Brooklyn, Greenwich and Yep, Brooklyn Again

(Sorry oh faithful reader....this post didn't go through on Sunday, therefore I am posting it now.  Should I have used a comma back there?) 

Day 3 started out with some chilling at the hotel as it rained like crazy.  Around 11 I ventured out and ended up in a Jewish portion of Brooklyn.  As I walked i happened upon Brooklyn Chinatown which was incredible.  Street vendors were everywhere.  Being a Sunday I suspect that lots of people were doing their weekly shopping. I regret not taking a picture as it was quite a busy and awesome scene.

I then went back to the hotel briefly and decided to hit up the Spotted Pig so I walked up to Greenwich Village not before stopping to get a pedicure.  Yes.  A pedicure.  With a massage.  A foot massage and a back massage.  And it was awesome.  The Spotted Pig was, of course, mentioned in the “The Job” episode of the Office with Jim and Karen went to NYC early before their interview with Dunder Mifflin corporate.

After the ‘cure and the Pig I took a train to Grand Central Station.  And wow.  What a spot.  That was my first time there and I felt like I was in a David Letterman show opening.  Gorgeous building.

After a quick stop at Nike Soho(no purchases based on the prices I saw) I was on my way back to the hotel feeling pretty tired.  As I walked past the entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge walkway I couldn’t get away from walking that way.  I was going to walk that Monday morning but I’m so glad I walked it when I did. It was tad bit on the chilly side but wow what a cool experience and one that TONS of people were taking part in.  I then walked to the waterfront and took in some amazing scenery of lower Manhattan all the way up to Midtown.

Just over 15 miles later I was back in bed for one last night in lower Manhattan.  

Leslie

I'm becoming a more and more firm believer that God works in ways that are beyond my realm of understanding and weaves things, people, events and more together in my life in ways that I couldn't possibly think or imagine.  One of the greatest things I've learned recently is to take my hands off the wheel of my life each day and say something to the effect of, "God, you have the controls today.  Take the wheel.  And show me where I'm trying to take the wheel back from you throughout the day."  Oddly enough I get the answers that I'm seeking and, spoiler alert, I try to control things A LOT. 

Almost one year ago I traveled to Havana, Cuba with a couple of friends of mine.  I didn't know what to expect from the trip and was thankful that one of them spoke Spanish.  I knew I would lean heavily on him throughout the trip to make sure to get us in safe areas.  (If you don't know me, fear is one of the biggest defects I carry with me everyday.)  Well, towards the end of the trip my two friends decided to leave a day early leaving me in Cuba by myself for the final day of the trip.   I was faced with a choice:  

- Do I stay in the Air BNB the entire day and cower in fear?  

OR

- Do I venture out, doing what I love to do which is walk cities, and just figure it out(in a sense taking my hand off the wheel)?

I'm so glad I chose the latter.  Because I chose the latter, I met up with a group for a free walking tour and struck up a conversation with a woman from the Bronx.  At the end of that tour I asked her if she wanted to keep hanging out.  She said yes.  What happened after that was why I love to travel.  We discovered a fort across the harbor, saw an awesome re-enactment of the firing of a cannon, got eaten by  bugs as I remember, grabbed dinner, and sat on the Malecon until it was time to part ways.  Good.  Clean.  Fun.  

Thankfully we have stayed in touch over the past year off and on.  And when I had a free weekend to head to NYC, I took it knowing that I would get to hang out with her at least for a little while.  

What a great day it was walking the High Wire, eating Thai food, and going up the Empire State Building.  What a thrill that was and so special because I had just uttered the words, "I've never been up the ESB."  I learned a lot through that.  Leslie had been up that building before....she didn't have to do that for me, but that is a gesture that I won't soon forget.  Leslie, thank you for making my trip so special.  It was great seeing you, walking the city with you, talking with you and catching up.  You're the best. 

