New York City aka Old Work City
New York City is, without a doubt, a very inspirational and stimulating city. At least to me it definitely is, although I don’t believe I am the only one who thinks that way. There is something dear and irresistible about this place, which even the biggest opponent can’t deny. You can’t have neutral, Swiss- like feelings towards New York. You either love it or hate it, there is no room for ambivalence.
I recently reminded myself about the beginning of my journey here. Without question, back then I appreciated the atmosphere of Times Square, took advantage of the shopping district at 5th Ave, truly enjoyed the assortments of exquisite shops, boutiques and bodegas in Soho. Lately I’ve changed. Somehow on the road my week schedule unexpectedly modified (7 days of pleasure and adventure had been replaced with 5 days of work, and 2 days of week- END with the focus on END). My tourist freedom ended somewhere between the questions “How can I get to Broadway” and “Would you like to hear our lunch specials?”
I didn’t realize when I stopped raising my head at 42nd st. in order to admire the marvelous lights and colors. Moreover, I would purposely avoid Times Square at certain hours, and the reason for that was the “mad crowd” of tourists, whose slow motion mode just drove me crazy. Photo here, photo there, smile, look around, stop, go, unexpectedly stop, point at the sky just in front of my face (yes, why not!?!), stop…
Come on, don’t you have a better place to stop and make my stressful day even harder? I don’t have time for that man! There are people who actually work here. Do something useful to all of us- move over for God’s sake!
My dear Hungarian friend Isabelle once told me, and I share this opinion with her, that this city more than any other somehow recognizes and tracks high vigor reserves, in an odd vampish- sharkish way it feels the “fresh blood”, as if it had a built-in energy radar. Then again, it’s not too hard to identify a “first grader” on the Public Streets of NYC. Head up, confident walk (floating a couple of inches above the ground), chest out, smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye saying: Everything is possible! Oh yes, definitely the beginner!
Anyhow, when the city tracks you down, that is when, little by little, it starts “bloodletting”. And you don’t even know when it hits you. You’re transformed from a straight- backed, cheerful “beginner” drinking in all that Times Square has to offer into a crooked, frowning Old Work City veteran who just drinks.
As for me, I still have renewable energy sources and I keep holding my head up. I appreciate little things like: the numbers of times I had to slide my metro card in order to get onto the subway platform (it used to be 5-6, now it’s beautiful number 1! And I am proud of it! :). I am thankful for the morning welcome from my doorman Nate who greets me by my name and shares a little joke every day (actually he waves to me when I am across the street). I am in the possession of, more or less, a million examples like that. Those little things and some bigger ones, which I am not going to reveal now keep an indelible smile on my face, while I am wandering around the streets of New York City where I happen to WORK… and play!
