Isn't it odd how some things that are unbelievable achievements or almost miracles, after a while become very ordinary and mundane? For example, I flew to New York City last week for my annual visit. I was in a "small" twin-prop plane, and the captain announced after we took off that we would only be flying at 20,000 feet today. You know, instead of the typical 39,000 feet. As if hurtling through the air in a tin can with blades whizzing near my head at a mere 20,000 feet was not at all impressive. I can now travel from one city to another in an hour when a few hundred years ago it could take days. Not that long ago, you would have to set aside at least a month, and a small fortune, just to travel to Europe and back by boat. When I get these thoughts, I can't help but feel amazed.
It happened again when my friend and I were walking down the street and stumbled across a very familiar looking firehouse. We both thought that it couldn't be what we thought it was, but in a manner that has become totally normal and routine, we proceeded to pull out the smart phone and look it up. And sure enough, it was the firehouse from the Ghostbusters movies. I remember when the idea of having information in our pockets seemed so futuristic and the stuff of science fiction. Sometimes, if you stop to think about it, it really is incredible.
But I digress...
Oh New York...no longer a destination, more like an old friend. Yet even after all these years, I'm still able to find something new to see or experience. At the same time, I also have my little traditions and rituals, like taking the night photo in Times Square in the same spot, or being stunned by the shoe departments at Macy's and Saks (it never gets old).
Highlight of the weekend: seeing Neil Patrick Harris live on Broadway, in full drag and performing his guts out in "Hedwig and the Angry Inch". What's remarkable about this is that if my friends had been able to come with me to NYC as planned, I wouldn't have been able to get a ticket to this show. And I wouldn't have been able to get my hands on a copy of the fake playbill for "Hurt Locker - The Musical", which is hilarious. Once again, the universe aligned itself to show me that things always do happen for a reason.
Profound moment of the weekend: standing next to the infinity pools at the 9/11 Memorial. I'm still struck by how SMALL the footprints of those two towers were. I mean, they are a fair size, but when you stand there and look across, it doesn't seem possible that this was the base that supported a building that was over 100 storeys tall. Another small miracle of engineering and human ingenuity.
Then realize that they were destroyed by flying tin cans...
"If only New York wasn't so far away, I promise the city won't get in our way"
