Even though Christmas was in the air, for the past month or so I just couldn’t feel the Holiday cheer. Whatever it was, there was something about this year that was ruining my Christmas spirit. Maybe it was because it hadn’t snowed, maybe because we hadn’t yet gotten a Christmas tree, maybe I just wasn’t feeling all that cheerful, or maybe I just needed a reminder of what Christmas is all about.
Last Friday my daughter, Sidney resigned herself to the fact that she and her dog, Nike (Nee-keh) wouldn’t be moving back to Rome any time soon so she agreed to give away the travel cage. The enormous cage (that was at least one size too “roomy”) had been sitting on our balcony for over a year and I was anxious to be rid of it. I had always felt that a lemon tree would better suit that space. I quickly called my friend Carol, she’s very active in the Safety Net/Pets for Life NYC Program. Within a few minutes she got back to me and told me that somebody needed the cage. I got in touch with them and it turned out that they needed to transport their dog to the south but could not afford to buy a cage. I gave them all the measurements and necessary information and they said they would come to pick it up.
Then, Sunday night, my daughter Alanna came home announcing that she found a wallet on the F train. The wallet contained all of the owner’s documents and ID’s but no phone number. She asked, “What should I do?” Sidney, my younger daughter asked, “What’s the address?” I looked at the driver’s permit and said, “Jackson Street!” After establishing that Jackson Street was only a few blocks away from us I volunteered to make the voyage. This was not the first time Alanna had found a wallet, when she was in grade school at PS 6, she had returned a wallet to the office. However there was no “Good Samaritan” announcement on the loudspeaker for her. An oversight on the part of the school, which may have had something to do with the disagreement I had with the principal (I blatantly told her that her school’s social structure was elitist and completely outrageous for a public school). This time, however, I helped.
Monday morning came and I set out for my morning walk with Nike. My trusty sidekick was surprised at our direction but was not going to question me since we were going towards the dog park. When we got to his apartment the young man, Angel, opened the door and was elated to find a good Samaritan (or her mother) bringing him back his wallet. His eyes lit up and he couldn’t stop thanking me. I wished him a Merry Christmas and went on my way feeling like Santa with a lone reindeer, who instead of gracefully pulling my sled just pulled me down the street.
As if that wasn’t enough to renew my Yuletide cheer, that evening the young man who needed the cage came to get it. He and his mother were happy to see that our dog was taller but generally the same size as the dog they needed to fit in her cage. They played with her as they got the cage and thanked us over and over and wished us a Merry Christmas, we did the same and as the elevator doors closed I felt the Christmas Spirit fill the air.
That night we got our Christmas tree, decorated it with glittery pinecones, candy canes, and the ornaments that have been a sparkly splendor throughout my daughters’ Christmases and hopefully will be there for their children’s as well.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Celebrating A New York Moment
Now that my daughters are grown, my partner is gone and my financial situation is drastically changed. What am I do do with all of my time?
I am taking advantage of my extra time to notice and appreciate the small things. I enjoy walking through Chinatown for my vegetables and fruits and asking the vendors just what it is that I'm buying, and how to prepare them, attending free lectures and poetry readings, going to tea parlors and trying out different teas, . Basically, I’m taking the time to smell the roses, NYC style. My favorite being the fleeting encounters with the many different personalities found in the city. These were the things I missed out on while I was building my career, raising my children and being a life-partner.
Last Sunday I went to Park Slope to visit my mother, the F train was out of service and that’s how I met the two characters of the day’s adventure.
Character #1, A friendly, young homeless man, very knowledgeable of the transit system.
Character #2, An older, somewhat sophisticated attractive man sporting a septum ring. (I noticed him because my 22 year old daughter , Sidney, also has the same ring, and just the day before I had asked her if by any chance she had outgrown that style. She without hesitation, answered NO.) He is a costume designer for the stage, and also does alterations and custom made clothing.
Then there is me, the 3rd character, a 61 year old woman with grey hair running around town smelling the roses.
Character #1, The hero of the day, directed and showed us the way. Before departing, he told me that he was looking for work as he had just gotten out of jail for a felony offence. I told him that, even in this bad economy, I was sure that, he would find something. This I said with all honesty and sincerity, because he had a welcoming sweet smile and a great positive attitude.
Character #2, was sitting across the isle. He didn't hear all of the conversation but he had heard enough to know that Character #1 was a felon. He moved to sit next to me.
What was the felony?
I don’t know
Why don’t you know?
I didn’t ask.
Why didn’t you ask?
I felt if he wanted me to know he would have told me
Weren’t you curious?
YES, I WAS!
We started laughing and the conversation turned to our own work.
I told him that, at this point in my life, fashion is not really important to me. I’m interested in comfort and I do have a pair of pants that fits that bill. I thought to myself that I might ask him to make me a pair so I asked him for his card. I was very surprised that he tried everything to avoid giving it to me. I didn’t have mine, nor did either of us have a pen. Finally, we arrived at his stop where he, shyly, handed me his card along with an apology. I took a quick look and saw a card for custom made S&M leatherwear that’s not what I'd had in mind for my comfy trousers. I couldn't help but laugh and told him not to worry. I had a smile on my face for the rest of my trip. I love NY!
What about your little moments? What are you doing in the next Chapter of your life?
I am taking advantage of my extra time to notice and appreciate the small things. I enjoy walking through Chinatown for my vegetables and fruits and asking the vendors just what it is that I'm buying, and how to prepare them, attending free lectures and poetry readings, going to tea parlors and trying out different teas, . Basically, I’m taking the time to smell the roses, NYC style. My favorite being the fleeting encounters with the many different personalities found in the city. These were the things I missed out on while I was building my career, raising my children and being a life-partner.
Last Sunday I went to Park Slope to visit my mother, the F train was out of service and that’s how I met the two characters of the day’s adventure.
Character #1, A friendly, young homeless man, very knowledgeable of the transit system.
Character #2, An older, somewhat sophisticated attractive man sporting a septum ring. (I noticed him because my 22 year old daughter , Sidney, also has the same ring, and just the day before I had asked her if by any chance she had outgrown that style. She without hesitation, answered NO.) He is a costume designer for the stage, and also does alterations and custom made clothing.
Then there is me, the 3rd character, a 61 year old woman with grey hair running around town smelling the roses.
Character #1, The hero of the day, directed and showed us the way. Before departing, he told me that he was looking for work as he had just gotten out of jail for a felony offence. I told him that, even in this bad economy, I was sure that, he would find something. This I said with all honesty and sincerity, because he had a welcoming sweet smile and a great positive attitude.
Character #2, was sitting across the isle. He didn't hear all of the conversation but he had heard enough to know that Character #1 was a felon. He moved to sit next to me.
What was the felony?
I don’t know
Why don’t you know?
I didn’t ask.
Why didn’t you ask?
I felt if he wanted me to know he would have told me
Weren’t you curious?
YES, I WAS!
We started laughing and the conversation turned to our own work.
I told him that, at this point in my life, fashion is not really important to me. I’m interested in comfort and I do have a pair of pants that fits that bill. I thought to myself that I might ask him to make me a pair so I asked him for his card. I was very surprised that he tried everything to avoid giving it to me. I didn’t have mine, nor did either of us have a pen. Finally, we arrived at his stop where he, shyly, handed me his card along with an apology. I took a quick look and saw a card for custom made S&M leatherwear that’s not what I'd had in mind for my comfy trousers. I couldn't help but laugh and told him not to worry. I had a smile on my face for the rest of my trip. I love NY!
What about your little moments? What are you doing in the next Chapter of your life?
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