I had a professor my senior year at USC tell us/me:  "Go have experiences."  At the risk of sounded snooty:  I've taken that advice and have done just that.  And there's more I want to do.  But as I sit in first-class(no, I didn't pay for it....just requested an upgrade and got it!) writing this as I fly back from LGA to CLT, I can't help but feel gratitude for the experiences I've had.  I don't have anything against Sumter or Columbia, however getting out of both of those areas has opened my mind to the truth that there is more to this world than what I encounter in my day to day life.  

Now, don't get me wrong, I love Columbia and where I'm from, I love my job, I love my friends, I love my dogs.  But a lot of times I get wrapped up in trying to control outcomes with just about everything I do.  Travel has taught me in real and tangible ways that God "has me."  He's going to take care of me(I have 38 years of proof to show me that).  And whatever happens is, more than likely, supposed to happen and if I can just look a little closer or change my attitude and/perspective, I'll see the beauty and the blessing in what happens(stealing this from Jocko Willink:  when a challenge or something less than favorable happens just say "good."   For example, I got off the wrong subway stop today.  Instead of pouting, I essentially said "good," and got into an Uber with the most delightful woman from the Dominican Republic and had the coolest conversation with her).  

ALSO, when I take my hands off the wheel what happens is way better than I could have ever thought or imagined(ie:  Havana, NYC and more......remember the time I got to play guitar in an Irish pup?  Yeah.  Exactly.  That's what I'm talking about).  

In short, acceptance of life, those around me, and myself is key.  All I can do is show up, do the best I can, bring the real me to the situation, and let it go.  

What a meandering and interesting post.   Thanks for reading.  

Kosher Coffee and a Syrian Haircut

All bull crap aside, has there ever been such a title in the history of writing as the one above?  I didn't think so.  Thanks for checking though. 

What a cool day I've had so far.  I got dropped off early this morning in the middle of Jewish Brooklyn again, struck up a conversation with a local named Jay(by his own admission his name is quite plain compared to most everyone else in that area.....see: http://www.aish.com/jl/l/b/48967016.html?mobile=yes), grabbed a cup of coffee with said local Jew named Jay, walked the streets of Brooklyn (Ocean Parkway is beautiful), grabbed an espresso after being told that the Green Tea Latte listed on the menu wasn't available(a little bummed about that), walked more streets of Brooklyn, bought a banana for $.25(apparently this was the fruit stand owner's first Day and he didn't realize he could charge $12.45 for that banana, walked back toward Ocean Parkway and had the HAIRCUT OF MY LIFE.  

Wow.  Wasim the Syrian Barber.  Where do I begin?  Without a doubt sitting with him for 30 minutes was the best haircut of my life.  He washed my hair, tried to troubleshoot my significant receding hairline, and cut my hair like Picasso painted or Lou Bezjak tweets.  What a masterful job he did.   And for $20 only.  I gave him $23 (as that was all I had left) and he said "$20 only."  I said, "I know.  I'm giving you $23."  

What a great guy though.  It took a little bit for him to tell me he was from Syria.  And understandably his response to my standard question of "do you get home often" was met with "mehhhhh Syria is not a good place right now."  I surely knew that and maybe reading the news more would help me not out my size 10.5 in my mouth so often.  

But anyway, it was interesting to hear him talk about the challenges and expense of living and working in Brooklyn.  $2,000 for a one bedroom apartment.  Yikes.  He had a genuine interest in SC as he wants to leave the city at some point.  So it was cool to tell him about SC.  He was blown away at the size of the House one can get for around $100,000-$150,000. 

Sitting in his shop and getting my jaw busted by one of his regular customers was funny too.   Wasim(pronounced Woo-Shim) and this gentleman had a rapport that I have rarely seen saying things like:

I don't have time for you

Oh so you have time for MFers like him(of course referring to me huh

The funny thing was, when this guy pulled up on his motorcycle, Wasim said "oh boy.  Not good timing" and I thought something might really be wrong.  Like maybe Wasim needed to pony up some dough or something.  

