“Write,” is something I’m always telling people to do. “Every single day, just do it, like it’s your job.”
But this is never something I do myself. At least, not in public, where anything is at stake, so I’m going to do it now. Write, every day, for you, and for this I apologize in advance. When writing is habitual versus purposeful, one ends up with a lot of useless drivel about the way their hair looks or the kitchen smells or the J train sounds when it plummets by their temporary bedroom window every night and day for a week.
For example, I’m staying in a friend’s apartment on the south side of Williamsburg now, which was something I dreaded until I realized that Williamsburg is only “Williamsburg” (link to the NY Times Style section) during peak hours: ie, weekend nights and Sunday mornings. This time of year, on a Tuesday morning at 8am or even earlier, the borough is just a quiet old lady with leafy shadows and warming sunlight.
There’s room to be a tourist. More than that, there’s room to be anonymous.
(Still, I feel ill with anxiety. I spend too much money and compulsively check my bank account balance, waiting for my paycheck to clear. I just want to see the numbers start to climb. I want to feel Safe, at least in this very particularly way. )
In New York, I’m surrounded by conversations that people are having with themselves, about how they are feeling about things. Everything is A Thing and there is no border around Things to be anything else. Even the desire to be nothing is A Thing. Now, stop yourself right there! Because, like I know you just started to do, even trying to think of a way not to be a thing is A Thing — just take a look, lots of movies have been made about it, and even a few good books. I think, perhaps, “just keeping your mouth shut” might be the only thing left that is not A Thing, and this is only because you’ve basically declared a forfeit.
Unfortunately, though, I want to be a writer, and if there’s one thing that this profession (“profession”) disallows — it’s keeping one’s mouth shut.
Hence, here we are.
Other moments in New York
-
Espressoing
in New York, United States -
A few more days
in New York, United States -
Goodbye
A final Hi meeting
in New York, United States -
meditation, Creativity
The local neighborhood bar has a quiet time between six and nine. It is a place that specializes in coffee, beer and seasonal menus. There is just enough of each for a satisfying snack and effective buzz. After the time when the laptop lids close and before the social gatherings start -- there is a sort of twilight*. Often this time is a fugitive ground rife with creative inspiration and meditative work -- of the kind that results in personal reward.*twilight may refer to civil, nautical or astronomical variety depending on your social or terrestrial condition
in New York, United States -
Web, development
A man positions his mouse on the edge of his browser window. He clicks, holds and drags the viewport first left then right. The content of a video game promo micro site responds and adapts to the available space. To the man, this is more delightful than the game itself.
in New York, United States -
subway, music
A man laboriously moves his piano down three levels onto the subway platform. Classic vocals and strided chords -- he played so well I swore he was blind. Oblivious to the heat on that August stage, he was most in touch with his audience -- whom he elevated with his music.
in New York, United States -
Feminism
A woman should do exactly as she pleases no matter what a man may think.
in New York, United States -
Travel
As the Dalai Lama once said, "It is a time when there is much in the window, but nothing in the room."
in New York, United States -
stars, Grandma, Love
"No one understands me," she said. Her grandmother was silent for a minute. It seemed she was searching for an answer in the star speckled sky. "But no one understands anyone in this world, darling. We are all unique. It is what gives us a sense of wonder."
in New York, United States