July 12th Call to Prayer

July 12th Call to prayer


As I am walking on 3rd ave and 93rd street, I suddenly hear this amazing whale of a sound coming out of loudspeakers of a mosque, so loud that it echoes several blocks all around. This is New York? oops, for a moment I thought I was in say, Istanbul or some other Islam city. I was mesmorized by it, I really wanted to go in, but I was wearing my shorts and spaghetti straps, they would not have allowed it.

After the terrible heat wave (103 for several days on end), the weather is great. Warm in the day, delicious at night and all around very pleasant, except of coursed in the subway, where it always seems to feel like an oven.

Speaking of subway, I am amazed at so much talent just singing and dancing in the trains. Just yesterday a group treated us to “The Golden Gate Quartet”, gospel/blues

So how am I? Battered all around, emotionally, physically, mentally.

People are totally into themselves, not unusual in this day and age, but coming to a new city, this is very confronting. At the same time I suspect that is why so much is achieved here in the ways of art, culture and even humanly.

That attitude shows in the fact that the people I used to know, are not in the least bit interested how I am doing, and the people I am meeting, ditto.

In the subway the do not make space for you unless you demand it and often times a bag is shoved against you, or a leg

Once again I am in a place, that if something were to happen to me, nobody would know.

And things did happen. I made a huge fall in a crack in the sidewalk, I had injuries of some sort in 6 different places and limped for days. Ten days later I still have skin scrapes to show for it.

I bump into everything and seem to have to re-negotiate myself in (small)space. I cut myself, my nails break and get lost.

Of course I wonder why did I put this madness upon myself? What was that about Austin?

I am alone and lonely, especially since I come from a home with two kids and a husband ( I so miss the doggies!) and even though we did not spend a whole lot of time together, there still is a buzz in the house, a coming and going. I thought I would be more relieved…

Ironically, several people came out of the woodwork and asked me about the work I do. I have a strong impression I can successfully work here. Already found a few places I can work at for a low rate per hour.

I get around the city like a fish in the water. Everything is familiar, it seems busier though, kinder at the same time and just as exciting.

The house hunt is excruciating. No such thing as multiple listing, which means for every corner, area, neighborhood of the city, you need another broker. Which means you need to find them, begin a relationship, ask them to help you find something and see apartments. While you have learned something, they disappear and you cannot pursue more.

We want to rent, there is not a lot of money in that for them, so if they know you don’t rent that very day – yes, that very day- they are not interested any longer.

In a general sense I figured out I want to live in the quieter neighborhoods with trees and birds and at the moment I am very interested in Brooklyn.

Honestly though, I don’t know and I am trying to be ok with not knowing at all.

What do I know? I want to sell the big house in Austin. I do not want to retire and die in Austin, TX, I like New York in many ways but not ALL ways and miss my family.