On Top of the World

I met my Memere and Pepere—that's grandmother and grandfather, en francais—in Midtown today. They came in from Connecticut for the day, in part to mark a very cool occasion.

Memere's parents, my great grandparents, were married on September 18, 1939, and they honeymooned in New York City, which included a trip to the top of the Empire State Building. Yesterday is their 70th wedding anniversary, so the three of us decided to do some high-altitude celebrating in New York's tallest building.

I figured I share some pictures. But first, some quick history.

When my great-grandparents were married in 1939:

• FDR is President (his second of four terms) and Nazi Germany invades Poland, marking the start of World War II
• DC Comics introduces The Batman, a superhero who would come to define the brand
• Both The Wizard of Oz and Gone With the Wind premiere
  
• The Mahattan Project to develop the first nuclear weapon is started
• Lou Gehrig retires from the New York Yankees
• CBS Television begins transmission
  
• France holds the last public guillotining
  
• LaGuardia Airport opens in Queens
• GM introduces the first fully automatic automobile transmission
  
• Nylon stockings are sold for the first time, anywhere
  
• Texas A&M University wins it's only football national championship to date (Whoop!)
  
• The Empire State Building is the World's Tallest Building (and would hold the title for another four decades)

Looking Uptown, with a view of the Park, the Hudson is on the left

Looking northeast, you can see more of Midtown, the Chrysler Building, and past the East River is Queens

Downtown, you can see the Statue of Liberty (and New Jersey) in the top right corner


Looking up at the 16-story tower and broadcast "pinnacle"

I loved hanging out with my very cool grandparents, I had such a great time—minus the motion sickness from the SkyRide attraction on the second floor (poor Memere didn't do so well!). I can't wait to go visit them up in Connecticut in a couple of weeks!

And here's to my great grandparents. I don't think it can get a lot better than starting your marriage on top of the world.