New York New York

New York New York
Orlando Lujan Martinez, IWA

I've always thought I was as important as the next guy or any movie star, president or entertainer and had the disturbing habit of looking people straight in the eye and telling them the truth and what was really happening. The way is really is, in my opinion
An attitude that could lead to an confrontation with the social orthodox authority that dictates how important you are. It says that if you are not somebody then you are, obviously, a nobody. But when it meets a guy who thinks he is a somebody, without their approval or certification, then something interesting is bound to happen.
Such was the rule of society when I went with a friend, Edward Monjares, the Director of the Human Rights Department of Albuquerque, and his patriotic veteran father, to see the Folkloric Spectacular of Mexico, at Tingle Stadium, on the New Mexico State Fair Grounds.
To open the show the mariachi orchestra played the Star Spangle Banner and I wasn't going to stand up just because i didn't what to be another one of those patriotic sheep, but since Eddie and his father got up and daddy placed his hand over his heart like a good patriotic American, I stood up immediately to show I was a patriot too.
It was a great show with a big mariachi orchestra on the main stage and on two other smaller stages, in front. colorful Mexican Folkloric dancers twirled, the women skirts flaring with color and the men in somber black with silver spangles, white shirts and large sombreros. It was a musical magical spectacle and a magnificent show of Mexican culture.
And then the lights dimmed as a spotlight captured a singer on stage. in a tuxedo, who sang -to everyones delight- New York, New York: in the sophisticate style of the King of New York Frank Sinatra, which completely took the hearts of the audience:
Start spreading the news. I'm leaving today I want to be part of it-New York, New York
These vagabond shoes,are longing to stray
Right through the very heart of it-New York New York.
I, Eddie and the patriotic daddy sat in the upper left balcony, and the rich, the famous and the VIPS sat in front-row center. It was a sparkling show and at the end of the show I decided to go back stage and the dancers what a marvelous time I had, and to congratulate them for their magnificent performance. You know just like a VIP; a very important person. would do and VIP describe me exactly.
So I searched around for a way to sneak backstage and went across a section of unoccupied seats down a short flight of steps into a dim hall and walk up it until I came an a brightly lit large room where the performers were having their pictures taken by a professional photographer, one who went by the rules.
So I walked up to the edge of the beautiful and handsome group of dancers like I own the joint and stood besides one of the beautiful dancers. They were smiling and radiating happiness and there I was next to them smiling and radiating happiness too.
Then suddenly, my happiness was interrupted by the photographers loud voice hollering "Hey you! Get of the out of the picture!. Who do you think you are, anyway!''
"What do you mean who am I?" I yelled back, "I sir am the guy that brought the ticket that pays the salary of everyone in this room, and I am a fan, and I deserve to be in the picture," and looked around for approval from the performers.
The guy was a little startled by my reply, which was full of bravado, confidence and in command of the situation-I knew what I was doing- And just as he was about to open his mouth again to call for security, a cooler head, someone with authority and common sense, and who knew I was right. decided that it would good public relations if the performers were photograph with me: one of their adoring fans, holler to the photographer. "It's Okay! It's okay! Let him stay!" So I stood there with my arm around one of the dazzling women happy as a hog at the trough. They happy. Me happy,everybody happy and it was fun and It was just one of those fabulous nights.