Bonnie Kogos shares two wonderful happy memories of “The Hill of Murray”

Once upon a time, I was 23, single, and living delightedly in my apartment in Murray Hill located near Park Avenue.

That autumn I had a nice lunch date at Sarge’s Deli with a charming “older” man of 33. We were now walking back up the mild hill on 37^th Street toward Park Avenue. Out of breath, he had to rest; “Gotta get back to the gym. Hey, it’s tough walking up this darn Hill of Murray.”

I stopped, dared not giggle, and watched him in “dating horror.” I always bounded up the mild hill with groceries.

To this day, years later, I smile at this memory, gratefully strolling fast up The Hill of Murray, with enormous gratitude for our lovely neighborhood.

More recently, I was on Amtrak returning from visiting friends in Annapolis; an empty seat was next to me. A nice young man stood in front of me, and with charming class, asked if he might sit there. Of course.

After settling in, I asked, “Are you going to New York City?”

“Indeed,” he said.

“What part of New York do you live in?”

“In Murray Hill,” he said amiably.

“So, do I. Would it polite to ask what street?”

“Thirty-Seventh.”

“That’s my street. Again, polite to ask what number?”

We both laughed; neighbors. Our lively conversation began when I told him how much I enjoyed the many flowers in front of his building, and I never picked any. He laughed and thanked me.

We became Burt and Bonnie, and he told me how he and his wife had chosen Murray Hill. For a delightful hour, we shared stories, compared shopping, what we admired and were grateful for the ambience of our neighborhood, the joys of the preserved historical places and the comfort and delight of living here.   And how we missed Jack’s, of course.

The next morning, I left a note at his building saying how I enjoyed meeting him, and it would be nice to meet his wife.

That very afternoon, as I strolled up The Hill of Murray with groceries, Burt and Susie were standing in front of my building.

“We were taking a walk,” Burt said, “and wondered if you were home!”

I invited them up for a quick drink and again, we shared more stories. Another form of friendship when you are living in Murray Hill.

Whether at the top or the bottom of The Hill!