I have to go to the New Hyde Park street fair. Date
Saturday September 21. Must go. Now that I am a retiree I am part of the
community. I am connected with these folks in ways I never was when
working. As I drive down the block I now know the folks walking by. I
know the staffs of my Starbucks, Twin Park Health Club, Hillside Library as well as their
clients and customers. I know dogs and their owners. I even know some
neighbors. Only took 19 years. I see many of my fellow residents on my daily
routines as well as in my scheduled activities. I ask Paul to accompany me for
fair browsing. He agrees to go. Very reluctantly. Liam is a "no"
either too friendly, too scared. Paul asks a few times "why?" I know
that trick. Wear down the spouse. And that does not deter me. We are going. The
weather forecast is for clouds and sun. Fine. Our agreement is that we will
go to the street fair then to Starbucks. This
is a clever plan from Paul. Of course I will make quick work of the
fair then to Starbucks.
LIAM LATTE LICKING
However weather intervenes with a shower, then a
break, then a deluge producing street flooding. All quick and unexpected
and also I suspect temporary. That is it. Paul is done with the street
fair. "It is a rainy day, the storms have come 10 hours early. The
vendors will be going home and packing up." Hmmm. I don't think hundreds
of vendors are going to run. They are in place. No matter. Paul is
done. Onward to Starbucks. I will go to the street fair alone.
And I do. I will
know people. I plan to park in the Twin Park lot
see link https://www.facebook.com/twinparkfitness
walk down and approach from the western end.
The
fair occupies Jericho Turnpike from New Hyde Park Road to Covert Avenue
(Dunkin Donuts landmark) I bring a tote in which to place my purchases.
I do not really think I'll be buying. You see it is all too much for
me. So much sensory input. But let's see how it goes.
I
enter to a show of shawls, pocketbooks, beaded jewelry, hanging scarves interspersed with food and shouting politicians, realtors and community activists. I feel on overload already. There is a wicked
whippy wind and my expertly layered hair is hitting me across the face
at every place possible. Whenever I brush a strand away I am handed a brochure, announcement or schedule.
A COLLECTION OF HANDOUTS FROM THE NHP STREET FAIR
Many colors, smells and sounds. Too many carriages, some the
size of mini coopers. Too many groups strolling side by side causing me to step aside often...Liam would not do well at this street fair. He
jumps on people. He does not step aside.
NO EYE CONTACT HEAD DOWN, STREET FAIR MODE
I see two folks I know but each is engaged in a conversation. I stop
and try to make eye contact. I am out of context. Eyes go through me.
That's okay. Let it be. I really want to locate my health club table and
say hi. I see the pickle vendors. I
want a pickle on a stick but the lines are too long. Never had a pickle
on a stick. That pleasure will have to wait. I see the petting zoo and
the ancient tortoise makes its way towards me at a quick pace. Really? I
thought they are slow. The
wind captures store ads and food wrappers. The street is littered. I
step on and begin to slide on an oily zeppole wrapper. Though adding
oily is redundant. Only my practiced yoga
balance poses keep me upright as I fall forward then back and helicopter
my body upright again. The shock of almost falling shakes me up. Halfway through and I have not bought a thing.
It
is an event. Huge. Got to get out. I reach the end... the horses are
gone and have left some fragrant deposits. Maybe Liam should have
come. He is home wondering and waiting. Anticipating some food fair smells. See following You Tube
I
walk back to the gym. It is deserted. The staff is at the fair at their
designated table. I knew it. Walked right by them. Never connected. Alone on the treadmill in an empty gym while thousands are a few blocks away.
Love/ hate affair with the street fair is over for this year at least in NHP.
LIAM AND MY SHADOW SHOOTING PIC
I
feel like I supported the community. I was one of few who took all the handouts. And shook hands with the politicians I did not litter. I did
not fall and crack my head open. I took pix.
I am publicizing
them. Even though I did not eat a pickle, buy a scarf, take a chance on
a raffle; I am participating in my own way by talking about it blah blah
blog...Liam and Paul stayed home. Neither looked too sorry. Next year both guys are joining in. And I will find my gym's
table and help a few vendors with a purchase or two.
We are out in the yard. The flowers are the tallest and bloomiest they have been since planted in early June. Always happens when we are heading to less outside time and cooler and shorter days. The grass is rough and coarse and spikey. Entire patches are dead, making a pleasing crunchy sound when walked upon. The biting bugs are around but not as nasty or bloody as they have been. This week the temperature lows are lower and the highs are slipping lower also. Is the sun lower? Yes it is. Shadows long and reaching. The clouds and sun peek in and out. Liam finds autumn sunspots in less used parts of the yard. Gives him a new vantage point for squirrel watching.
