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@Brooklyn
Memoir (17)@
Central Park is
an oasis in Manhattan. Even in Japan everybody knows how it looks, because
it appears so often in TV ads here. It is true that Central Park is a very
comfortable spot in Manhattan. However, itbecomes a very dangerous place after twilight. Therefore, no one dares to enter the park in the evening.
Since I was living in downtown Manhattan, I didn't visit the park routinely. I sometimes passed by or went across the park by car.
I sometimes found unexpectedly dark woods or very large rocks then.
I forgot that I was driving in the middle of Manhattan for a few minutes.
Central Park is also the finishing line of New York City Marathon each Fall. I went to see it once. I remember that Mayor Ed Koch was there and was smiling and waving his hand to the crowd. I heard the memorial for John Lennon, a mosaic circle in the sidewalk with the words "Imagine" popularly called Strawberry Fields was created in the west end of the park, in view of the historic condo named "The Dakota." I was regrettably not able to visit there, because it was made after I left NYC.
It was the summer of 1981, when I was still living in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. Every summer a free concert was held in Central Park.
Most often the New York Philharmonic gave a concert, and New Yorkers loved it. But in summer '81 they decided to hold a concert by Simon & Garfunkel instead, who had separated as a group for several years but decided to perform together for this reunion concert. The revival concert caught the attention of New Yorkers that summer. I was one of those who wanted to be there. I went to mid-Manhattan by subway and walked to the park that day. It was raining and the rain became heavier while walking to
the park. Many in the crowd decided to return thinking it would be rained out. I followed the crowd and retuned to Brooklyn after drinking a cup coffee in mid Manhattan. That evening I learned from the evening news that they held a concert anyway. The concert in rain was very successful, and
the crowd became enthusiastic, the newscaster said. I felt so sorry and embarrassed then. Since then when it rains at any outdoor events, I always wait at least for half an hour before deciding to return home.
p.s. This Central Park Concert by Simon & Garfunkel sold as a CD later on. I happened to find it and bought it 10 years after the concert.
They recorded the conversation between the singers and the audience and the cheers of the audience in addition to the songs. I felt very nostaltgic listening to the CD, even though I was not really there.
Dr. Kido's office
E-mail:kidot@momo.so-net.ne.jp
E-mail:kidot@momo.so-net.ne.jp