Saving myself: A postcard from St Augustine

This winter has been brutal for many people, and I am no exception.  I cannot remember a winter that has affected me so harshly.  The cold and the dark, combined with an unrelenting and immensely stressful work situation, nearly broke me.  Where I once looked around in wonder, I now stared down at the sidewalk, huddled against the chill.  I no longer sought out new experiences, and instead took refuge in my apartment.  I slept long and hard, and awoke unrefreshed.  I drank gallons of Diet Coke in an effort to stay awake.  I constantly craved junk food and carbohydrates, often giving in, and unsurprisingly gained weight.  I fantasized every day about quitting my job and New York, and running away to a tropical island.

What happened to the wide-eyed girl that so loved exploring this city?

The day that I arrived at work in tears is the day that I finally realized that I either needed to buy a lamp designed for people with Seasonal Affective Disorder or take a much-needed vacation- I hadn't had a break since late September.  I had just hired a temporary employee whose efforts had already started to make a difference in my own workload, and I could now afford to leave for awhile, even though it was during our busiest season.  I didn't really have a choice-- I needed to mend.

The normal choices- a cruise, a resort- were not options for my non-profit budget.  With a bit of searching, I came across Discovery Yoga, a small yoga school based in St. Augustine, Florida.  It offered a Rest & Relaxation package for just $85 a night-- a single room with private bath, kitchen facilities, and one yoga class per day.   The center is within walking distance of the quaint tourist town of St Augustine, and there is a free beach shuttle.  A vegan restaurant is just around the corner from the school.

The week has been a godsend.  I've taken an eco-tour to see dolphins and birds in the estuary, spent time on the beach, walked the ancient streets of St Augustine (the first town in the United States), had an exceptional massage, practiced yoga each day with excellent teachers, and had amazing healthy, delicious food.   Every single person I've encountered here has been kind and hospitable.  I've not heard a cross word or a honking horn the entire week.   The cacophony of city traffic has been replaced by the roar of ocean waves.

I need to bring the St Augustine spirit with me back to New York.  I cannot wait for vacation to find peace, but rather need to weave it into each day.  I have some ideas, starting with ceasing to use my blackberry for an alarm clock (and thus reading work email first thing each day! crazy!).  Exploring the city's abundance of yoga studios and meditation centers is also high on my priority list.  And maybe, maybe, I can then ease into spring and sun and longer days with my spirit intact. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

A year ago I went on an expedition with my friend M, and found a most unexpected valentine. 

The sheer delight of the discovery prompted me to follow through with the suggestion of another friend to start a blog and capture my experiences in New York.

Thus it's the 1st anniversary of the blog.  Thanks to all who sit on my shoulder and explore the city with me!  It's been wonderful to have your company.

And Happy Valentine's Day!  As the unexpected valentine reminds us, "You are loved.  Yes, you."

Everyone Counts.

At 9 pm, I am usually winding down for the day and getting ready for bed.

Last night at 9 pm, I took a shower and put on my warmest clothes.  I was hyper-aware of my warm cozy apartment, the pleasure of taking a shower, the plentiful food in my cabinets.

And then I headed outside to join 3,000 of my neighors and take part in New York City's Homeless Outreach Population Estimate (HOPE) 2011.  Each year the city does a census of homeless people in public places to evaluate their outreach efforts.  Every single street of every borough is covered on foot by teams of volunteers.

I met my friend E at Hunter College, where we crowded with scores of other volunteers and were trained on what to do.  Stay with your team.  Follow the route on your map. Stay in public areas. Approach individuals respectfully.  Ask the questions on the form.  Determine if this person would be considered homeless.  Listen to your instincts if a situation feels unsafe.  Ask the individual if they would like to be taken to a shelter.  If yes, call this number.  Wait with the person until the outreach workers arrive with their van.  If an individual appears to be in danger-- exposed limbs, close to a busy roadway, incoherent-- call 911.  Tonight is Code Blue, meaning that it's very cold and you should wake any person who appears to be sleeping to make sure they are okay.

