ATC in NYC

So we were sitting in Zabar’s, eating our bagels and engaging in that quintessential New York sport, people-watching.

We noticed an elderly man at the opposite side of a crosswalk, his face downcast and looking more than a bit timid. He stopped a stranger approaching him from the intersection and we assumed he would proceed to engage him in some crazy talk.

But he did not. He needed help getting across the street. And the stranger obliged, allowing the old man to take his arm as he slowly wobbled his way to our side of the traffic light.

I feel like this city takes a lot of hits for being so crowded… more than 8 million people. But in reality, isn’t that a plus? The opportunity to have the capacity for so much kindness floating around a few square miles is really quite extraordinary.

Forgive the shameless Jule Styne/Bob Merrill reference, but people who need people are indeed incredibly lucky. Take time to appreciate the people in your life, whether you live in a thriving metropolis or a tiny hamlet. It may be the last time you get to show someone a little love.

This is Ethel Cohen.

Ethel was our cab driver on the way to Magnolia Bakery this evening.

Blair tried to engage Ethel in friendly conversation. “How has your night been?” (Silence.) “How long have you lived in New York?” (Silence.)

Ethel did not know her way around Manhattan. She had to ask us for directions.

We like Ethel.

Top 5 Highlights of Day #2 in the City

1. Seeing >>All My Sons<< and realizing that Katie Holmes actually can pull off something other than that Joey Potter smirk

2. Playing it cool while birthday girl Nicole snapped photos and shook hands with Joey Potter’s >>real-life husband<<

3. Discovering that veal is nowhere near as nasty as I had imagined it to be (based solely on the way the word sounds) at the lovely Village eatery >>Po<<

4. Abandoning the fruit that comes with the fondue at >>Cafe Lalo<<, opting instead to go for the popular melted-chocolate-on-a-metal-stick route

5. Finding a free >>parallel parking spot<< in a city where you have to pay to use the restroom

So that shady bus I was talking about in the last post? Let’s just say it was, indeed, a little shady.

For instance, the pic at left shows me and one of my traveling buddies Anna having arrived at the bus station (and by “station” I mean the parking lot of the international market on Murfreesboro Pike…) where we found the bus (good sign!) but no driver (woopsy!).

It was fine, though, because the driver showed up, we made it out of Nashville (eventually) and finally made it to NYC 15 and a half hours later. Woohoo! There was Chinese techno music. There were many impromptu stops to pick up passengers in both the parking lot of a Hardee’s and multiple BP stations (how do these people know when the bus is going to be there?!). There was even an instance when we left some poor soul at the Truckomat and had to turn around and fetch him. Hey, I’m just impressed we turned around…

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how you get to New York for $35. Voila!