f r e s h s t a r t
Friday, December 17, 2004
A few thoughts on living here
I'm struck at times by the loneliness of this crowded city--the way that we manage to share relatively small amounts of space while staying wrapped up in our own little worlds. Some of what we do is necessary, some not so much. It is true that standing around in work clothes with your body pressed up against the bodies of strangers, requires a coping mechanism. I like looking around the train during my morning commute, observing train faces---the far-away, detached looks that people put on that effectively say, "I'm not staring at you, please don't talk to me." I don't like walking down a quiet street in my neighborhood and passing someone who doesn't want to say hi to me. I suppose the way we act it depends on the pace that we're moving at, physically and mentally. I behave differently when I'm running to catch my train than when I'm walking my dog after work.
Some of the friendliest people in my neighborhood are older people, and perhaps not coincidentally, fellow dog owners. Yosh, the old artist with the deaf little pug who lived down the block from me when I was lived on Olive still stops and says hello to me when I pass him on the street. His friend, the man with the lab who limps, also takes the time to say hi. I've noted to several people recently that I think dogs are a moral force. My dog acts as if I'm the most kind, wonderful, person the world, and I feel like I need to try to live up to his expectations. Perhaps they can also teach us to slow down a little.
19:30 1 comments
Comments:
Post a Comment
