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?