Being Aware in NY

I moved from Los Angeles to New York for a number of reasons. One being that there are more journalism/writing/editing opportunities in NYC, but more importantly to me, I moved to NY because I was getting sick of LA and needed to dive into a new atmosphere. I needed to experience life as a foreigner once again. I'm not a foreigner in a strange land, but I am in a new place and I'm suddenly aware of EVERYTHING around me. I'm constantly observing people and their interactions with each other. I feel that this city is conducive to people watching. I suppose it's because of the sheer magnitude of people in such a geographically small area.

The subway is a great place to people watch. I told myself I'd start bringing a book on the train, but truthfully, I enjoy looking at the people. Today, I watched two very good looking guys walk through the doors of the train. In a matter of moments I noticed that the men were gay and had an amazing relationship. I couldn't hear what they were talking about, but the way they looked at each other and their subtle pinkie finger hand holding made me smile.

It seems to me that the subway would be a great place to meet people. I guess New Yorkers think differently. Everyone is packed into the subway and in the week I've been here, I've only witnessed one random conversation and it didn't even involve me. Yesterday, I got on the train holding a coffee in one hand and my purse in the other. As the train began to move, I lost my balance and literally fell into a man's lap. I told the guy I was sorry and situated myself on the empty seat next to him. It seemed like a perfect ice breaker but instead of carrying on a conversation with the man or the hot guy across from me who witnessed my fall, no one said a word.

I've become really aware of children in New York. I think it started with my fascination with the nanny culture. I'm addicted to look in every stroller I pass and then comparing what the child looks like to the person pushing them. It's amazing how many children get escorted around the city by their nanny. My fascination spread from strollers to children in general.

The other day, while on the train out of the city to Tuxedo, New York (where I worked at the NY Renaissance Festival selling falafel for the weekend), I observed an amazing family dynamic. The family consisted of a girl who was about 9 and a boy around 3 or 4, a father and a very tired mother. The boy and girl got along great and were entertaining themselves quite nicely. The children's laughter is what first caught my attention. At one point, the girl grabbed the boy's nose and pretended as though she had taken it (you know the trick where you stick your thumb through your second and third fingers). Instead of laughing, the boy got really upset, "Give me my nose back!" he yelled. The girl laughed but the boy was convinced that his sister had just taken his nose. He kept yelling at his sister to give his nose back. On the verge of tears, he began hitting his sister. Meanwhile, the girl and the parents (and I) were laughing hysterically at the boy. Finally the girl touched his nose. "Thank you," he replied. Still laughing at her brother, the girl touched his nose again and the boy began yelling at her to return it. After returning the nose again, she touched his eyes and told him she now had his eyes. The boy stood up, opened his mouth and spread his eyes open and moved his head slightly from side to side, like a blind man who had just gotten his eyesight back. It was hilarious! Although he could obviously see, with much conviction, he yelled at his sister to give him his eyes back. SO incredibly funny/adorable!

I witnessed another adorable moment today as I was sitting on the steps inside the fountain at Washington Square Park on the Lower East Side. I sat enjoying the gorgeous weather, reading a magazine, talking to my friend who was sitting next to me, and of course, people watching! Out of the corner of my eye I saw a little boy who was about 2 years old, wearing bright green pants that had been rolled up, running around the inside steps of the fountain. As he approached I kindly moved my feet up one step to let him pass. I then watched him move his little legs and run with his arms outstretched for balance. It was early afternoon and the fountain was full of people sitting just as I was. People's reactions were priceless. Those that weren't completely absorbed in their books kindly moved their feet up one step and watched in wonder as the boy in the bright green shorts passed. When he reached a person that was oblivious to his presence, he timidly stepped down and then back up and continued on his way around the circle. The girl next to me saw the boy from the beginning of his adventure and the two of us talked and laughed hysterically as we watched the boy. When he got to where his mother was standing, he quickly climbed the steps and she lifted him out.

I LOVE being immersed in every moment and observing everything and everyone around me.