Reading the headlines and watching the news you would think NYC has the market cornered on crime, especially in the subways . Granted some terrible things happen here, but terrible things can and do happen everywhere. Maybe its because bad news sells more papers and gets more media attention but luckily I’m not trying to sell papers or trying to promote any story on TV, instead I just want to share another reason why I love the Big Apple.

   I took the Uptown One train to 86th Street today for a 1:00 meeting. As I started walking up the steep flight of stairs to street level at 86th Street (since every subway is underground, every stop has a steep flight to climb), I saw an elderly woman pulling a large portable grocery cart behind her as she struggled up the steps (I know, I know, but she looked a lot older than me!). She was pretty far ahead of me but moving slowly, so I thought maybe I could reach her and offer to help. As she got to the first landing, however, a woman who was coming down the steps and saw her struggling, turned around and, although I couldn’t hear the conversation, by her body language I knew she offered to help. The older woman gratefully relinquished her cart to this good Samaritan who was pausing in her rush to catch her train.

 Such a nice story, but wait, there’s more! As the kind stranger reached the second landing a young (and very handsome) guy who had obviously witnessed everything stopped in his rapid descent, turned around, said something to both women, grabbed the handle and effortlessly whisked the cart the rest of the way up the steps. Rather than just leave it he waited patiently for the woman to reach him. The owner of the cart, the two good Samaritans and I, coming up behind everyone, met at the top. The Samaritans were all smiles as the cart owner profusely thanked and blessed them. Then they both quickly headed back down the two flights of steps to continue their journeys. Having witnessed it all, I was also all smiles, especially when the cart owner exclaimed, “look what just happened, who says NYers aren’t kind?”, and then blessed me as well. The entire incident couldn’t have lasted more than a few minutes but it definitely colored my world today.

Seeing this today stopped me in my tracks. It literally covers the entire facade of the Saks 5th Avenue building!

Saw this poster on my way home today

“With Israel, with democracy”

The facade of the Liguria Region building in Piazza De Ferrari lit up this evening as a sign of peace and closeness to the Israeli people

“When we defend Israel, we’re not only defending a state that has the right to protect its citizens, but a foundation of democracy that is precious to all of us. Terror cannot prevail” these are the words of the President of the Liguria Region Giovanni Toti to raise awareness among the Ligurians and the country to the support of the Israeli community, threatened by the Islamic fundamentalists of Hamas on the Gaza Strip

For non-New Yorkers, Citerella is a rather fancy high-end food emporium (as high end grocery stores sometimes tend to be called!). On my way home from pilates and brunch with a friend this morning I stopped there to pick up a few specialty items for out of town company arriving to stay with me this week.

Standing in front of the gourmet cheese counter lost in thought and staring at the vast array of beautiful cheeses on display I was oblivious to the busy Sunday morning shoppers as they wound their way around me.

Perhaps I was looking way too contemplative for someone making a cheese decision, I will never know, but suddenly the department manager appeared in front of me startling me out of my thoughts and asking if he could help me. Believe me, this was a noteworthy event, not only because he had stopped his busy slicing, dicing and wrapping to approach me but because I usually have to wave and wait to get anyone’s attention even when it’s not a crowded Sunday morning. “I wish you could”, I sighed “It’s just that I don’t know exactly what I’m looking for”. At that he dramatically threw up his arms and loudly proclaimed “You sound exactly like my first wife!”. This made me and everyone within hearing distance, including the rest of the counter staff, burst out laughing.

After regaining my composure, and apologizing for bringing up any unpleasant memories (he laughed forgivingly!) I made my choices, worked my way through the crowds, checked out, and walked home chuckling to myself the entire time.

While riding the crosstown bus last Sunday, I couldn’t help but overhear a conversation the attractive 40ish woman sitting on a seat under the clearly noted signage stating “this seat reserved for the elderly” (no way would I EVER sit there!) was having with her credit card company. Her designer tote and designer handbag took up two more seats, and her small designer dog (on a designer leash) stood in the middle of the aisle.  Get the picture? Her decibel level was loud enough to ensure the entire bus could hear her end of the conversation, which went like this…

   “American Express? This is Jane…..I just received a text from my platinum card saying my payment is overdue…pause “yes, my name is Jane (she then spelled her last name), my account number is 34xxxxxxxxx” pause, “yes, my address is” (for Jane’s sake I won’t add her full name, address or her account number here but trust me, an entire busload of people heard every word and every number!).

  We also heard she was a New Yorker not a tourist so unless it was a crazy stunt I still cannot believe her naïveté and just hope, for her sake, she doesn’t have her credit card or her identity stolen.   As she exited the bus on Central Park West still talking to Amex I glanced around and exchanged incredulous looks with a few of my fellow passengers sure that, like me, they were thinking (in caps) ONLY IN NY!!