I love New York - unapologeticly. I have tried Boston and D.C. to no avail. A recent brief visit to L.A. tried hard to seduce me - the weather! the mountains! the ocean! But the people there all seemed either unnaturally chill or chipper - stress a little please, complain already...).
No, New York has my heart. This week I was reminded why.
Here we are: Out to dinner on a Thurday night to celebrate a friend's new job (new job in this economy - yes - I have impressive friends ). In the West Village - the epitomy of subtle swank. Leaving restaurant - we head for more wine. Bottles later, we are leaving for the evening. On the sidewalk, the group is splitting up. Uptown, east side, west side, other boroughs...looking for cabs, saying goodbye. So good to see you. Let's do it again soon. Yes, yes, absolutely. Call me. Text me. Email an Outlook invite. If it is not on my calendar, it won't happen.
WAIT, someone says. Loudly. OMG. What? What is it? Like dominos, the concern spills throughout out. You OK? What happened???
Yes, yes, fine, fine. But do you see that?
And suddenly, we pause. Cabs are waived away. Blackberries and iPhones still. We follow the commenter's gaze, unsure where to focus. What - those guys on the street? What? Am I drunk? Or not drunk enough? I see nothing. What is it???
No, no - LOOK - through the window. Across the street.
The pizza place? What? Who cares? Is there pizza good? Are they on a TV show?
And then, there she is. A white woman.. 40s? Biceps the size of logs. Eating a slice. Innocuous enough. But. Oh. WOW. Yes, now I see.
The HAIR.
It hangs below her shoulders in length - and extends four times her shoulder width. Big Big. Big. Frizzy big. Blond and black - is that ombre? Definitely achievable only by frying. She's sitting across from a guy about a quarter of her size. It is 11 pm on a Thursday night. They are engrossed in conversation. My one unfulfilled wish is to be able to hear what they are talking about.
Smile. Pause. Deep breathe. Another look.
Phone, street - Cabbie!
Ahh, New York. How I love you.
