The cab drove from Laguardia through Queens where I wanted to soak in the Tudor style apartments, Bronx style apartments, garden apartments, single family houses that cried out “Archie Bunker slept here” when the cab driver kept interrupting my reverie. “Where are you from?” Uh here, I thought but didn’t say. “Do you work?” I nodded something. “Are you married?” He kept repeating that question. I looked at the cab. Yes it was a licensed yellow that I had gotten at the cab line at the ugliest airport anywhere. Finally I spoke. “Could you be quiet?” “But I’m asking are you married?” “Actually I don’t answer questions like that. I am a New Yorker and I’m paying you so I don’t have to entertain you.”

He kept asking questions anyway. When we arrived in Manhattan I wanted to memorize the buildings that were so familiar and most so old. My father grew up in East Harlem and though his building was thrown down for Schoenberg Plaza there ae many buildings that look like his. And many buildings that look as if they could have been in The East Village before gentrification. And many other buildings with real memories or memories of similar ones.

I wondered if there’s an expiration date on men trying to be too friendly. it’s not as if i’m in or near my glory days. I found men who act like that obnoxious then and just as obnoxious now. More because the men you wish would look at you don’t.
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I’m back from NY where it rained for seven out of eight days but I had a great time anyway. Though I hate rain I braved it and walked because to take transportation in Manhattan, public or private, most of the time is to lose the essence of NY.

I was offline most of the week and loved it. I began to remember the lost art of conversation without googling for a quick answer.

Of course I’m all bronchial today and really happy I don’t live in NY. Though I love it, everybody’s faces and bodies seemed gray. Not hair, just the rest. That was a bit disconcerting.

I had old metrocards and did use the subway a few times. The first time I had five cents left. This was disconcerting until I found out the subway fare had gone up and you’re left with very strange increments.

I saw almost all NY friends including one very special one who I hadn’t seen in many a decade. We picked up where we left off. That was very cool. I wish I could have told my parents. My friend and I met at camp when we were nine or so and my parents always loved her and her family. They’re very special. It was great seeing a friend who knew my parents when they were young and ruled the world or so I thought. She thought her parents did also and I don’t have too many friends with that particular memory or mind set. We learn that nobody including our parents are perfect or close to it and I think we really always knew but as long as our parents are on this earth we feel the pull of unconditional love toward us. You pull the unconditional love toward the next generations. I hope I’m explaining this somewhat coherently.

I went to a Harlem with a group of friends, only one Black and she wanted to know where all the Black people had moved.

Spirit was three hours late last night. By the time I arrived at the airport here I was a space cadet.

I have to get back to bed or watch my flat screen TV or lie in my newly decked irregular plot of land. It’s 650 square feet which is the same or a bit larger than my Manhattan apartment which brought me a nice sum of money. For once I don’t feel guilty but am still in shock I pulled that off and was able to buy a wonderful house and renovate it to my standards.

I will do 3WW next week. I’m too tired to comment or think of using a prompt.