New York… is it me?

I should confess I’ve demolished a pastrami Reuben on rye, which was magic. And seemed very New York. Note to self, I need to find proper New York bagels to try. 

I think I’m in Greenwich village, a little different to the Greenwich of two days ago with its empty silences filled alternately by waves, or the sound of the wind in the poplars. I wish you could have heard the sound of the wind in the poplars, it was unearthly but so centring. Vibrating on some harmony common to all life. Here my ears are full of Billy Holiday, conversations, the kitchen clatter, laughter, horns & traffic. So different, but also so alive and pulsing. Happy.  I think, or maybe I shouldn’t think too much. 

Probably not surprising I’m seeing performances of human gendered identity I’ve not seen before! I feel welcomed by the bee in the flower box hanging on the divider on the sidewalk. It’s nice to find a friend who looks just as out of place here as I feel.

My second friend, the Argentinian waitress asks if I want another Malbec, ¿por que no?

I feel lost in this sea of bustling humanity, overwhelmed and maybe more than a little scared. Alone. Definitely need that next Malbec! Last time I lost my soul I walked until she found me. I thought about walking now, but it’s about 3km from here to the Statue of Liberty viewing point. Possibly too far for the Malbec. Funny but Liberty’s the only thing that’s really drawing me in New York. There’s so much I know that I should want to see, so much people will ask me if I saw. I’m sorry if I let you down. But until my soul finds me, my heart’s not here and Lady Liberty is the only one calling my name. 

A lady just went past the open window, I thought she was wearing a Star Wars t-shirt, you know yellow outlined text receding on a black background, but it actually said Stop Wars. I kinda like that. I got Georgia on my mind, other arms reach out for me… but I’m still sitting here out of phase and lost.

The sun is shining on some kids squealing on the play equipment opposite. A lady is crossing at the lights with a lovely fat dachshund. Sleek and shiny. So much nicer than the fluffy yappy dogs, more refined and civilised. 

It’s funny after so many tv shows to see real NYPD vehicles. Oh Michael Weatherly is on the side of a bus in a new show, I guess he’s left NCIS then. I really don’t keep up. I really don’t care!

The Bus Stop Cafe was empty when I arrived, became full to overflowing and is now slowly starting to ease past the lunchtime rush into a hot sunny Friday afternoon. Oh the old guy is off, and the kids in the park have deserted the slide in favour of a sprinkler. 

I’m starting to smile, still feel lost so I guess it’s a Malbec smile. Oh if only Nathon Fillion would walk down the street haha. At least there are a lot less people smoking than Paris. 

Floating. The music’s stopped. A truck is idling outside instead. I feel a bit like crying, just tired I guess. I did only get about 3 hours sleep last night. Oh, the lady with the dachshund is back with a brown paper bag that looks like bakery goods, I may have to investigate. Tired. Soporific. Dazed. In New York City. In the Bus Stop Cafe. Drinking moderately bad coffee. In the sunshine. Alive.

I talked to my waitress-friend, asked her what I should do with two days in New York. She’d been watching me people watching for nearly 2 hours by then. She looked at me and said “I don’t think you want to be doing the tourist things.” I felt so relieved, “Times Square is too busy. You should walk here” and she pointed south and east. OMG, how did she know I needed to walk? “Tomorrow walk down along the river, catch the Staten Island Ferry, then walk back through Soho. Stop in, have a wine and tell me what you thought on your way past.” Love that Argentinian waitress woman.

I had another barely drinkable coffee, turned to my traditional remedy and started to walk, just in a loop around the Village and back to the hotel. Never did find the Dachshund lady’s bakery. But I believe some of you may know the Magnolia Bakery? Although I now realise I should have photographed the cupcakes rather than the Key Lime Pie Cheesecakes.

I kept walking. Buildings here really do have fire escapes like in the movies. I like it.

I know where I am but I still feel lost. It’s pretty, it’s funky. I laugh when I see the Dubonnet poster, remembering skimming that from the parents’ bottle as a teenager. Clocks make me think of my Uncle the clock repairer… could I be making connections?

You’ll not see nothing like the Mighty Quinn… took me a while to place that lyric.