Earlier I wrote, “There are serious compartmentalizations that have to happen in NY. There are certain concessions you have to make if you’re going to stay. At times you have to suspend beliefs, fears, repulsions, common sense, and even your humanity.  At other times you have to cling to each and every one of those to survive.” I think in this morning’s meditative writing exercise, I’d like to unpack that a little more.

What concessions, what compartmentalizations?  I guess I would start with the state of the streets. New York is not a clean city. There is litter, trash, and graffiti everywhere. You don’t have to try too hard to see rats, mice, cockroaches. There is shit and piss from a variety of animals (two-legged and four). It is always garbage or recycling day in one neighborhood or another. On those days, you can literally be walking through canyons of trash bags to get from one corner to another. In some of the more upscale parks and addresses, doormen, custodians, or superintendents will spend time each morning hosing down their sidewalks, making the granite slippery and trying to provide a cleaner stretch. It doesn’t usually last the day. Depending on where you are, construction or subway provides a constant film of dust and debris.

Rain does not have a cleansing effect here. Quite the opposite. The rain flushes out the unexpected and deposits the unknown into the pools and puddles at corners and crossings. Conveniently, there are trash receptacles on almost every corner, but with so many people on such a limited island, there’s only so much the sanitation department can manage. Folks make concessions. People avoid the gross and dirty things without losing their fast-paced stride. People soften their gaze, see past the garbage, walk past the trash, avoid the muck.

I do think most people who have the capacity do their part and don’t contribute to the problem, but you’re not going to find too many commuters stopping to pick up a blowing bag or greasy napkin, or a fast food wrapper. You’d never get to your destination. You’d be a modern-day Sisyphus, forever bent over collecting an unending amount of revolting waste.

Despite this condition, I believe this city is still the greatest city in the world and I am so grateful to be here.