10 year old girl travels alone to NYC

 It was winter break. Back then, 1963, winter school vacation was in February in celebration of President George Washington’s birthday. My birthday is February 21st the day before his. I always had a week’s vacation for my birthday. That winter I was 10 about to be 11. My grandmother had invited me to go visit her in NYC.  My parents drove me tp the bus station in Portsmouth NH. They explained that I would go first to Boston (I think), and then the hostess would bring me to the next bus where I would go to Grand Central Station.  My grandmother would meet me there.

Today such a trip would be impossible and considered dangerous.  Of course there are no hostesses on the buses to escort young children to their changes. However on that winter’s day, I was not alone.  Apparently many children were travelling to various destinations just like me!  We had a great time! I was a bit apprehensive when I had to change the bus.  The station was dark and big.  The hostess brought me to my connection but I had to wait alone for awhile.  The rest of the trip didn’t have children travelling alone.  This however gave me a small thrill of true independence.

When I arrived in Grand Station I felt dwarfed.  There were so many people, and everything else was so big. I stood with my purse and suitcase and just looked around. It was night. I didn’t have long to wait though and soon I heard my grandmother voice calling, and then saw both my tall confident grandmother and my cousin Stacey coming toward me. My cousin took my suitcase, afterall, he was a boy, and he thought it was his job, and we rushed off to catch a subway.  My grandmother screamed, “Mary, your purse in open, shut it now! What are you thinking? Someone will steal your money!” Introduction to NYC #1.

My week in NYC was very busy. We went to the Statue of Liberty. I had a fear of heights and couldn’t get to the top. But I loved being there. We visited my godmother and Aunt Lou. I don’t remember if we had birthday cake. I don’t remember anything we ate. The highlight of the trip for me was going to the Metropolitan Museum of art to see the Mona Lisa by Leonardo de Vinci.  It was cold and gray. The line went for blocks. We waited. I was amazed by the line. I was patient. This was important. Just like the trip to Radio City where we watched “To Kill a Mockingbird” (the movie).  Somehow I was old enough now for adult thinking. Finally we wound down the red carpeted line and for about 3 minutes or so it seemed, we got to see the Mona Lisa.  Not long enough for me. We went and saw lots of other works, but I was more impressed then by the Natural Museum of History with dinosaurs, and mammoths, and lots of other bones.  The week quickly ended.  The trip home a piece of cake.  My life, confidence, and independent spirit enhanced forever.  Very small town girl visits NYC: cool.