THIS IS A NEW SUN SIT SPOT
THE SQUIRRELS CANNOT SEE ME
THE CLOUDS AND SKY COMPETE FOR SPACE
ROLLOVER IN SUN AND SHADOWS
Liam enjoys this time in the yard. Acorns falling from above, treats from the trees. A rollover. The dead brown grass evaporates under his weight and he pops up coated with golden dust.
And the sky is showing off this week.
The Harvest Moon is out for a few days. We thank that crazy NYC weather guy who alerted us in his report. Check it out for a startling backdrop photo of the harvest moon at his intro on his September 16 post.http://nycweatherguy.blogspot.com/
Some sky events Saturn and Venus should be visible all week
Full Harvest Moon- Thursday morning, September 19 and the rest of the week
Uranus all night Thursday near the moon
Autumn Equinox 4:44 PM Sunday September 22
This link will help if you want to go out and look up
JERICHO TURNPIKE FROM MEDIAN BEFORE ENTERING CRABTREE'S
Liam plans to hound howl at the moon. And look up. First though, a sniff, a roll, a sneeze and a stroll. See following You Tube video...less than a minute
LOOKING RIGHT
LOOKING LEFT
and a chair sit
look around and maybe up. Different points of view and angles
September is National Yoga month. I know this because
I receive ads for yoga paraphernalia in my email. The subject line
usually announces that we are in designated yoga recognition month.
Today
we return to our much loved Thursday chair yoga class. The temperature
and humidity are high. A hot day for Yoga. We have had a four week
break. Our class is sponsored by the Hillside Public Library and it runs
in 6 week sessions. We do one class for six weeks and then sign up
again. Usually there is a one week break but summer has a longer one. A
core group signs up for every session. We also have one session
attendees. And regulars who miss a session and return for the next. The
Fall start has the first day of school feel and though the outside temperature soars our classroom is quite cool. We are not the hot Bikram Yoga
group. Hellos all around, welcome to newbies and hugs for oldies.
Our
class has made the Hillside Library newsletter photo section. I am in
the picture doing tree pose. I recall I had a slight wine headache (it
was my birthday week) my hair was wet (I washed it right before) photo
shoot optional. Who would choose to be in a photo with a wet achy
head? A Leo. I never turn down a photo op. See us under Events and Programs,
download newsletter, photos last page, I am in the left rear http://www.hillsidelibrary.info/
I
have a new yoga bag. It is so complicated that instructions are
included as to where to place one's items. This bag would be the ONLY
one necessary to travel the world. I have shown it closed as the number
of inserts, pockets and pouches might cause the readers anxiety. I am
nuts for this bag. In it I have a pillow, blanket, water bottle (not
plastic) all forms of identification, pens, pencils, retiree business
cards, sweater, tissues, cough drops, lip balm and yoga mat and more to add.
Our
teacher Mary Lou encourages us to try moves that we never thought
possible. Her fun positive approach to life has us all enthused. My
bones are crackling like never before. Groans and giggles. We say
"Thursday is our favorite day"
Here is her link...take a look at the testimonials. myholistichaven.com
I
incorporate yoga moves into my daily life. Everywhere. I have a mat by my PC. I use it to take a break from writing and social media-ing.
The US Open seems like a bridge connecting summer to fall. Often the first week has heat, humidity, showers, lightning and slidey courts wet from storms. The second week is clear, cool, sometimes an unexpected chilly rain. Wind whips the flags and slows servesLabor Day play at the Open links the two seasons. This year we attend during the second week, Wednesday September 4, a brilliantly clear "hurt the eyes sky" reminiscent of 9/11. A stark clarity seldom experienced in summer. The Manhattan skyline is visible from the upper levels and is pierced by the Freedom Tower on the left and Empire State Building to the right.
SKYLINE, FREEDOM TOWER AND EMPIRE STATE
For me, summer has three beginnings and one ending.
Beginnings
Memorial Day Weekend...barbecues, beach, vacation trips
Summer Solstice... calendar summer lots of Namaste and sun salutations all over.
July 4th...An all clear for teachers, some of whom might still be working the last few days of June.
LIAM CHECKING BARBECUE IN NEIGHBOR'S YARD
Ending
Labor Day Weekend
The Labor Day weekend gives us three days to transition, even includes
an August day softening the blow of September's Sunday arrival. A few distant fireworks have Liam thundershirted on Labor Day evening.
Liam doing some "last" of summer rituals. Stoop SittingAt summer's end the sun slants strong and hot in the late afternoon and Liam soaks it up while watching the wildlife parade.
Exploring for rabbit and squirrel scents Saying goodbye to his summer season doggie friend Checking for birdseed This all happens in this corner of the back yard.
