I’ve been taking off from running the past few days due to the sudden drop of temperature. My lungs tend to hurt when it’s too cold. I’ve been getting up just as early though, to walk instead.
Of course one’s experience when they’re not whizzing by is very different. You make contact with just about everything and everyone you meet. You also, if you stay the same route, meet the same people.
I find some are friendly, some are not. I say good morning to everyone especially since there are so few of us out at that hour. I’d say 1 out of 3 early risers say it in return. Like today for instance, there was a black and white Boston Bulldog walking in front of me, his owner lagging behind. Such a cute puppy – he looked like dice on little legs. He stopped suddenly to relieve himself, so when his owner came over to bag it (a must in Manhattan) he ignored my greeting. He did say, ‘Good girl,’ to the dog as he picked up her poop in a neat, little sandwich bag. “Hmm, I thought, how would it feel if someone said ‘good girl’ to me every time I pooped. It seemed a good way to get a cookie, I’ll tell you that.
Next stop is Starbucks on Columbus where after I overpay for a Grande Dark Roast, I sit and watch the West Side slowly waking up. I sit opposite ABC whose newsfeed runs alongside its building. I sip and read, lingering just long enough to get warm again then off I go like a little nomad in sneaks and a hoodie pressing on. This particular morning I met a girl I know who just came from an AA meeting. She was high on slogans, she said, so I asked her what they were.
Only God sees around corners, was the first and one I’ve heard many times before. I’m always enmeshed in the future thinking I know what’s coming so it’s a good one for me to remember. It reminds me I’m not in the driver’s seat so it would be best to stop giving God directions.
The other one she mentioned was, do someone you love a favor, leave them alone. Ain’t that the truth. No one wants to be badgered and bothered all the time while you aim a gun to their head to get them to do things they really don’t want to do. Loved ones need space and so do the ones who love them.
She left me with, go where it’s warm and I thought yes, like Jamaica…but what it really means is to go where you’re loved, wanted and respected and to also be that island for someone where they too can come and take rest.
Yes, I’d like to be that and have someone be that for me. Too bad you couldn’t order online.
See what happens when you walk?
More will be revealed…
another slogan.
SB
Beware: it’s just as easy to get hooked on slogans as caffeine or alcohol (though possibly less damaging to the liver).
Slogans. I think there’s some little lady in the country somewhere who thinks them up.
Susannah I can see it now a new app that triggers from the commode to allow Siri to say “Good girl! or Good boy! according to your phone’s default settings. I do walk occasionally where I lvie, but I am in the countryside of Virginia and everyone will at least wave. I don’t encounter too many people on foot because we are so spread out but 50% of the time i know there name and am familair enough i can engage with specific questions.
Virginia is so beautiful. How lucky that you reside there. I always think of it as Jefferson country.
I am sad to say we have never visited his home.I am morepartial to Washington. When we visited my cousin in Alexandria on a trip to DC we got to see Mount Vernon. I was struck by the humble living of the man credited with the fatherhood of America.
I’ve been to George’s place and yes, you expect it to be more palatial. Monticello, though not as rustic, also is surprisingly small. I love American history. It really floats my boast as they say
I am sure for their time the places were impressive, but you get the sense they had higher goals in mind than the material goals of today.
I’m sure you’re right. When you think George couldn’t even get a decent set of false teeth…I’m certain Mt. Vernon was considered grand in the 1700s.
And they’ve all gone high-tech. Mount Vernon and Monticello both have Twitter accounts
You probably freak out those frosty New Yorkers being so friendly. I love these little glimpses of your world.
I remember the last time I went to Hyde Park to visit Springwood, FDR’s house to be welcomed by a new visitor’s center. It was dreadful. I bet that was one of the reasons they couldn’t shoot the film Hyde Park on Hudson there since it now looks like a fucking theme park.
As far as my morning musings go…ever since I read Anne Lamott’s Bird To Bird which you recommended by the way, I pay a lot more attention wherever I am. I see the difference in what I tend to write about. She really made an impression on me.
This piece made me want a cup of joe. And yes, we all need our space. That’s for sure. My motto is: listen to a little Bach. That’s more like god giving YOU directions.
I love the description of “dice on little legs.” Our neighbor has 3 Boston Terriers and that is exactly how they look.
Like dominoes