Quick Musings: venturing out
By: Wendy C Turgeon
Tags: Pandemic Diaries, NYC

The iconic Empire State Building — but did I have to tell you?

Yesterday was my first venture into the city (aka New York City; is there another one?) in over a year. Since Covid hit New York, I have not particularly wanted to take mass transit and be in a place with thousands of people. But yesterday, I did. And it was wonderful.

I live about an hour and a half outside of NYC so the LIRR is the main way to get into Manhattan. My train was not crowded which was welcome and amazingly it ran without hitch. (Of course, on the way home we ended up on a bus due to a broken track but let’s not ruin the moment.) The main impetus to my travel was not only to see the city again but to do some shopping: stock up on loose tea at Harney’s, return a swimsuit that was a bad idea, and pick up a birthday present for my daughter-in-law. Despite my current painful bout of sciatica, I managed to walk here and there to achieve my goals. The day was lovely: a June day with mild temps, sun mixed with clouds. I was easily transported back many years ago to growing up in the city and exploring its treasures on my own. Whenever I visit now, I often reflect on my childhood spent in a city that still embraced all income levels and where consumerism was not as powerful a force as it is today. –Which is saying quite a bit since NYC has always been about beautiful things.

I had purposively [purposefully]brought an umbrella and raincoat to assure it would not rain and as double insurance did not hang out my wash back at home.

Sidebar: yes, I am absolutely the weather god when it comes to rain. If I hang out clothes to dry (my preferred method) a crystal blue sky will cloud over almost immediately. If I put them in the dryer, clouds will part in an apotheosis of sun. Happens every time so I have drawn the inevitable conclusion that I have that agency. Accept my power and let’s move on.

I wore my mask in stories, all of which posted signs requiring it. On the street there was a mix of those with and those without. Fully vaccinated, I was not too worried about skipping the mask but often put it on as a courtesy to others. That point is often missed by those anti-maskers. It is not all about you, guys. The city bustled and looked pretty much like I remembered it from February 2020 although many store fronts were posted as available for rent. You could see the toll of closure on these small businesses. Some of my favorite stores had moved and others closed down. Still, just being there was a pleasure. Life was clearly returning to the beleaguered city. The subway was unusually clean but that too is a result of the city’s attempt to protect its citizens and visitors. New York demonstrates human resiliency in its most glorious form.

I have not lived in New York for many years and now I could never afford it. But I always feel a comforting sense of home when I walk the streets, dodge cars and trucks, and enjoy the cacophony and diversity that is NYC. Putting aside the cost, everyone belongs in New York and that is surely something to celebrate. New Yorkers navigate through the streets, perhaps not looking at anyone but seeing everything. It is a peculiar NYC talent to seemingly ignore all around one while being acutely aware of the location and demeanor of every person one passes. That is not necessarily judgmental as one can also be delighted by the personalities that shine in the city. And of course, sometimes we are not so delighted. It beckons all of humanity to come, be themselves, and try to live a full life. Not always easy and certainly not for everyone, but the New York I grew up in had that air of open armed acceptance, well — I guess I have to qualify that a bit. But that is New York for you, a chameleon of shifting colors and meanings, glowing in its own brilliance.

Again, that is not to deny its dark side where individuals get lost or eaten up by the sheer enormity and sometimes deeply uncaring world. I recognize the ways in which Covid has had a particularly insidious effect on those who live there, those who could not escape to the suburbs or country.

I enjoyed my sojourn into The City and invite all of you to give it a go. Or venture to your local city that you might have been avoiding during pandemic times. Rediscover it, and yourself, again.