then the AIDs epidemic was scaring the bejesus out of us and we (my classmates) all thought NYC was the most dangerous city on earth. It cleaned itself up a lot in the 90s.
A great book that captures some of the spirit of that time - Bonfire of the Vanities, Tom Wolfe. Your post made me think of that a bit.
You were such a rebel, hanging out with all those older people, underage drinking 😂
Thanks Daniel, I could have written so much more !!! I honestly could have, in fact I did and chopped a lot out! But I still have more stories of that time but felt that was enough. Maybe I’ll tell my Canadian story ? I really was a bit of reprobate 🤦🏻♀️🤣🤣
What an experience, Francis. Character-forming stuff and a good read, thanks!
Thanks Wendy 😊
Wow, what a brave thing to do at 16 and an intense experience to have. I was 22 years old the first time I visited New York City for more than a few hours of tourist exploring. Even then ,it was overwhelming. I stayed with friends who were working as Teach for America teachers in Harlem. Sometimes I rode my bike into lower Manhattan. I was always amazed to survive the ride. I made my friends go to CBGBs with me ... this was after its punk rock heyday and it seemed a seedy place for this naive former Mormon girl. That was the only time I tried something resembling clubbing in New York.
Great essay, thanks for sharing!
Thanks Jill, I think you’re brave , all that you do ! I just wanted to escape, one crazy place for another 🤦🏻♀️ I can imagine New York, like London, being very overwhelming if you’re not used to it.
I do dream of peace, calm, serenity , sweeping mountainous / country views. One day 🙏🏼 thank you for reading and commenting Jill 😊
This could be a pitch for a movie Francis!
Oh, and Long Islands are heavy going. For a time in my mixing days we had them capped at two per person, they'd send people loopy.
My whole life could be a movie 🤦🏻♀️🤣 including my crazy dating stories 😆 really capped at 2 !! The are lethal , but so goooooddddd. Are they really a thing over here? Not had one since leaving the States.
They were very popular in the 90s, they might've dropped off the radar a little these days. They are a great way to turbocharge the night!
Wow Francis. What a story. It sounds terrifying in places. Such a brave thing to do so young. That evil cop though. That made me very angry.
Thanks Margaret , it was a long time ago, I’ve forgotten about that evil cop now 😤😤 apart from that bad experience, everything else was so much fun 🤩
I'm loving reading your experiences. and can't beleive you went white water rafting 😳 x
Thanks Diane, yep ! How I had the strength ! I’ve no idea 🤣 those muscle guys behind were off their head on weed !! Most got thrown out the boat 🤣 but not me !! I loved it.
That was fascinating - my sister was an au pair in America at around the same age as you, but in Salt Lake City. Being that's Mormon country I think it's fair to say her experiences were a little tamer!
Oh wow really Matt, that’s great, I bet she loved it. It was such an experience, I’m upset I never travelled around the USA though! One day I will 😁