We all have listened to the Beatles’ tune, “In my life.” It likely brought you back to a favorite memory. Perhaps it is a canoe trip in camp, watching the Bronx Bombers clinching a World Series victory, a great date and a delicious steak.
I have memories of a lot of things. I remember my eyes tearing during my first trip to the Kotel, walking up the muddy steps to get to the hill that my camp sat atop of, the first time I saw “Rent” and my first rock concert in 1986, Billy Joel. Those are big things. But right now, I am remembering and wishing for small things.
These days I am remembering things I don’t love. But were simple parts of life. I grew up on Staten Island. I took the Staten Island Ferry regularly for many years. I never loved it. I remember in my 20s sitting with a bunch of guys I grew up with as we headed off to work. The ferry was replete with characters. These days when working, I have a choice of the “E,” “F,” “R’ or “M” subway lines. Like the ferry, the subway has its characters. It has more.
I am thinking of great pizza on Staten Island and Brooklyn. Getting haircuts at Astor Place. I used to go every two weeks. I haven’t been there since February 27. After the haircut, I sometimes walked the two blocks to Washington Square Park. I took the obligatory photos of the arch and the man who sits with dozens of pigeons. Several sit on his body. Ah, NYC’s characters. I’d love to go back to the Rockefeller Center New York Sports Club and train with my boys. We have had the same conversation since around 2008. We talk about baseball. Football gets in there, too.
I miss the simplicity of walking through the Soho, the Village and Museum Mile. Sure I miss going to the productions at Lincoln Center, games in ‘Da Bronx, all of our city’s awesome restaurants and parks.
However, right now it is the simple stuff I miss. Stuff I never loved. Sometimes I hated it. But it was what life in our great city is about — Crowded trains and the “entertainers” that ride them, tourists having no idea where they are when they are Times Square and not knowing how to walk in the city.
I cannot wait until we are given back the things that daily we took for granted. Nothing beats a great slice and then heading over to Luna Park to ride the Cyclone. Let’s get rid of this cyclone and get back to the one we love. Give me these small things. That’d be such a step forward. Hopefully, then the bigger things follow.
Other posts can be viewed at:
“Pandemic Watch: Sitting on your stoop,”
https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/26/pandemic-watch-sitting-on-your-stoop
“Pandemic Watch: What does a four-year-old think about our situation?”
“Pandemic Watch: Will my nephew ever know how good it was?”
“Pandemic Watch: What will happen when I get released on parole?”
“Pandemic Watch: We live in interesting times,”
https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/14/pandemic-watch-we-live-in-interesting-times
“Pandemic Watch: Dressing during the Covid-19 pandemic,”
“Pandemic Watch: Yes, it is Monday,”
https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/11/pandemic-watch-yes-it-is-monday
“How skills I learned as a teen in the scouts help during the Covid-19 pandemic, “
“How the Covid-19 pandemic causes us to rethink old habits,”
“Traveling on public transit and being outside during the Covid-19 pandemic,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/29/traveling-on-public-transit-and-being-outside-during-the-covid-19-pandemic
“Grocery shopping during Covid-19. Or anytime,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/28/grocery-shopping-during-covid-19-or-anytime
“I want to help restaurants during the pandemic. But…,”
“Masks and gloves,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/03/30/608
“Trashy Parks,”
https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/01/07/trashy-parks
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Love your posts Mitchell. Thanks for sharing
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