New York

New York. Why did I let a year turn into two than three, than four since my last visit? There's really no excuse. I was starting to feel like stuck so I emailed a friend to see if his futon was free and booked my ticket on Amtrack. (Please note: I suffered a specific gut wrenching Canadian guilt for not purchasing my ticket via VIA rail right from the moment the first VIA rail agent said, “You purchased your ticket through AMtrack?” A total of three exclaimed that very sentiment. A railway, that once was the backbone of this country, VIA and its wonderful, cheerful staff – I let you down).

 Yes, I took the train and yes, it was an all day trip. Why? I had the time and there is something about train travel, the history and yes, the time that is the antithesis of our speedy and immediate culture that begs us to read a book, think, write, daydream as we look out the window and when the train chugs across the Niagara gorge, fields or through small American towns, when the weather is sunny and four hours later white flurries brush the landscape, there is a visual, scenic reminder that you are indeed moving. I am crossing over.

NYC Serenade. I arrive at Times Square subway station and jump off to hear the Ragtime music. The trumpet player moves around the platform, unconcerned he’s left his trumpet case on the other end of the platform overflowing with crumpled bills. I’m headed to the periphery of Harlem – 110th street and the northern edge of Central Park.

Union Square is bustling. The Hari Krishnas are chanting and drumming. I’m asked if I’m a New Yorker, I’m told by someone else I’m an International all within a span of 5 minutes. The energy is frenetic. Down the street on Broadway, I meet a man in Grace Church after attending a free lunchtime Bach concert. He ushers me to a plaque, a memorial to Edith Corse Evans who died in 1912 on the Titanic and was a parishioner of Grace church. He goes on to say, she saw a psychic when she was in London who told her she would die by water. When they were dropping the lifeboats, she refused hoping to avoid a watery grave. Trust me, you won't find this version in Wikipedia.

Ah, New York.