Making our "way" around NYC

 We are still settling in to our life in the "Big Apple". Curious as to "why" or "how" this bustling city got this name? No one knows quite for sure. But here's what I found when I "googled it":

[ballyscanlon]/[photodisc]/Getty Imag

One writer had this to say "This commonly asked question got me wondering, why do we call New York City the Big Apple? While I've seen several apple trees in New York City, I don't particularly recall them as being in notable quantity -- there are certainly more pigeons than apples in New York City, but we don't call New York City the "Big Pigeon." As with anything New York, there are many opinions and contradictions. In the early 1920s, "apple" was used in reference to the many racing courses in and around New York City. Apple referred to the prizes being awarded for the races -- as these were important races, the rewards were substantial. Based on the research of Barry Popik, the use of "Big Apple" to refer to New York City became clearer.

He found that a writer for the New York Morning Telegraph, John Fitzgerald, referred to New York City's races "Around the Big Apple." It is rumored that Fitzgerald got the term from jockeys and trainers in New Orleans who aspired to race on New York City tracks, referring to the "Big Apple."

In the late 1920s and early 1930s, New York City's jazz musicians began referring to New York City as the "Big Apple." An old saying in show business was "There are many apples on the tree, but only one Big Apple." New York City being the premier place to perform was referred to as the Big Apple.  A 1971 campaign to increase tourism to New York City adopted the Big Apple as an officially recognized reference to New York City. The campaign featured red apples in an effort to lure visitors to New York City. It was hoped that the red apples would serve as a bright and cheery image of New York City, in contrast to the common belief that New York City was dark and dangerous. (Marcel Beckstead would truly agree with this description of New York City--since he told Elder Mumford "you have to be inside by 6:00 pm or you get mugged" when we shared with him that we had our Call to New York).

Since 1971, New York City has officially been The Big Apple. And In recognition of Fitzgerald, the corner of 54th & Broadway, where Fitzgerald lived for 30 years, was renamed "Big Apple Corner" in 1997.

So there is a little "side note" to this very interesting city!! We take walks daily--sometimes in an effort to "help Sister Mumford" try to get her bearings--she has NO SENSE OF DIRECTIONS HERE! One of those walks found us on the street where the museum where the movie "Night at the Museum" takes place.

Will need to get a "better" picture in the daylight. But you can get a "feel" for the museum from this pics.

(Sister Mumford is there on the steps)

Seems like we are still "looking" for things we need in our apartment to help us settle in too. I will do a "view" of our apartment in a future post (when it's daytime).

 But we feel so blessed to have what we do here. To live so close to the Temple is a HUGE blessing!! Some of the other Missionaries who are not Temple Missionaries--but come to serve in the Temple 1 or 2 days a month have quite a trip to make it here. Also--many of the "local" Ordinance workers ( this is what we are ALL called who serve in the Temple--Full-time Temple Missionaries included) come from "miles" around to serve. One little Sister who serves on Saturdays comes in from Jamaica ( not the country-- but there is a city on Queens called "Jamaica"). She has a 2.5 dhour trip--one-way--due to the bus/transit schedule on Saturdays. She gets up at 3 am to make it to her shift in the temple at 6 am!! And there are several more who come in from New Jersey that drive over an hour. It is truly a sacrifice--but when asked--they don't look at it that way.
These people and this temple are extra special and daily I/we feel blessed for having been called here.