Sandy Aftermath

Three things you might not have realized about the aftermath of such a storm.
1. The carpenters, plumbers and electricians have no time to give you an appointment, as they are already solidly overbooked.
2. They can name any price they want and you will pay it, [if wondering why, see #1].
3. Supplies are in short supply, due to demand.
This was brought home to me yesterday in speaking to people still dealing with the aftermath of Sandy. They feel they are long not out-of-the-woods.

Devotion.Discipline.Dedication.?

The bus just happened to pass by the falafel-selling-vender truck with the door on the street side open. The bus paused in traffic giving me the chance to see what the lone server inside was doing, as I noticed he was in motion toward the open door. He was arranging the flattened cardboard box on the floor at an angle. The space was small, and he was tall, but he proceeded to bend down, and to fold himself into a kneel, I presume to pray.

A Tree for All

A neighbor has placed her large christmas tree, too large for her apartment space, in the courtyard behind her. It stands there dressed only in white lights. But who can see it? Three apartment buildings converge around this courtyard. One building is only 4 stories high, some are 10. All the apartments in back of these three buildings look down on her courtyard and her decorated tree.  She has shared the spirit of the holidays with many unknowns.

Roma

She was quite beautiful, normal weight, new grey canvas lace up shoes, clean, might-be-new-light gray pants. This was topped by a fine looking light grey sweater with a clean t-shirt underneath. Her facial skin and hair were clean. The baby attached to her was in an expensive carrier. But she carried a hand-lettered sign, asking for money for herself and the baby. She was insistent. She would stand in front of the better dressed seated riders, holding the sign at eye level. No one gave. Until half way down the car a young woman in her 20’s called her over. The 20 something gave her a bill, which the young woman stuffed into her, just noticed, Gucci shoulder bag. The pieces didn’t add up to be true.

Reaction to This

This electronic advert on a side street to Times Square is at least 20 stories tall.  The pictures change depending on who is paying.  It is not unsimilar to the huge Victoria Secret Adverts over their store in Herald Square.  My self directed question is:  what is this message:  to young women and young men?  I ask because I have yet to see 20 stories tall adverts for guys in skivvies! Just a thought.

The New Yorker

p. 60 of the December 10th issue. A reporter at large: Netherland by Rachel Aviv.
May no family you know or are a part of be guilty of putting children out of the house, onto the street. I see them on Christopher St. as mentioned in the article. In my mind, when I see the sign for Christopher St. it consistently turns itself into St. Christopher, which is appropos to this article as he is the patron saint of ‘travellers’.

The Cat Box

The lady who has her ‘house’ in front of the seven-eleven store on 8th, today had a litter box sitting out at the end of the space obviously for her cat which is in a carrier.  I am not clear on how this works, knowing that cats are ‘trained’ on their time, not like dogs on their owners’ time.  And remember her ‘house is 4.5 feet by 3 feet to the right of the front door of a 7-11 store.

He Said…

She was hurrying along to cross the street beside me, this evening, and I didn’t realize they were together. She was carrying plastic sacks from the grocery store… in her 30’s. He catches up to her and says, ‘You’re on such a mission, you missed the beautiful moon’. She said, ‘Oh. Yeah.  He said, ‘You can’t see it now, it’s behind the buildings, but you’ll want to see it’.
I had seen it and It reminded me, if you have ever read the book, Wait Till the Moon is Full, of being the size of a raccoon’s whisker.

Wasn’t There…

..didn’t see it, but must report what I’ve read in reputable sources. One night, prior to Thanksgiving Day, during an evening performance of the new play ‘Grace’, a patron seated in the balcony, apparently passed out, head lolling. When those seated near him, reached for him to assist him, he pitched forward and ‘tossed whatever the contents of his stomach was at that moment’ onto the heads, backs and laps of the public seated below in the higher priced seats. The word is: the awful stench was one matter, the startled and irate orchestra seated patrons were another – they left – but that the actors on stage carried on and the play ran to completion. The show must go on.