sunday in the park…
I think i found one of my favorite spots in nyc: (It’s going to to sound strange, but I’ll explain) it’s the whole foods in union square. No, it’s not my favorite because of the delicious foods or wednesday tasting nights, but because of the view of union square from the second floor cafe. I decided to waste some time there today. I sat as close to the main window as possible, surrounded by strangers and dreamers alike; people who were there for a quick bite, or to read the sunday times, or to catch up with a friend. I sat and stared out the window and thought about what’s been on my mind a lot lately (as I’m sure you can tell from my previous post). I watch the people in union square that were out and about in the lovely weather and i was astonished by the vast amounts and dynamics of human interactions going on, like a stage play, right before my eye. I was like a scientist, examining and observing my very own species behind a glass cage. Besides those behind the glass windows of the 2nd floor cafe, out in the crisp, february air, I was surrounded by the same phenomenon. As a parade pulled up along side south 14th street, the man sitting across from me looked up from his carefully folded newspaper, took out his blackberry and snapped a picture (doing as I had done, not an hour earlier, as i passed some glistening sand art carefully sprinkled out on the brick of union square). After staring for a few minutes in amazement, he turned me, the nypd lights still flashing, and asked with a smile, “did you see anyone run into the building?!” I looked over at him, in shock of an estranged nyc interraction and replied with a laugh, “no!” and added something about the nypd not having been guarding the park already, because as I am a seasoned union square dweller, I know that there are usually (empty) cop cars lining the southern perimeter of the square. He smiled and said, “huh, really?” and added, “i figured they were just doing that thing—showing force.” I smiled and shrugged, “maybe!” he smiled back and we returned to our personal reading materials.
As I continued reading, I overheard the people next to me talking about acting. It seems there are actors everywhere—following me with their thespian antics and once again, reminding me that I am one in a million..in a million…in a million. I looked back out at the park to try to lose my mind again and felt, for a little while, that I was playing a strange game of ‘where’s waldo?’ I wasn’t really sure what I was looking for, but I know what I found: A mime! Running through the park, scaring and shocking and having various exciting exchanges with people. I laughed to myself and my new friend across from me noticed and gave me look as if to question where my laugh was coming from… I pointed out the mime and we talked about him and people watching for a few minutes. It’s seldom that I enjoy a random stranger’s company. As his focus turned from me and the mime back to his paper, I kept staring out the window in thought: This happens every day. People move about and see people..union square is hustling and bustling, cars fly by, artists sell their work, tourists snap pictures, shops open and close…new york city is such a constant, and I can’t really tell if that’s comforting or just kind of sad. I had never thought about what the city would have been like without me. I return to places I used to frequent and the nice guy at the counter no longer remembers my order; The famers market stand I bought most of my vegetables at no longer has a place outside my door, the guy who asked if I got my hair cut in new york is no longer trying to hassle me. New York City won’t remember me yet…I have a lot of work to do until it does—until I leave my footprint here. (geez, i don’t say that quite often enough). I looked over at my friend across the table and for a second, fantasized about him asking for my number. That’s how you have to meet people in new york, right? In an unassuming, unforced location, like the whole foods cafe as you laugh and share your thoughts on the city below…I was shocked after this happened, but I’ll share it anyway. I looked at his left hand—at his ring finger specifically—and saw, to my dismay, a silver wedding band. humpf. you know you’re getting older when you think someone looks cute and about your age and find they’re married. Too bad.
Moments later, the table shifted, my friend smiled at me, told me to have a good day and walked off, picking up his weekend journal and empty cup of soup. As I watched him turn away and disappear down the stairs, I felt alone for a minute only then to see a person, looking at me asking if that seat was taken. I smiled and shook my head and looked back out the window. I am alone, but I am not really, I thought…and life continued on…