Other Signs and Happenings of transition to Fall
Health Club posts "Fall and Winter hours"
Citronella candles disappear from yard
I store my citronella candles in the recyclable bucket. Paul does not notice and puts them out on the curb with the wine bottles, tomato jars and yogurt cups. They are gone.
The bug zapper has ceased its zapping.
Body count zero.
We are headed in a new direction. Liam knows.
We incrementally change focus from outside to in.
I sense him next to me. He has a way of appearing and quickly putting himself in your space. This time I am a "sitting duck." His face in my side view.I am on one of a pair of hand -levered bikes with flat snow-shoe pedals. It is part of my routine workout and he knows it. He is a health club lounger. Lounger uses the club to shoot the breeze, talk about himself, watch TV, listen to music...oh and exercise, every now and then. He will do a few stationary weight machines in a jerky incorrect manner. He will pick ones next to other gym members so he can insert himself in your book, your TV gaze, your mood. Sometimes he fast-walks through the weight lifting area, then stops and bounces on the balls of his feet near the entrance to the rest rooms. He hangs over the check-in area until the young woman manning it wants to hide on the floor.
WHERE ARE YOU? WANTED TO ASK WHAT'S NEW?
Questions he has asked over time...
What does this machine do for you?
What book are you reading (harder to discern now with Kindles)
SOUNDS LIKE A DELICIOUS READ
Do you belong to a library?
Would I be able to borrow books from your branch?
I have answered these questions with various degrees of annoyance and my answers have led to conversations. I always regret having fallen into his trap because it will lead to another question. He feels entitled. I have given him permission because I engage. I've got him under my sweaty skin and I have given him power. Today he goes too far with his question. How would he know that this question is the tipping point? He doesn't. He asksthat question. What's new? What's new?Is he serious? He does not have the right to ask such a personal question!! He has asked the very worst question.
I feel a rage surge up quickly and know it is disproportionate to the question. I know why. The asker assumes familiarity. He has trapped me on the bike. I am now on the offensive. If I say nothing is new, does that make me boring?
NOTHING NEW? YAWN...BORING PERSON
I always want to be interesting. But interesting to the gym stalker? Really...Who cares? Is his "What's new?" meant as a greeting and I can answer, "I am fine, thank you." Now go away, you pest
I have the regressive urge to shout back the old retorts "New York, New Jersey"
I answer with a profundity that gives his question more gravitas than I'm sure he intended. I pause and reply "I don't know how to answer that question. I am here at the health club doing my routine. I am pleased that I am able to work out." As it is coming out of my mouth I know this is an unexpected answer. And possibly provocative.
Not put off at all but encouraged to share, he responds "I know. I could be disabled. I could have had my limbs severed. My leg cut off. One arm. I am whole. I am able to work out, to chat, be active. I am so fortunate to be physically together."
What the heck kind of answer is that? I have struck something in him, but not what I intended. Too much info. Yikes! Severed limbs, disability. Oh no... How nutty a response is his? Or is it perfectly attuned to my response? I get up from the bike. He stands there, watching me leave
At home, I search the Internet for the right answer to the "what's new" question. And the answers depend on who is asking and what you want to accomplish in your reply. Links follow.
Answers for work http://www.refresher.com/asrhnew.html
Answers for social situations http://www.thefrisky.com/2009-12-05/how-to-answer-the-dreaded-small-talk-question-whats-new/
I read these. Good advice. However, not for my situation. This stalker/part time exerciser is different. I don't want an ongoing relationship. I desire at the most, hello, goodbye. I don't want to know how to answer his "what's new" question. I want the question not to be asked. What follow are some of my ideas for "what's new" replies and hopefully conversation stoppers.
Q-What's new? A-Nothing. Q-What's new? A-New York, New Jersey Q-What's new? A-Cannot hear you, point to hearing aids or remove them. I like this one. It has props to go with the answer Q Liam, What's new? A-the following video
It is Thursday, August 1, 2013, Liam's 6th birthday. His blog is mostly done. It is LiamLicks blog story publication night. Our piece is a celebration of Liam presented in a Facebook social media manner. I have yoga class, then a Starbucks meeting with a
dear friend.
Yoga Class- an active session. After class I somehow work in that today is Liam's birthday and bask in the offered birthday wishes. I feel muscle pain which affords hope of increased
flexibility and less anxiety. My head is in a Namaste like place. I arrive home and Liam is roaming the
lower floor. I notice his food is untouched. Not unusual
He sometimes
lets it sit all day. A quick wardrobe tweak and I leave for my coffee
date. A glance back shows Liam wedged between the coffee table and couch. Not unusual.
Coffee meet is satisfying; always is when good friends catch up. We topic out (after a long relaxed time) and wind up. I return home. Liam does not greet me. His arrival hello is not always immediate. Not unusual.
