This isn’t a current events column. This isn’t about world news.. but it is about what catches my attention in a day… does anyone else notice that the Costa Cruise Line is sitting with a second ship stuck – blessedly upright – in the middle of a large body of water…with no electricity no hot water and is being serviced by helicopter. The Cruise Line said in a press release, they were ‘sincerely sorry for the inconvenience’. Glad they added the word, sincerely.
Homeless
What do those of us that have a daily place to lay our heads, and take clean clothes from a closet or some such, actually understand about being homeless. Very very little I’m afraid. For a homeless person in the City, there is food to be had: it is given free in many places and varied venues. There is daily and nightly shelter available: none of which is suitable nor always safe, but the sorts vary from subway benches to church and government run shelters. My point is that one could say, the basic wants are furnished. But they aren’t. Because what there isn’t is the daily place to wash, and go to the bathroom and have a mirror and the possibility of a change of clothes that you haven’t been carting around. Think about that. Ponder your morning routine, when you get up and go about your ablutions and your rituals. If you do not have a secure place to live, all those body functions you take for granted become a major logistical issue. Imagine how time consuming that is, how anxious that could make you.. and why at times there are ‘mistakes’ in the subway spaces.
Wings
It happened again, I am ascending a long flight of stairs with a rolling suitcase in my right hand, concentrating on looking down, not up -makes the flight seem less long – when all of a sudden my bag takes flight as if it has sprouted wings. It is an amazing sensation. It is sudden, unexpected and rather like a miracle, the sense of weightlessness. What it means is that some thoughtful younger man has come up behind me, and taken the side handle of the bag and is carrying the weight of the bag. They then say, ‘I’ll get it’ and carry it to the top of the flight of stairs. It makes my trip faster, easier and I’m filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude.
Phil got it Wrong!
The groundhog in P-city Pennsylvania, got it wrong. Guess he didn’t take into account global warming. Yesterday it was 57 warm, sunny degrees in the City, with a light wind blowing. If one could think away the sky scrapers, it was a day at the beach. Like any northern country when spring weather strikes in winter: arms and legs and heads are immediately bared, the feet step lighter, smiles and eye contact pick up and life appears to be worth investing in after all. Jackets are hanging off a couple of fingers balanced on the shoulder; coats are slung over the arms or tied around the waist. One celebratory male broke out the shorts and the flip flops and was padding down the sidewalk taking it all in as if in fact he was at the beach.
The Blest
At first glance I thought they had been cleaning out their fireplaces or last night been to a night club with a variation on the hand stamp: the black smudge on the center of the forehead. Finally after I saw it on too many ladies of a certain age and not the nightclub inclined demographic, I asked the woman who shared my pew on the bus, is this Ash Wednesday?
YaaMaan
The subway conductor was announcing the approaching station stops in the most musical but heavy Jamaican accent. As the train progressed south bound, he gave the feel that he was really enjoying himself as he called out the ‘approaching stations’ and ‘to not stand in the way of the door’, ‘nor try to hold the doors’. It was clear that not everyone could understand his message.
The Gap
Usual view of a certain segment of young men, ethnic group not specific, as it crosses all color lines, is pants hanging at mid-buttocks with the crotch somewhere mid-thigh. This is often on skinny guys and over these low-riders is a huge tee-shirt or sweatshirt. But today’s took the cake. Imagine if you will, a not-so-skinny-young man, well groomed, low riding dark jeans, leather shoes and to top it off, a light blue sports jacket – buttoned – and starched dress shirt. The gap, over the backside, between the end of the jacket flaps and the top of the belted jeans is inexplicable. ‘Truly, blowin’ in the wind.’ ‘The twain shall never meet.’ 24 hours later I am still unable to reconcile the style, or what I saw. I mean gives new meaning to ‘mixed metaphor’.
THE Library
There, on 5th Avenue, an exquisite building, blindingly white, guarded by two stone lions. The City’s main branch of the public library. Being in any library is always a special thrill and hate to admit it, but this was my first visit here. [Rather like living in Washington DC and not ever entering The Capital.] Having time between a rehearsal and the theatre and as the two were within 10 blocks of each other, no sense returning home. Entering the library with the impossibly high ceilings and imposing staircases and loooooong hallways makes me catch my breath. With such high ceilings and reading in the literature available on the visitors table that the ‘reading room’ was on the 3rd floor, I chose not to lug myself up how many uncounted stairs, but to take the elevator. Yes. The only other occupant in the elevator was a security guard, who, when asked, said he was coming up on his 24th year of service to the Library. He was serene. We chatted all the way up and he gave me insight that was not so quickly available in the literature. The ‘reading room’ was superb. Beautiful looooong wooden tables, high back high chairs, books lining the walls… and banks of computers. That was dissonant, extremely so, yet there were the books or research information on the screens. And it wasn’t quiet. A couple of disruptive patrons and the ting of the bell as the computers were being used filled the air. Upon leaving, inside by the front door, I noticed the replica of the majestic lion, done in gray lego! If for no other reason, to view that is worth the trip.
V-day
A buzz in the air, a scurrying in the evening. It was men I saw carrying bouquets, standing at the counter of the chocolate shop, clearly sensing the importance of not arriving empty handed. One savvy young man [SYM] relayed this story: A friend asked the SYM if he needed to do more than just take her to dinner. The SYM replied to the friend, does she work in an office? What, asks the friend, does that have to do with anything? Well, says the SYM, if she works in an office then you have got to send something there, because she has a lot riding on your response to the day vis-a-vis her co-workers. Could not agree more! And SYM was wise!
The Best
Yesterday, at an audition for a commercial that was searching for a grandmother. What a delicious sight it was to see a room full of women: young to old, tall to short, fat to thin, white to brown, blue, green, brown eyed, long hair, short hair, curly hair, straight hair, silver, white to black hair, and all with smiles on their faces – of course they want the job! Women of a certain age! Nothing better.