I am now a real, true New Yorker. I have seen Lou Reed in concert.
No one of my generation (or the previous!), regardless of their 5-borough addresses or local accents, can claim to be a bonafide resident of New York City until they have seen Lou Reed in concert.
I'm now a made man.
--Peter
New York City has a lot of rats. I imagine all cities do, but in New York they surface. Paris had a mouse or two; Boston almost nothing. But I've seen New York City rats in every subway, on many streets, in buildings. There was even a small mountain of garbage in plastic bags on the streetcorner that was a regular rat condo. One rat was lapping at a puddle of spilled milk running out of a garbage bag. It looked almost like a housepet.
I like vermin. They're fascinating. I know not to get close to rats or roaches or mice or pigeons, and I don't want them anywhere near me, my home, my work. I don't want them bringing disease and filth, doing damage to wires and wall. But aside from that, I enjoy observing rats as they go about their ratty business doing ratty things their ratty way.
They have their own society, and I respect it, even envy it in some ways. The rats of New York City are all fat. It must be a pretty good life, for an urban rat.
--Peter
Yesderday in Chinatown, just off Mott street, in the happy chaos of fireworks, dancing lions, gongs and drums, the streamers of paper and foil a downpour, and so thick on the ground that two children lay down and made angels in the confetti.
That's New York: angels in confetti.
--Peter
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