Staying the Course

Posted on August 15, 2020 by Susannah Bianchi

A friend of mine put it well…these are unprecedented times.

I’ll say.

If these 5 months have taught me anything it’s, I know nothing of what’s to come.

New York is like a war zone as you make your way around.  The homeless population has exploded, giving the streets a Steinbeck feel.

Yesterday a man was draped across the middle of the sidewalk, like it was a hotel room. People walked around him while the police tried not to see. They’re in a rough spot these days when it comes to a person of color, afraid of being accused of prejudice or ill treatment.

When did the law become so distorted?

Another man built a fire on a church step. A doorman called the fire department who had to come put it out. Whoever heard of such a thing? He said, he was only warming his dinner, as if it was the most natural thing in the world to barbecue on Park Avenue. He was clearly a little off, but again, they just let him go to maybe start a fire somewhere else.

These are just two random examples of how New York City isn’t at her best.

When I heard a hawker scream out…

HOT MASKS HOT MASKS…IN ALL SHADES AND STYLES…

and in 90 degree heat they are certainly hot, I realized our new way of life might be here to stay, at least for a while.

A lady I know after rudely asking…don’t you eat? And I so wanted to say, you mean, like you, her belly exploding beneath her skirt, said…take faith Susannah.

I so wanted to say, take it where, to a diner?

I do have faith living one day at a time since, these are unprecedented times, and we have no idea what’s coming round the corner, as I step over the man on the sidewalk who actually looks pretty peaceful considering he has no door on his room.

I will then count my blessings which I do almost like a constant mantra, grateful to get through one more day of our own version of the Blitz.

Bliss?

If only.

THIS TOO SHALL PASS.

The big question is…when, pray tell?

If you hear anything…     

SB

About Susannah Bianchi

I'm just a girl who likes to write slightly on slant. I've had a career in fashion, dabbled in film and to be honest, I don't like talking about myself. Now my posts are another matter so I will let them speak for themselves. My eBooks, A New York Diary, Model Behavior: Friends For Life and Notes From A Working Cat can be found on Amazon.com. Thanks.
This entry was posted in Culture, grace, Gratitude, Health, humanity, humor, New York City, words, writing and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

38 Responses to Staying the Course

  1. skinnyuz2b says:
    August 15, 2020 at 6:46 am

    I can’t imagine the scene you’ve painted. You’re right, it does sound like something out of the depression. So hard for us yokels in the boonies to believe.
    Stay safe Susannah.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  2. Life With The Top Down says:
    August 15, 2020 at 7:17 am

    It’s bleak here as well. Depressing is an understatement, and you’re right about not having a clue about what’s around the corner. Someone introduced me to this witty greeting card illustrator recently (just your cup of tea), and there was a card that is perfect for this essay. “If this is God’s plan, God is a terrible planner. (No offense if you’re reading this God, you did a great job on other stuff life waterfalls and pandas.”

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. Lisa Ricci says:
    August 15, 2020 at 9:20 am

    The sad part it’s just not in NY, it’s everywhere including little RI where I’m in. So sad. But yes, being a regular NY visitor I can only imagine the mayhem. This will be the norm at least for now.
    I love your style of writing and always look
    Forward to your posts.
    #staystrong

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. aFrankAngle says:
    August 15, 2020 at 9:23 am

    Your description is both real and surreal. So yes … these indeed are strange times.

    Like

    Reply
    • Susannah Bianchi says:
      August 15, 2020 at 9:28 am

      Real and surreal, back to back, do quite a pas de deux, as the French would have it. They don’t necessarily compliment each other as much as bounce off the other’s light. Thanks for reading.

      Like

      Reply
  5. robprice59 says:
    August 15, 2020 at 11:12 am

    When? I’m guessing when there’s a vaccine widely (and cheaply) available, circa five to seven years hence. Though, even then, don’t expect us to return to where we were before. The world will move along whilst we’re in hiding.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. Anne Mehrling says:
    August 15, 2020 at 11:21 am

    I’m not likely to know anything ahead of time about when this too shall pass. I’m depending on you to tell us like it is in NYC.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. John W. Howell says:
    August 15, 2020 at 1:25 pm

    If I hear anything I will let you know the first thing. I’m in a nice isolated part of the world and really don’t have to go anywhere. This is not how I envision spending my final quarter though. I just went out to take some photos for Sunday and the damn car battery is dead. *Slap. I shoulda known. Which reminds me of the New York Taxi joke. Stop me if you’ve heard it. A guy gets in the cab at the red light. The light turns green and a sightless man with seeing eye dog steps off the curb into the path of the cab. The cab driver lays on the horn which frightens both dog and man. “What the hell,” says the passenger. “Can’t you see the guy is blind?” “Yeah sure,” the cabbie answers. “But the dog should know better.”

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  8. Eilene Lyon says:
    August 16, 2020 at 2:33 pm

    We now have a booming camp for the homeless, actually set up prior to the pandemic. I expect it will keep adding to its population over the coming months. It’s a distressing sight, for sure.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  9. David Stewart says:
    August 17, 2020 at 8:37 pm

    As I was reading through this, the words “This too shall pass” came into my mind a split second before I read it. Great minds. I’m sure “2020” will be a byword for absolute chaos in the future. These are dark times, but we’ll get through it one way or another.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Susannah Bianchi says:
      August 18, 2020 at 4:44 am

      Faith over fear is something we share, Kemosobe. I fight it every day cloaked in armor, battling the negative I meet at every turn, even in my dreams. I’m reading a lot about World War II, and how bad things were. My parents lived through that. We will live through this. We just must summon grace to help keep our balance.

      ‘I do not understand the mystery of grace — only that it meets us where we are and does not leave us where it found us.’Anne Lamott

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  10. Gavin and Wyatt says:
    August 27, 2020 at 1:33 pm

    Keep going….thank you for this reminder.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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