I really enjoyed this post, mrs f, the snippets of conversation, the photographs.
I saw a PBS documentary recently: scientists found skeletal remains of what may be the ‘missing link.’ The question arose: What makes us human? Language? Using tools? Or is it our social selves: our ability to be polite, to help each other, to follow self-imposed rules, navigate busy NYC streets at the height of papal visits. . .
Humanity is everywhere in the hustle of bustle of NYC streets and underground subway stations: often messy; sometimes ugly; always, a colorful jumble of sights and smells and sounds.
On a wing and a prayer, by the grace of God or fate or luck, we’ll keep this jostle going.
I wondered how you were weathering the papal visit! It was tempting to try and head south for it….but not tempting enough, clearly.
This post made me sooooooo homesick. Although I must admit I had a bad case of taxi-arm in my 20-year NYC residency (mostly because I seemed to be running late so darned often), I also spent a great deal of subway time in observations just like the ones here in Fringeville today.
I may also have been one of the few full-time residents of Manhattan who would actually stop to enjoy the street music (when I was NOT running late, that is). Truly, I miss it all – and your trip down memory lane (for me) is bittersweet.