Experiments in Anonymous Kindness

Pre- Whole Foods on Friday: I emerge from the subway to meet my friend, and am approached by a couple, about my age. After living in NY for 5 years, I tend to exhibit the typical cold NYers "you're crazy, get away from me" response to anyone approaching me, but these guys seem nice. Call me gullible, but I follow my instincts and know that my big beefy guy friend is a mere five feet away, easy jumping distance. (Don't worry mom :) ) They tell me that they just bought a box of ice cream bars from Whole Foods, and have one left over that is melting, and would I like it. I say sure, I'll give it to my big beefy guy friend anyway. As I shockingly accept and thank them, wondering if it's possible to roofie a fudgesicle, the girl hands me this business card:


HOW great is this? I was having a "could be bad, but I won't let it be bad" night, and then these generous and sweet pople grace me with this random act of kindness. And people say that NYers are so cold and cruel. Truly, truly, amazing. I spread the spirit and want to continue to spread it! I encourage others to do so :)

This reminds me of one of my very first "wow isn't NY incredible" moments upon first moving to the city. I had just begun my first year at Columbia, and was walking down Broadway through Morningside with a friend. We happened upon these two (normal looking) people seated on the sidewalk with a sign that read "Come Talk to Me." We had to know what their purpose was, so of course, curiosity drove us to inquire. They were just sitting there, with the sign, wondering what the people of NY would have to say. They would offer advice if necessary, have pleasant, casual, or in depth conversations, whatever. I just thought that this practice and that these people were incredible. Can you imagine some guy walking down the street who had just experienced the worst day, contemplating ending it all, and then seeing this sign rise out of the bleak city, as if a sign of the goodness in humanity and that someone cared? Incredible. Truly incredible.

On a 60 block stroll through various parts of Manhattan on any given day you can see (and I saw today):

A red-tailed hawk in Morningside Park (apparently rare in our urban oasis), a juvenile getting arrested on the Upper West Side, a sample sale, a candidate for District Attorney speaking in Washington Square Park, Mischa Barton (I've seen her three times... twice on our street...odd), and... an ex boyfriend. Sporting a neon orange shirt (why?).

Oh, small island of Manhattan, I love you so.