Standing on the corner of 57th and Madison, a slight woman stands on the sidewalk. She is wearing a black overcoat with a fur collar, black gloves and her blonde hair is perfectly coiffed. She is a little bit older, perhaps in her early sixties, but there is an aura of refinement as she steps off the sidewalk and her high-heeled boots step out onto the street. The light hasn't changed yet, but, like most New Yorkers, she seeps forward with the crowd to get that "head start" on the walk to her next shopping destination. As she stands there, a car goes by her, making a turn off of 57th on to Madison. Perhaps the car was a hair to close to her as it made the turn. That is probably why a $500 glove was removed and a perfectly manicured middle finger was raised as the car roars by.
I'm sure I've mentioned this before, here in the city, obsenity has been elevated from a seasoning to a side dish. In some cases, it's a super-sized order of fries. I'm surprised at how we function here in the city with that slight edge. As I look around and see the gestures and hear the yelling, I wonder if it isn't a means to just "blow off steam." With the crowds and the noise, we all need a way to let go of the anger we feel when we get cut off in traffic or a cab splashes us as it turns the corner. Better a little obscenity now and then, I suppose.
No comments:
Post a Comment