St. John's Lane

In Manhattan:


On an otherwise overcast and a little cool day (that being today) I headed out to McDonald's on Broadway and then took my meal to Washington Square Park. It's what I do most every year on this day. It's what I did 10 years ago this day (aside from being scared, panicking, freaking out, et cetera). This year things were a bit different of course. The park has been renovated so it's not really the "same" park as it was a decade ago. Also, there were bums aplenty. Seven of them were sleeping sprawled out on benches and on the ground while digital shooters got their "authentic" NYC shots. I wasn't rolling with any cameras today.

After finishing my Quarter Pounder With Cheese, I didn't really feel all too keen on eating my fries, so I left the bag next to one of the sleepers who just kept sleeping as I placed it next to his head. I wondered if giving McDonald's to a homeless person is actually making their situation even worse. I then went to Molly's Cupcakes and got an eclair (in the shape of a cupcake, of course) that was pretty darned good. I'm slowly but surely working my way through all their offerings and have yet to be disappointed.

As I made my way back through the park on my trip home I saw that the sleeper had awoken, and was eating the fries I had left for him. I didn't even entertain the thought of telling him that I was the charitable soul who was allowing him to raise his blood pressure and increase his carb load. I mean, I'm a self-important douchebag, but I wasn't going to stoop that low just to lord it over this guy that I'm the big man who hands out his fries at the drop of a bag so he can go on living.

I'm assuming September 11th anniversary commemoration fever will die down soon. I avoided watching the coverage. No, that's not true. I tuned in for a second to see what was going on, and a choir was singing Sarah McLachlan's "I Will Remember You." That was enough for me. No mas. See you in 10 years when I'll avoid all this again.