Well, actually a weekend....Eric and I went to Pennsylvania this weekend to visit his grandparents and it was an amazing, enlightening experience. I was a little nervous to leave the city after only 2 weeks here. I thought it might break our rhythm and make it harder for us to come back when we're struggling to figure out a routine for ourselves here. But actually, it was just a wonderful trip, and, for me, a really important time to meet Eric's family. It was amazing to be in such an isolated spot- you didn't see anyone else on the street- after being in a place where you constantly swerve along in the sea of New Yorkers. I also realized something about growing up- the older you get, the harder it is to see people you love hurting. Eric's grandfather is very sick, and it hurt twice as much to see Eric and Nancy's sadness. At the same time, it's so wonderful that we're capable of that kind of empathy, and that my love will be returned at a time that I'm struggling. On a less philosophical note, I took my first Amtrak ride to Pennsylvania and I was very impressed by the amount of leg room. I was not as impressed by the microwaved hot dog in the snack car or by the extremely loud talkers that I was eavesdropping on who were sitting in our car.
When we came back to the city, it was like coming home, and I didn't expect it. It was truly refreshing. Then I did one of the apparently trendiest fitness activities in Manhattan- I jogged in Central Park (the only things trendier are maybe the little roller blade ski things or yoga-ballet-lates- a staple among Upper West Siders, or so I'm told)! Everyone should be happy to know that I was maybe only the 3rd slowest runner- I actually passed some people- so it was overly embarassing. I really had no idea where I was going, but I just kept running and running, finding myself eventually at East 95th street (no idea how I got there) and then at West 90th street (happy to at least be back on the West Side) and finally by some miracle back at West 65th (again, no idea how I got there). Then I did something else very trendy- I made a scene. I did some yoga in the sheep's meadow (don't ask- but they don't let dogs go on it, so there's no risk of dog poop- only the ever present threat of bird poo). Once I realized that all of my downward facing dogs and half moons were not only attracting a few stares (not too many- like I said, making a scene is pretty trendy), but also causing me to be covered in mosquito bites, I back to my tiny apartment- a place I really feel like I can call home now.
I was trying to notice a different atmosphere in New York yesterday (9/11)- you hear about the air of solemnity or sadness or pride. And I can't say that I noticed a complete change in how the city behaved. There were still sirens and people yelling and restaurants playing loud music. But the subtler changes, the changes you may only notice if you were paying attention, were pretty moving. There was something else in the air- a feeling of respect for each other. The cabbies didn't seem to be honking as much, the joggers and bikers politely avoided each other in the park, and every now and then you'd see a person clearly struggling with some overwhelming sadness, and everyone would just respectfully move on.
And I noticed the true beauty of the city. I stopped once on my jog- gasping and doubled over- and when I looked up I realized that I was looking across a beautiful lake, with this striking and looming city in the background, and everything was glowing so softly in the setting sun. In the perfect weather, on a day where people care a little more, and in the unspoken energy of peace the pervaded the city, I found a perfect moment.
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