I went to Central Park about a month ago with a friend to take pictures and most of the leaves had only just started changing color so we saw a lot of yellow and green. However, I went there yesterday with another another companion, henceforth referred to as R, and this time, there was definitely more color, along with bare branches. There were lots of reds and golden browns on the trees and the ground was carpeted with dry leaves. R wanted to jump into the leaves; it was probably out of fear that I would start crying that he didn't jump and drag me down. I don't like being too close to grass, trees, anything that contains insects. It might have also been because he felt like making up for the fact that he made me wait half an hour by myself in the cold, but I highly doubt it.
Despite the delay in arrival, we had a great day together. Well, I had a great day. I can't speak for my companion. R and I met by the ice skating rink where he rescued me from someone who was selling maps of the park and trying to make conversation with me. (Thank you, R) We walked around past the Great Lawn to the giant fountain (I'm sure it has a name, but I don't know it) and we stood by the lake for some time and watched the ducks and contemplated boating. Eventually, we walked some more around the lake and, after making another stop on a bridge to take some pictures and admire the scenery, we made our way towards Strawberry Fields so I could pay my respects to John Lennon. I actually did write him a letter, and I left it among some trees near the memorial. Some cleaning person in Central Park is probably having a laugh at the fact that I wrote an emotional, heartfelt letter to a dead Beatle who will never read it, but I think the universe will get my sentiments across to the person it was meant for, whether dead or alive. It actually rained today so my letter may not be more than just a wet piece of paper, in which case it'll disintegrate and ink will be soaked into the ground along with my message, which would mean it's now part of the earth. Or maybe I just am insane.
After walking around the park, we went to eat at this Italian restaurant that had delicious wine and great pasta and tiramisu. We ate slowly and talked and just enjoyed the company before proceeding to a department store all the way down by the World Trade Center site to buy shoes for R, after which we just talked some more over coffee. All-in-all, a day to really put someone into a "New York state of mind." As much as this sounds like a date, I assure you, it wasn't.
I suddenly have all these romanticized thoughts about New York. Ever notice how many characters are from New York? In Entourage, the boys are from NYC, as is the main character in Californication and one of the couples in the new Melrose Place. McDreamy and McSteamy from Grey's Anatomy are both from NY also. It's also funny how when a character has an attitude that is generally not appreciated, he's from NYC. Rick from the classic Casablanca for example. I also watched a movie a few weeks ago called "Saints and Soldiers" where all the soldiers are talking about where they are from and the one who was angering the rest of them turned out to be from NYC. I watched another movie, a German film called "Rosenstrasse" (GREAT movie by the way. I would highly recommend it) where the main character is skeptical about the values her mother tries to instill in her, and of course she is from NY. What is it about New Yorkers that makes them such great characters, not only in tv and movies, but also in books? (The main character in "A Farewell to Arms" is a New Yorker)
Well, while I ponder that, here are some pictures from my day. I wore my new red jacket and boots.
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