Unpacking the sensory overload that is New York City. Part1.
The suitcase is the easy part. Check the pockets for ticket stubs, receipts, tissues, gum wrappers... toss the rest into the washing machine. Add (Roll) Tide - what else? - and Downy. Press start.
Brain, not so easy.
On Macy's Herald Square. Yes, Virginia, there can be too much of a good thing. Did not have the least desire to shop. Having my head examined later. Came home with a three coffee mugs (The Met, Birdland and one free with the purchase of a golf hat), two (100%) pashminas - the kind you get in Chinatown for $5, not the one at the Guggenheim for $250 - and the one golf hat.
People at the Guggenheim and Met:
(Whispered) ...the brush strokes... the use of light and shadow...revolutionary... social commentary
Us at the Guggenheim and Met:
Wow. That looks like a "real" picture (Rembrandt - Portrait of a Man)
I could have done that. [four black streaks on a white canvas; pile of torn up strips of material on the floor (complete with guard standing there to make sure nobody moved them)]
Two paintings - one a Jackson Pollock, one not a Jackson Pollock but once believed to be a Jackson Pollock... hanging a few feet from one another. If "they" couldn't tell the difference then what makes them different?
Real People of NY:
Lady in Herald Square - How are you? We are fine, how are you? I'm trying to be fine. (Hi, hello, can you help me out?)
Man in the subway - shaking his head at the dumb Southerners looking for the Q train... THERE! CAN'T YOU SEE MY FINGER POINTING! Note: he worked there, it was his job to help people find their way. Also note: there were lots of things in the direction his finger was pointing. Yes. He yelled. For the record, he was the only rude person we encountered.
Danny and Ralphie. Maintenance engineer and Bellman, respectively. Friendly smiles, firm handshakes... and vouchers for free meals at the hotel. Get to know the ones who make things work. There are rewards - not just the voucher kind. Plus, you never know who you're meeting... Jackson Pollock was once the maintenance man at the Museum of Non-Objective Painting - Guggenheim forerunner. And apparently he became kind of a big deal.
On Trump Tower - don't judge - well you probably already did so... Searched my purse then waved us through. Note: The exact same thing they did at the theater and museums - not to mention the airport, oh and church... they checked my purse at church. (There was visible secret service presence at the entrance, though.) Observations: It was spotless from the lobby to the ladies room - not always the case in NY. There was a grill/restaurant, ice cream shop, salad/sandwich bar, gift shops, bar - with pretty reasonable prices. Eric Trump was having lunch in the grill while we were there. He and his party walked right by us on his way out. He is very tall. The people who worked there were very nice. We felt welcomed. Nobody asked to see our voter registration card. No one was wearing a red hat.
On Birdland Theater - An Evening with Garrison Keillor. He is nearing 80-years-old and reinventing himself... from homespun to hip, from prairie to jazz club. Mildly successful at it but most endearing when he spoke of songs he learned in 3rd grade. Wisely surrounding himself with brilliant pianist, Richard Dworsky, and lovely duet partner, Heather Masse. His back to half of the audience, he turned toward Heather and she kindly led him through the show, restraining her much more beautiful voice to give space for his wavery, yet sweet singing. Politics were, surprisingly, more overt here than at the aforementioned "tower."
Food/NYC
Irish bacon, slab bacon, broiled tomato, shepherds pie, truffle fries with Parmesan and garlic, tiramisu, NY cheesecake (duh), Sabrett hotdogs, cheese pie, Shake Shack, short rib sliders, blueberry kakagori - Japanese dessert (layer shaved ice, blueberry sauce, poached blueberries, crushed graham crackers, lots more shaved ice, more blueberry sauce, more graham crumbs, buttermilk whipped cream)...
Food/Home
Three crackers and a piece of cheese.
Even so, glad to be home.. more unpacking to come. Selah.
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