a new year.
of note in my 09 life so far:
a sunny, windy friday, leaving the chelsea market. an old man ambles my way, and as he does, his tweed hat goes flying off his head. inspired by the extreme kindness of strangers here, i scramble for it, pick it up and hand it to him. smiling he says, 'i'm not as fast as i used to be'. it is only then that i notice he only has one arm - on his other side, an empty suit jacket sleeve waves forlornly in the breeze.
a merry saturday night. in between beers and bars, in search of a restroom, we pop into a little, unassuming pub on 7th. its walls are covered with medieval paintings, its patrons are a noisy bunch. until we walk in. someone yells "SHHHHH!!!!!" and everyone else joins in. the entire bar goes silent. we look at each other, caught somewhere between dumbfounded amazement and hysterical laughter. and just like that, everyone goes back to chatting. in line for the washroom, we decide to test these strange waters by starting a "SHHHHHHHHH" of our own. it works. everyone joins in, the entire bar goes quiet. google searches the next day uncovers a silly tradition started to communally moderate noise. ridiculous, and so very fitting in a city where every place and person feels the need to have a schtick.
finally, a bright and early sunday morning, popping out to grab coffee at my favorite little hole in the wall, and a croissant at the bakery on my block, i feel suddenly, for better or worse (but mostly better) that i am home.
of note in my 09 life so far:
a sunny, windy friday, leaving the chelsea market. an old man ambles my way, and as he does, his tweed hat goes flying off his head. inspired by the extreme kindness of strangers here, i scramble for it, pick it up and hand it to him. smiling he says, 'i'm not as fast as i used to be'. it is only then that i notice he only has one arm - on his other side, an empty suit jacket sleeve waves forlornly in the breeze.
a merry saturday night. in between beers and bars, in search of a restroom, we pop into a little, unassuming pub on 7th. its walls are covered with medieval paintings, its patrons are a noisy bunch. until we walk in. someone yells "SHHHHH!!!!!" and everyone else joins in. the entire bar goes silent. we look at each other, caught somewhere between dumbfounded amazement and hysterical laughter. and just like that, everyone goes back to chatting. in line for the washroom, we decide to test these strange waters by starting a "SHHHHHHHHH" of our own. it works. everyone joins in, the entire bar goes quiet. google searches the next day uncovers a silly tradition started to communally moderate noise. ridiculous, and so very fitting in a city where every place and person feels the need to have a schtick.
finally, a bright and early sunday morning, popping out to grab coffee at my favorite little hole in the wall, and a croissant at the bakery on my block, i feel suddenly, for better or worse (but mostly better) that i am home.
posted by mad at 8:16 PM
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