Category: A Day in New York City

My New Year’s Resolutions…..For Other People

 

PLEASE RESOLVE NOT TO :

text when I’m behind you, especially on the subway steps, I’m always in a hurry!

take up two seats on a crowded subway train (or even if it’s not crowded).

clog up the checkout counter while you slowly and absentmindedly put your credit card or cash away, or even worse…. get to the checkout counter and dig through your oversized bag to find your wallet (how come you don’t know what you are required to do when you get to the cashier?!).

Push in front of everyone waiting for the traffic to clear at the corner so you can wait for the traffic to clear first!

eat your onion laden salad or sandwich on my subway car or on my flight.

forget that your iphone flashlight is still on after you’ve finished reading the restaurant menu or found a seat in the darkened theater, it’s shining right in my face!

AND to all my wonderful friends, family (and loyal readers:-)  I will trust you to make your own resolutions, but to me you are perfect! Keep being your loving, supportive and amazing selves. I am truly grateful to each of you and send my wishes for many more years filled with good health, happiness and the opportunity to fulfill your dreams.

Filling the days…..

In my attempt to be a disciplined blogger I’ll begin this post by addressing the first point in my  December 25th blog which, of course you remember was, “how do I fill the days without just filling the days?”.

Well….in addition to devotedly attending pilates sessions two mornings a week all year I signed up for  two weekly discussion groups, one focused on social and political issues and the other on foreign relations. Not only am I very interested in the topics but they had the additional attraction of beginning the first week of my “retirement”.  Next I signed up for a contemporary art appreciation class at the New School. It turned out to be an amazing learning experience for someone who knows very little about the art scene. My friend Merry who introduced me to the New School class also introduced me to some great women  and we wound up having lunch every week  before the class (maybe my favorite part of the day!) Our class homework consisted of  visiting galleries and museums exhibiting the work of artists chosen by the instructor as topics for his weekly lecture.

In addition to becoming an art expert (hah!) I discovered that it’s important to pay attention to the museum and gallery hours-it’s not fun to “shlep” all the way downtown to the Whitney on a Tuesday only to discover Tuesday is the one day of the week the Whitney is closed!  I also discovered that gallery visits feel less intimidating when I am fulfilling a homework assignment rather than, as on previous occasional visits, fighting the uneasy feeling that I was taking up space when I was only window shopping. Without the guilt I felt the gallery staff seem almost appreciative that I paid them a visit!

It was very surprising but only logical that by filling my days with things that interest me I would meet many new likeminded and interesting people (hence numbers 1 & 2 on my list converge). This happy blending has provided opportunities to attend events I might never have known about or, even if I did, never planned to attend. One such event immediately springing to mind was a Saturday evening performance of gospel music performed by artists who had never previously sung professionally. At this concert, held in an auditorium in the heart of Harlem on a hot July evening, I once again came face to face with the magic of embracing new experiences even if , at first, they appear to be out of my comfort zone.