Who knows where the time goes?

I started college at St. John's University in downtown Brooklyn. Actually it was a 2 year program and in all honesty it was St. John's JC. Each morning I'd take the train from the northern most part of The Bronx, as I was living at home and travel on the #6, just like J-Lo to Schermahorn St. in downtown Brooklyn. There was nothing glamorous about this college "campus." But there were lots of Italian deli's, $$ stores and a "art house" movie theatre in close proximity to campus.

I'd arrive for a 10 o'clock class, attend perhaps 2-3 classes a day and spend the rest of the time in the student cafe, it wasn't even a Union. It was the late 60's and although I didn't realize it the world was changing. It was the James Bond heyday and the guys I hung with who came from all 5 boroughs were into the look. More into that then school, the war, the hippie culture, the drugs, or rock and roll. I left out sex as we were after all 18. In the fall I'd make sure I had the appropriate look regardless of the temperature. There were cords, herringbone jackets, with patches on the sleeves just like James. 

As for rebellion, the best I could do was perhaps hop off the uptown train at 59th street and venture into Bloomingdales for a new tie,  arriving home 1 hour late, Radical!

Last week I was in the city looking to spend 3 hours while J attended her class at MOMA. I decided to see how James had aged over the last 50, YIKES! years. so I went to see Skyfall at the theatre, I mean cinema across form Bloomingdales. I remember being at this theatre years and years and years ago with my first girlfriend to see at least one Bond movie and others. I might have seen Blow-Up there. Look it up, it was truly an art film and right for the times. In those days, driving to the city was an easy trip from The Bronx, parking on the street was a cinch especially for my version of Bond's Aston Martin, my orange Karmann Ghia, look that up too. It was a beauty.

No sooner did I enter the theatre and turn the corner to go to the auditorium when I encountered the wall of lights that Bloomingdales drapes from the building facade at Christmas time. It brought me back and I remember standing on line inside the theatre with my date as we waiting to see the movie. White cable turtleneck, tweed blazer from Paul Stuart, corduroy pants, looking cool and ready for a lesson in Bond-ing.  Not much had changed except that popcorn was $6.00, "for an extra dollar you can buy a medium", the seats reclined and ticket prices had gone from $2.50 to $11.00. One thing else had changed, I qualify for senior discount!

James now in his, 8th or 9th reincarnation still looks great. He has toned down his dalliances and is more business than pleasure, but his theme still plays whenever he says, "Bond, James Bond." My signature tune seems to change every few years and somehow has emerged into When I'm 64.