The teams of 4-5 volunteers received their instructions, their assigned area, and were asked to start their walk at exactly 12:15 am.  E and I were on the same team, headed up by an engineer who worked for the city.  We had two NYU freshman to round out our group.  Our assignment was relatively easy-- three consecutive routes in the mid East 60s.  Other groups were assigned areas that required police escort.

We walked quite awhile without encountering any homeless people.  About halfway through our route, we came across a disheveled man sitting on cardboard on the steps of a row house.  Our leader approached the man while we stood a respectful distance away.  About half way through the questioning, the guy broke into a smile and congratulated us.  He was a decoy, placed there to ensure that every street was indeed being covered.   We received a sticker to show that we "passed".  We started walking again, and saw another gentleman, this one also proving to be a decoy.  Our group started to wonder if we would complete our assignment without encountering any people who were truly homeless.  We kept walking.

Ten minutes later, a figure emerged from a dark stretch of sidewalk, pushing a shopping cart overflowing with bags of recyclable cans.  Weathered face, tattered clothes, irrepressible spirit.  One of the students approached the man.  Would he be willing to answer some questions?  The gentleman immediately launched into a diatribe about the terrible way he had been treated at some shelters.  We listened and asked questions.  We asked if he would like to get a ride to a nearby center.  He consented, and the leader called for the outreach workers.  While our group waited, he regaled us with stories in his Scottish brogue.  He said he came to the US to serve in Vietnam, and later was invited to guard the White House.

What part of his stories were true, and what parts he believed to be true, is a question that will never be answered and of course does not need to be answered.  What was important is that a group of strangers bonded that evening, listening to each other's stories late into a bitter and snowy night, and made sure that all of us had a warm and safe place to sleep.  

Snowtropolis

Winter has tested even the most hardened New Yorker this year.  Yet few can deny the beauty of the early moments when the snow has settled and still maintains its white splendor.  I was just one of many this morning with a smile on my face and a camera in hand.

Piano Men

Music is especially powerful when it is encountered in an unexpected place.  Or in an unexpected form.

A recent visit to the Museum of Modern Art with E brought a wondrous spectacle and delightful sound:

Yes, that is a hole in the piano.... the artist arrived on the scene, sneaked in under the piano, and thread his body halfway out.  He bent over the keys and started the performance.  Ode to Joy, of sorts.  Beethoven.  Several minutes in, the artist started walking with the piano, the crowd first parting to allow him to pass, and then following him around the atrium.  Grins broke out throughout the crowd.

The performances even made the New York Times smile: I just popped out to play Beethoven

This weekend a longtime friend was in town, and we walked through Washington Square Park on a frigid Saturday.  The cold did not deter this pianist, and the notes of the theme song from the film The Piano floated out to meet us.   A mystery as to how the piano got there, and the pianist's fingers managed to stay flexible in the freezing temperature.  His presence and his playing simply made us happy (and him a little richer!).

The Welcoming Committee

W and I ventured out in the cold evening to find a hole-in-the-wall Mexican deli (Tehuitzingo ).  As we surfaced from the L train, we started giggling.  Subway art strikes again, this time from artist Tom Otterness, called Life Underground.

Tehuitzingo, taco heaven.

I was introduced to Tehuitzingo by my friend E, who knows more about restaurants in NY than anyone else I know.  It is a place I would never have looked at twice.  Virtually every block in NY has a deli, and it wouldn't ever occur to me to go in and order a meal.  Until now.  Authentic tacos for $2.50 each, and beverages straight from Mexico-- even bottled Coca-Cola.  There are no tables, just a narrow room with counters and bar stools. Tehuitzingo Deli & Grocery can be found at 695 10th Avenue, near 47th.

As embassies occupy ground that is technically owned by their country, and not the US, so is Tehuitzingo a wee bit of Mexico.  It is a transporting experience.

Chicken & rice taco + pumpkin blossom quesadilla:

Taco menu:

Festive decor: