Lived in Ohio for a year but new York is home for me.
Living in the old Italian neighborhood with it's feast in the fifty's, was a grand time. Playing stickball in the streets, and everyone in the neighborhood watching out for you, good and bad.
You can take the boy out of New York City, but you can't take the New York City, out of the boy.
BTW - I wouldn't write home, praising the New York roads. Some potholes are so big, you lose sight of the front end, when entering.
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"It doesn't cost "nuttin", to be nice". 
MOM
I just want to do the right thing! Uncle Joe, (my hero).