June 13, 2006
Cutting it down
They're cutting down one of the trees along the back of the property which surrounds my apartment building. I was looking at that tree in the past couple of weeks and I knew it was coming. The bark had been worn off the sidewalk side and it was rotting from the inside out. But, it's still sad to see them cut it down. It's even more depressing that they likely won't replace it with a new tree so there will be yet another bald, treeless spot in the city. Less wonderful leaves helping to clean the air. Sad.
Posted by John at 01:27 PM | Comments (8) | TrackBack
December 03, 2005
Strangers
I was watching people stream out of a subway car the other day and I didn't recognize anyone. Everyone was a complete stranger. This isn't surprising for a subway in a city of millions where everyone goes about their lives on their own erratic schedules; most trips are spent traveling with strangers. What had really occurred to me was how quickly any one of those unknown faces could become a known face. On any given day one of those strangers could start to become a friend. A lover. A rival. All it might take is an offhand comment which sparks a conversation. A smile for holding open a door. Just like that, a face could have a story attached. In a city full of strangers there is now someone else I know.
I'm amazed at how that works. Someone who a short time ago was unknown is now a person I know. Regardless of what becomes of the relationship that can't be taken away. Someone who at one time my eyes would just slide over now instinctively catch: I know you. I've met a lot of people in the past few years. Some have become friends, a few more than friends, most neither. A lot of them I would know as they stepped off the subway. And yet a very short time ago they were all strangers.
Posted by John at 03:35 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack