John had invited Tim and I out for a walk the next day, showing us special bits of New York, the stylish bits. We metroed south into Tribeca and John treated us to a favourite morning hangout, the Grey Dog Café near SmartDesign's office. We enjoyed our food, watching Sunday society in a happenin' NY neighbourhood. On the way out of the café, I saw an older white-haired lady nonchalantly pressing the power button on a spanky 15" Dell laptop. Cool! Technology does have its benefits. And converts. We walked east through the Tribeca furniture district, to the Apple Store, the MoMA store, then northeast through SoHo to find a garden Tim's family had asked him to find 'as seen on TV.' It was a long walk, but the quiet garden was enjoyable, especially as I looked through the neighbour's fence with wide-eyed admiration. My brother, always a what-can-I-construct-with-this-junk nut, would have wiggled with glee.
We metroed back to the hotel, sent John on his way home, and Tim and I shared a companionable taxi ride to the Newark airport. We went our separate ways, the adventure finished. A few people in the airport were making comments about never coming back. Why? So the power went out. Are you that dependant on power to make your life enjoyable? Are you convinced that NY is suddenly bad? That the power will never go out anywhere else? I was amazed at how well NY dealt with a major change to the daily routine, at what could be considered a threat. Calm, cool, and collected, people went on with living. I slipped into my solo-travel mode, enjoying the motion and anonymity. The way home was graced with a dusky red moon rising and setting as the plane arced between cities. And New York? What of my first impression, my tall grey yellow taxi? NY isn't tall buildings or yellow taxis; NY is a conglomerate of people, of motion, of energy. NY exists without Broadway, without Times Square, and even without the WTC. I think that motion attracted the traveller in me. I still NY-walk to this day, not only on the street, but also in life. And with an infectious grin.