After 5 minutes of not hearing his
tags jingle, I go looking. Must be upstairs. I find him curled in a
catlike ball, top of the bed, pillow under his head. Not his routine. He is a bottom of the bed dog. Seems more like a hiding place. He edges away from me
as I try to touch him. I let him be, he is not a huggy dog. I feel a vague worry. I walk
across the landing to my writing room. He follows in a bit and positions
himself in the chair, head hidden.
LIAM HIDING IN HOUNDSTOOTH
Not
his routine. Unusual.
He always watches me as I sit at the PC, especially Thursdays when our blog is due. He is hiding. I sit at the PC, tighten up
our blog story, arrange the pix, edit, cut...all this takes time,
hours. Liam never moves or barks. The afternoon ebbs to evening and Paul
arrives home. No Liam bark to announce Paul, no Liam leaping from the chair. Liam
and I both stay put upstairs. I am working on the blog, Liam nesting. Unusual.
LiamLicks is ready for Paul proofing. I
make a few of his suggested changes and we publish on all the venues. Takes
more time. Now it is about 8:30 and time to toast our literary success. The
usual routine. Yes, we do this every Thursday upon publication as if we
have a new best seller. The tradition...wine is poured. Liam sits between us. Cheers to
another successful blog launch, Clink. We wait for the reviews to roll in.
I keep my devices out to view the responses and reply. If I am too wine happy I wait until Friday to answer. Our family of three watches Big Brother (summer) then Project Runway; Liam
hoping for a Project Runway Swatch sighting. Swatch is the resident dog
at the fabric store Mood.
That's the usual.
That's the routine.
NO DOGS ON BIG BROTHER BUT SWATCH IS ON PROJECT RUNWAY
Not tonight. No Liam. He is on top of the stairs on the landing, looking down. Not his routine. He is sitting, trying to figure out how to get down the stairs. Unusual.
Liam is not joining; Paul says he must join the family. Calls him to come
down. Liam sort of tumbles and misses a few steps. He seems groggy.
Something
is not right with the birthday boy. The night goes by and Liam
stays
in his chair, no barking, no sighs, not moving.
We both check during the
night to see if he is breathing. Friday morning August 2, Liam in chair, Paul heads
out to work. I head out to retiree activities. I return to find Liam resting.
Not
routine. Unusual.
I attempt to touch him and he gets up and moves towards the
stairs. Liam wants to be alone. Oh no. I have heard when dogs are not
well they isolate themselves. He cannot go up. His back legs seem
locked. He drags himself up with his front legs.
I watch. That's it! Enough. No barking, no eating, hiding from me! And I have documented 4 or more unusuals. Too many.
Scary. I call our vet who takes us right away. Turns out the leaping,
running, rolling Liam has damaged a disc. A shot and a prescription.
The Doc is McDreamy. I am fascinated grateful and want to work there. I can assist this wonderful man. I find myself babbling about Liam and his habits hoping to sound like a good dog mother. A shot on the spot for Liam, pills for home. Within an hour Liam is himself. A few
barks, a little food. Rimadyl. A miracle drug. Doctor McDreamy promises to
call Saturday to see how Liam is doing. I find myself looking forward to this call. And most people know I hate phone calls.
Not this time. Maybe he'll do FaceTime on iPad. No we did not set up for that. Doctor Mc does call early. I report all is fine, I thank often. I hear my obsequious tone in my responses.
Liam's 6th birthday, quite a marker in his life.
Today marks (the doctor's name is Mark) 3 weeks since theunusuals.
Liam is back to Starbucks latte licking, leaping and running. Still taking Rimadyl. It says canine on the bottle. Too bad. My back could use a little relief. Sure fixed Liam up.
Here is a little clip showing Liam enjoying some licks. An activity he eschewed while hurting.
Routine is back. The Usual.
Woof, Woof
An update to our 7/18/13 blog story Wine in Paper...exciting... my wine store now has reusable wine carriers ...Can one blog story change the world? Yes!!!! see pic. BTW I know it might be a coincidence but then again, maybe not. Makes a good story and that is what we are about.
And I do. I will
know people. I plan to park in the Twin Park lot 
I
want a pickle on a stick but the lines are too long. Never had a pickle
on a stick. That pleasure will have to wait. I see the petting zoo and
the ancient tortoise makes its way towards me at a quick pace. Really? I
thought they are slow. 
The
wind captures store ads and food wrappers. The street is littered. I
step on and begin to slide on an oily zeppole wrapper. Though adding
oily is redundant. Only my practiced yoga
balance poses keep me upright as I fall forward then back and helicopter
my body upright again. The shock of almost falling shakes me up. Halfway through and I have not bought a thing.
