As far back as my memory will take me, I can remember myself as a little girl who, like many, dreamt of nothing more than growing up to live and work in New York City. My daydreams included images of the upscale apartment I would own, the Devil-wears-Prada-type job I would hold, the posh friends I would have, oh, and of course, the Broadway musical that I would star in during my free time. It’s safe to say I was a little naive, but weren’t we all? Growing up in Westchester County, just about an hour north of the concrete jungle, I was fortunate enough to make many visits to my dream-home starting at a very young age. Back then, as most children do, I only saw the beauty in it. The majestic skyscrapers, the colorful lights, and the crowded streets were all purely magical to my young eyes. Well, times have slightly changed.
Fast-forward to present-day, where I, a rising senior in college, am beginning to live out my big-city dreams as an intern for a company located just outside of Times Square. I am not yet living in my fabulous apartment, so I am forced to make a commute of about an hour and forty minutes each way. As you can imagine, this gives me a lot of time to think, and I often reflect on how the little girl who once looked at Manhattan as a place that had achieved perfection, is slowly turning into a jaded New Yorker. Yes, I know it’s a bit soon, but I can’t fight off the inevitable any longer. Don’t get me wrong, New York City is still what I see when I picture my future, but now that I am an adult, my eyes are open to much more. I could harp all day on every aspect of the city and my opinions on it, but I will spare you what could turn into a dissertation. Instead, I have chosen to vent on one topic in particular that is a big part of my daily commute and therefore my life; walking. These are my daily thoughts:
1. “Please, MOVE.”
This is Manhattan, people. There are places we all have to be. I have a job to get to and trains to catch, as does the rest of New York. If you’re looking for a leisurely stroll, then take your camera and your baby stroller to, I don’t know, Nebraska? I’ve got a big bag full of papers digging into my shoulder and I’m sweating profusely, I will feel no remorse after violently pushing you out of my way.
2. “No, I don’t want to buy whatever it is you’re selling.”
Judging from the amount of times I have been approached on the sidewalk and asked to do a product trial or listen to some sales pitch, I must have “sucker” tattooed on my forehead. I don’t want to listen to your spiel because I’m broke and have better places to be. Sorry.
3. “Keep your mixtape away from me.”
This is similar to the previous thought, but specifically directed toward the people in the street and on the subway who feel the need to force their raps and other performance pieces on me. When I was young and innocent, I can remember a man on the sidewalk handing a CD to me. I accepted it, said thank you, and began to walk away. He immediately said that I needed to pay him for it, and that was the day I learned that nothing is free. I now avoid these people completely.
4. “Please don’t let this grate break, please don’t let this grate break.”
I avoid walking over subway grates as best as I can, but more often than not, the crowded sidewalks will force me to do so. I immediately wince and think to myself, “Well, if this is how I go, then so be it.” Dramatic, yes, but I’m sure you think it too. With that being said, walking over the grates gives me a slight adrenaline rush that adds excitement to my day. I’m not sure what that says about my life, but I’m sure it’s not good.
5. “This is not Disney, those character costumes are creepy.”
I’m not sure what cheap, dollar store these people get them from, or what pile of dirt they store them in, but the Elmos and Mickey Mouses that are seen on the city streets always look like dingy knock-offs that are falling apart. I cringe every time I see a poor, out-of-town family taking photos with them, and I hope they realize that those Disney World imposters are expecting a tip.
6. “WHAT is that smell?”
Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of times that I get a delicious whiff of Nuts 4 Nuts or surprisingly nice smelling street meat. However, nine times out of 10, the fumes entering my nostrils are coming from garbage juice. You know what I’m talking about; all garbage has that same rotting smell, and the city is full of it.
7. “Is it raining or...”
Or did a drop of nasty, air-conditioner water just drip down my face? Even though the sun is shining and there is not a cloud in the sky, I’m going to tell myself it’s rain because, well, the latter is pretty disgusting.
8. “I am so sorry, I don’t have any change.”
There is a sweet, homeless man that holds the door open for people at Grand Central every, single day when I am on my way home from work. And every, single day I forget that he’s going to be there, and I feel terrible as I watch people rush through the door he holds open, ignoring his existence. I just don’t carry cash on my person often, and therefore always end up feeling like a bag of trash.
9. “This is the life.”
Despite it all, the slow walkers, the unidentifiable smells, and the obnoxious hecklers, New York is truly the greatest city in the world. At least, in my eyes it is. As I walk through the streets to work each day, sure, there are a lot of curse words flipping through my head as I wish people would move faster, but there is also the thought of how lucky I am to be in such a remarkable place, and I will never take it for granted.
