Rachel Young

tuesday, august 14, 2001

I had a lot on my mind this afternoon. I let myself get worked up about something when I know I shouldn’t have. Everything always works out for the better—I’m a firm believer of this. So I allowed five minutes of pitiful sulking before I slapped myself out of it and found something to do to preoccupy my time.

I must have walked over fifteen miles in the city tonight. Walked uptown, then downtown, and everywhere in between. I thought I could walk forever at the rate I was going. But it was exactly what I needed to clear my head and regain composure. I did make a mental note, however, that Mondays are not the most sanitary or pleasant evenings to walk around in the city. Apparently it’s “Take-All-Your-Accumulated-Rotting-Crap-Out-on-the-Side-of-the-Street” night. Also known as trash day. Loads and loads of it every five steps I took.

Well, somewhere around mile 8 I decided to take a little break and rest for a while. I sat in Bryant Park and caught the last few minutes of the showing of Dr. Zhivago before the intermission. The conclusion is airing tomorrow night. So after the brief break, I continued on my journey and headed downtown. I waited at a traffic light at the corner of the park and a tall young gentleman with dark hair and dark eyes came up behind me and said something to me in a very soft-spoken voice. His English accent threw me off and I wasn’t sure what he said. He repeated himself and this time I understood he was asking me for directions to a particular building. Ask me for a street name with a number in it and chances are good I can give you directions, but a specific building?

“I’m sorry. I’m not sure where it is,” I courteously replied.

“Oh. You’re not from here?” he asked. And this began a ten minute civil conversation at the corner of Bryant Park. It ended with him saying, “I’ll see you tomorrow then. You are coming to see the conclusion of the movie, right?”

“We’ll see.” I smiled and waved goodbye. I would be very surprised if he actually took the time to scout the park out for me tomorrow. I don’t know if I’ll make it. If I had been in a better mood, I might have stayed and talked with him a little longer. But seeing as I was on a mission to clear my head this evening, long deep conversations with random strangers was not exactly high on my priority list.

But getting lost in good music always is. Onward I went until I hit HMV and spent a good time practically listening to every cd on the shelf. This store is going to rob me of all of my money. I already know this to be fact just as clearly as I know one day I’ll meet my Maker. My current obsessions are Train, Travis The Man Who, Depeche Mode Exciter, Michelle Branch The Spirit Room, and a couple dance mixes.

Music is comfort for the soul.

So finally at 1am, I’m home in my cozy apartment feeling much better although my legs are a bit sore. A good, long casual walk on a cool night with the occasional sprinkle is just what I needed (it would have been perfect had it not been for the overwhelming stench of everyone’s weekly garbage permeating my senses).

I love New York. I can’t imagine myself anywhere else right now.

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