Don't overthink it
tl;dr I went to New York and had a great vacation
----
Here's a theory: to experience a city you have to move through it. By moving, the city will be felt.
With no disrespect to the car, the bus, the motorcycle, or the train - modern marvels and underappreciated - this movement will happen under our own power. Walking, running or biking.
And because we limit ourselves, we can see. The store, the restaurant, the newspaper stand, even those tiny little trees planted in between them all.
Most importantly we can see the people. Different groups, faces and clothes. Some sitting, some moving, all main characters in their own story. There are so many people here. They bunch up, bounce and swirl around each other.
It's difficult to balance my intensity with contemplation as I search for the pulse of this city. It's so wild, strange and new.
---
I realize I misbooked my tickets the day before the flight. I've been riding the high of this trip for the whole week. Coverage for Gaël was lined up. My friend Hans has offered to host me and I've promised him I'd visit.
Myself, being...frugal...considers cancelling this trip instead of rebooking a third and fourth ticket. Eventually it's Andrew that breaks through to me (I called a lot of people, Hans also had to call a few...) -
"You know if you don't take this trip you never will. There will always be another excuse not to, just DO IT."
----
I forgot what it's like to fly. Because I booked the flight on the last day, I'm seated in the last row. Right on top of the aisle. Practically. The person next to me spills into most of my seat. That's ok, it's been a long year and I welcome the human contact. The plane is showing Godzilla vs Kong. Excellent movie. I feel a sort of kinship towards Kong.
---
Let's skip forward a bit. You all know what it's like to navigate into a new city. Turning a map 90 degrees a bunch of times to orient yourself. Hitting the classic spots, eating the local fare.
Let's skip all of that.
---
I went to New York to see New York. Or at least that's what I'm telling myself.
I need to reset occasionally. Get away from the patterns, the people and routines that so tightly govern my daily life in Seattle. I like to live in a tight groove, but I know how important it is to flip the table occasionally.
Gaël and I have this phrase that we have started to tell each other when we travel:
"Where are the problems of Seattle? In Seattle."
Maybe that's a bit of an oversimplification. If you have read my previous letters on hiking, you know it is not escape that is sought, merely space. This way, by stepping back and slowing down, things can be held with gentleness and clarity.
---
On the second day, a friend of a friend offers to guide me through Central Park. A native. Sage eyes paired with fresh ones*. We end up getting lost and wandering in big looping circles. But, I barely notice. I'm telling my story and I'm hearing theirs. It's my favorite type of conversation. Two people wandering a thread, letting it twist and branch, just seeing where it goes together.
I can't believe how long it's been since I've seen fireflies. Years.
We somehow end up next to Radio City Hall. Vegan pot pie appears. I'm told it will change my life. Of course being an ass, I have to ask, "What I'm happy with the way it is?"
---
I'm sorry, but let's skip forward a bit again.
You know what it's like.
I went to New York to see New York. I walked, I ran, I cycled. I kept my eyes open and took what it would give me. Mostly it gave me people. And in this way it was the city was felt. It's pulse deeply and intensely alive. Full of movement, picnics, volleyball, plays in the park, house parties, falafel, vegan pot pies and free beignets**. Endless opportunity. I leave the problems of New York in New York, now to hold them with gentleness,
Cowabunga dude,
DJ
PS: Apologies as this one is less coherent than usual - hard to imagine that would have been possible.
* http://web.mnstate.edu/gracyk/courses/phil%20of%20art/printer-friendly/Mark%20Twain.pdf
** I made a friend! Eat at Cheeky Sandwiches!
----
Here's a theory: to experience a city you have to move through it. By moving, the city will be felt.
With no disrespect to the car, the bus, the motorcycle, or the train - modern marvels and underappreciated - this movement will happen under our own power. Walking, running or biking.
And because we limit ourselves, we can see. The store, the restaurant, the newspaper stand, even those tiny little trees planted in between them all.
Most importantly we can see the people. Different groups, faces and clothes. Some sitting, some moving, all main characters in their own story. There are so many people here. They bunch up, bounce and swirl around each other.
It's difficult to balance my intensity with contemplation as I search for the pulse of this city. It's so wild, strange and new.
---
I realize I misbooked my tickets the day before the flight. I've been riding the high of this trip for the whole week. Coverage for Gaël was lined up. My friend Hans has offered to host me and I've promised him I'd visit.
Myself, being...frugal...considers cancelling this trip instead of rebooking a third and fourth ticket. Eventually it's Andrew that breaks through to me (I called a lot of people, Hans also had to call a few...) -
"You know if you don't take this trip you never will. There will always be another excuse not to, just DO IT."
----
I forgot what it's like to fly. Because I booked the flight on the last day, I'm seated in the last row. Right on top of the aisle. Practically. The person next to me spills into most of my seat. That's ok, it's been a long year and I welcome the human contact. The plane is showing Godzilla vs Kong. Excellent movie. I feel a sort of kinship towards Kong.
---
Let's skip forward a bit. You all know what it's like to navigate into a new city. Turning a map 90 degrees a bunch of times to orient yourself. Hitting the classic spots, eating the local fare.
Let's skip all of that. ---
I went to New York to see New York. Or at least that's what I'm telling myself.
I need to reset occasionally. Get away from the patterns, the people and routines that so tightly govern my daily life in Seattle. I like to live in a tight groove, but I know how important it is to flip the table occasionally.
Gaël and I have this phrase that we have started to tell each other when we travel:
"Where are the problems of Seattle? In Seattle."
Maybe that's a bit of an oversimplification. If you have read my previous letters on hiking, you know it is not escape that is sought, merely space. This way, by stepping back and slowing down, things can be held with gentleness and clarity.
---
On the second day, a friend of a friend offers to guide me through Central Park. A native. Sage eyes paired with fresh ones*. We end up getting lost and wandering in big looping circles. But, I barely notice. I'm telling my story and I'm hearing theirs. It's my favorite type of conversation. Two people wandering a thread, letting it twist and branch, just seeing where it goes together.
I can't believe how long it's been since I've seen fireflies. Years.
We somehow end up next to Radio City Hall. Vegan pot pie appears. I'm told it will change my life. Of course being an ass, I have to ask, "What I'm happy with the way it is?"
---
I'm sorry, but let's skip forward a bit again.
You know what it's like.
I went to New York to see New York. I walked, I ran, I cycled. I kept my eyes open and took what it would give me. Mostly it gave me people. And in this way it was the city was felt. It's pulse deeply and intensely alive. Full of movement, picnics, volleyball, plays in the park, house parties, falafel, vegan pot pies and free beignets**. Endless opportunity. I leave the problems of New York in New York, now to hold them with gentleness,
Cowabunga dude,
DJ
PS: Apologies as this one is less coherent than usual - hard to imagine that would have been possible.
* http://web.mnstate.edu/gracyk/courses/phil%20of%20art/printer-friendly/Mark%20Twain.pdf
** I made a friend! Eat at Cheeky Sandwiches!
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