I am a New Yorker I live in the five boroughs or on the Island or Upstate I may live hundreds or thousands of miles away Or I may live just over the GW Bridge But I am a New Yorker I am a New Yorker Whatever took me out of New York: Business, family or hating the cold did not take New York out of me. My accent may have faded and my pace may have slowed But I am a New Yorker I am a New Yorker I was raised on Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and Rockefeller Plaza, The Yankees or the Met's (Giants or Dodgers) Jones Beach, Rye Beach, Orchard Beach or one of the beaches on the sound I know that 'THE END' means Montauk. Because I am a New Yorker I am a New Yorker When I go on vacation, I never look up Sky scrapers are something I take for granted The Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty are part of me Taxis and noise and subways and 'get outta heah' don't rattle me Because I am a New Yorker I am a New Yorker I was raised on cultural diversity before it was politically correct I eat Greek food and Italian food, Jewish and Middle Eastern food and Chinese food Because they are all American food to me. I don't get mad when people speak other languages in my presence Because my relatives got to this country via Ellis Island and chose to stay They were New Yorkers People who have never been to New York have misunderstood me My friends and family work in the industries, professions and businesses that benefit all Americans My firefighters died trying to save New Yorkers and non-New Yorkers They died trying to save Americans and non-Americans Because they were New Yorkers. I am a New Yorker I feel the pain of my fellow New Yorkers I mourn the loss of my beautiful city I feel and dread that New York will never be the same But then I remember: I am a New Yorker And New Yorkers have: Tenacity, strength and courage way above the norm. Compassion and caring for our fellow citizens. Love and pride in our city, in our state, in our country. Intelligence, experience and education par excellence. Ability, dedication and energy above and beyond Faith--no matter what religion we practice. Terrorists hit America in its heart but America 's heart still beats strong. Demolish the steel in our buildings, but it doesn't touch the steel in our souls. Hit us in the pocketbook but we'll parlay what we have left into a fortune. End innocent lives leaving widows and orphans, but we'll take care of them because they are New Yorkers Wherever we live, whatever we do, whoever we are there are New Yorkers in every state and every city of this nation. We will not abandon our city. We will not abandon our brothers and sisters We will not abandon the beauty, creativity and diversity that New York represents. We are New Yorkers and we are proud to be New Yorkers Only those that grew up or lived in NYC can understand the meaning of this: THERE I S NO NORTH AND SOUTH. IT'S 'UPTOWN' OR 'DOWNTOWN.' IF YOU'RE REALLY FROM NEW YORK , YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO CONCEPT OF WHERE NORTH AND SOUTH ARE... AND EAST OR WEST IS 'CROSS-TOWN.' YOU KNOW HOW TO MAKE AN EGG CREAM. YOU RIDE IN A SUBWAY CAR WITH NO AIR CONDITIONING JUST BECAUSE THERE ARE SEATS AVAILABLE. YOU TAKE THE TRAIN HOME AND YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHERE ON THE PLATFORM THE DOORS WILL OPEN THAT WILL LEAVE YOU RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE EXIT STAIRWAY. YOU KNOW WHAT A 'REGULAR' COFFEE IS. IT'S NOT MANHATTAN ...IT'S THE 'CITY.' YOU CROSS THE STREET ANY WHERE BUT ON THE CORNERS AND YOU YELL AT CARS FOR NOT RESPECTING YOUR RIGHT TO DO IT. YOU MOVE 3,000 MILES AWAY, SPEND 10 YEARS LEARNING THE LOCAL LANGUAGE AND PEOPLE STILL KNOW YOU'RE FROM BROOKLYN, LONG ISLAND OR THE BRONX , THE MINUTE YOU OPEN YOUR MOUTH. YOU RETURN AFTER 10 YEARS AND THE FIRST FOODS YOU WANT ARE A 'REAL' Fresh Seafood, Sabret Hot Dogs, Carvel, Egg Roll or Spare Ribs AND A 'REAL' Breakfast sandwich on a REAL Roll or Bagel, Ring Dings or Devil Dogs A 500 SQUARE FOOT APARTMENT IS LARGE. YOU ARE NOT UNDER THE MISTAKEN IMPRESSION THAT ANY HUMAN BEING WOULD BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND A P.A. ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE SUBWAY. YOU WOULDN'T BOTHER ORDERING PIZZA IN ANY OTHER CITY. YOU GET READY TO ORDER DINNER EVERY NIGHT AND MUST CHOOSE FROM THE MAJOR FOOD GROUP MENUS: CHINESE, ITALIAN, MEXICAN OR INDIAN. YOU'RE NOT THE LEAST BIT INTERESTED IN GOING TO TIMES SQUARE ON NEW YEAR'S EVE. YOUR INTERNAL CLOCK IS PERMANENTLY SET TO KNOW WHEN ALTERNATE SIDE OF THE STREET PARKING IS IN EFFECT. YOU KNOW WHAT (AND WHERE) A BODEGA IS. SOMEONE BUMPS INTO YOU AND YOU CHECK FOR YOUR WALLET. YOU DON'T EVEN NOTICE THE LADY WALKING DOWN THE STREET HAVING A PERFECTLY NORMAL CONVERSATION WITH HERSELF. YOU PAY 'ONLY' $230 A MONTH TO PARK YOUR CAR. YOU CRINGE AT HEARING PEOPLE PRONOUNCE HOUSTON ST . LIKE THE CITY IN TEXAS THE PRESIDENTIAL VISIT IS A MAJOR TRAFFIC JAM, NOT AN HONOR. YOU CAN NAP ON THE SUBWAY AND NEVER MISS YOUR STOP. (this always amazed me) THE DELI GUY GIVES YOU A STRAW WITH ANY BEVERAGE YOU BUY, EVEN IF IT'S A BEER. THAT'S NEW YORK , BABY! YA GOTTA LOVE IT!