Past Grant's Tomb, I should have turned down into the park to get to the proper street level, but had to back track (alas, never again). Once there I circled one building bearing the "Fairway Market" mural, then walked past a parking lot to do the same to another, until I covered 3 of the 4 sides of a third building before finding its entrance. Or exit rather. The entrance was on the far corner. Once inside I was confronted with walls and walls of fruits and vegetables, whole nuts, cheeses and then more cheeses and more, olives, crackers, spices (I chose the "hot" rather than the "sweet" Hungarian paprika) more nuts and nut mixes, nut butters of many varieties, simmering sauces from around the world, teas, coffee, and a huge "cold room" with beers, more (and more) cheeses, meats, different milks (soy, almond, hemp), and it went on and on.
How can I ever appreciate all the possibilities? There appeared to be foods and ingredients to make an endless world of wonders, but it isn't endless and that makes it even more desirable. With effort, and a certain amount of time, I could conquer the delicious mysteries and rarities within. So much of it is even vegetarian friendly, another a teaser. Try me. Play with me. Find out what I am while you still can. I think there might be a lot of comfort in a completely boring and inaccessible world.
From the wonders of the typical Japanese grocery store to the wonders of this New York one, I know it will become common and the paths I walk in the aisles well worn. Broccoli, carrots, komatsuna, somen, soy milk, yogurt, tofu, eggs, kinako, and a few others. I never ate that seaweed paste. I threw it out when I cleaned my refrigerator two weeks ago. What will be the kinako here? What will be the seaweed paste? And how can I put as many things in between as possible? Perhaps the preferences and tendencies of another person will help make cohabitation an ally in this as well as many other ventures.
And indeed we had a dinner I've never made before: stuffed peppers with farro (apparently an en vogue grain in America) with walnuts, smoked cheese, tomatoes and that hot Hungarian paprika, with a side of sautéed kale, mushrooms, garlic, and feta. And homemade cookies and hot chocolate. It was great. And there are so many more greats to explore.
I passed Grant's Tomb again this morning and did some Tae Kwon Do on a beautiful hill behind it, stopping afterward to get a briefing on the national landmark, remembering a different time in our country's history. And then I peaked into Riverside Church. There are so many things in my backyard to take in, including all the people who speak languages I don't know, walk their dogs, sit in their cars writing music, play basketball at 7am. Who are all these people?
I'm sitting on a Megabus, headed towards Cleveland, towards Cincinnati. To my left are two Indian people that have been eating curry-scented trays of food and pocket samosas; in front of me are two Chinese people who ignored my attempts to get their attention to offer a courtesy (a common Chinese interaction, I've been learning) and two Hispanic people behind me. I'm one of many minorities. And I still don't speak a language of the people around me. By legal status, by location, by this land around me, I am not the foreigner, but that does not mean that I understand more. Who are all these people? What is their story, how did they get to be here, what have they lived through? They understand something to which I am foreign.
There is so much more to learn from this city. Again, I am overwhelmed by the diversity and possibility of this new home. I am generally finding that an internet search of "New York" + anything yields positive results a few blocks from my apartment. I'm taking advantage of my between-employment freedom to head home for a bit and to Madison before settling permanently in New York. And then I will really face the questions that all this possibility brings. It would seem that anything can be here. And what do I want that to be?
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