Thank you Wasim for a wonderful experience.  

I then took the train back to, what I thought was near my hotel.  However I got off one stop too soon and had to take an Uber back to the hotel.  This ride with another Dominican and was yet again a wonderful experience.  All three Dominican drivers I had were delightful.  

Since my flight got delayed I had the chance to shower one more time and grab some food up the street at 55 Fulton.  Wow.  Amazing choices and pretty good.  $17 for a meal like that I thought was pretty reasonable for NYC. 

And so ends another trek.  This one was different in a lot of ways.   I only got to see Leslie one day and I'm thankful to have spent the time I did with her.  The Yankees game and hanging with Blas and family was fun as always.  I spent more time by myself than I anticipated, however that was cool as I got to meet some really friendly people.  I was reminded yet again that I love talking with people and meeting people and more than that, finding out more about what makes people tick. 

Until next time!

Day 2

On the agenda for Day 2 was to meet up with Leslie around 3. We met up at Brooklyn Bridge Park station and off we went to the High Line which is a decommissioned train line that has been transformed into a green space. Before that we stopped for Thai at a nice little spot she knew. I felt like such a local. During conversation I mentioned that I had never been up the Empire State Building. Pretty bland statement I thought. Well, unbeknownst to me(thank you autocorrect) she texted her sister who works at the ESB and after the High Wire(which was gorgeous) she took me up the Empire State Building. I was blown away by her generosity and am extremely thankful for the opportunity to do that. What would a trip of mine be without an eyes closed picture of me from a world famous locale?

Anyway, it was great to spend time with Leslie and see her in her hometown.

After I left her I went to Las' Lap in the lower east side. This spot is owned by none other than SoCal transplant Bryce Sheldon, the former University of South Carolina hooper. It was great to see him and meet his friends. All great people. Great, chill spot.

Almost 17 miles later, I hit the sack back at the Hampton Inn near the Brooklyn bridge.

Air BNB...

.....finally called me back after my repeated attempts to get ahold of them. They refunded me the money from Sophy's place and also covered the difference between my hotel and the cost of Sophy's place. Took a little while to get in contact but they did a good job of taking care of me in my opinion.

Governors Island

Honestly I had never heard of Governors Island but as Blas dropped me off at my hotel(yep no air bnb the rest of this trip at least), I had some time to burn until meeting up with Leslie at 3 so I bought the $3 round trip ferry ticket and checked out the island. Wow. What a cool place. Yes there were tourists however it appeared that some locals were there with their families just enjoying the fields and beautiful weather. Unreal views of lower Manhattan as well. They seem to be slowly improving the island and I really liked that it didn't feel terribly touristy. Tons for kids to do with multiple playgrounds. Ice skating rink too. Really cool spot.

Oh and they're building what appears to be a Glampground. All of the tents open up to a view of lower Manhattan.

Sophy, Sophy, Sophy

NYC again.  Honestly I've lost count how many times I've been here.  Let's see if I can recount....interesting.  My understanding the word "recount" is "remember."   In this case I'm trying to remember and also re-count.  I love being able to write that and know that no one is going to read this.  Not a knock on you if you're reading this, though.  

2001 for NIT

2005 and 2006 for NIT

Peter Bradley Adams in 2016

USC hoops in 2017

Ridge View hoops around 8ish years ago

This trip

David Letterman around 6 years ago

Random trip in 2010

I feel like there were other times but that's all I can remember at this point. 

Anyway, Friday was interesting.  Getting out of CLT and into LGA was smooth.  And yet again I have to say how much I love TSA Precheck(I got it by getting my Global Entry card.  It's so worth every bit of money and time I spent.  

My driver through Dial 7 was Johnny on the Spot(although his name was Mohammed) in picking me up from the terminal.  At that point I had not gotten any check in instructions from Sophy, my Air BNB hostess.   I was a little nervous but figured she would respond to my messages at some point.  The plan was to meet Blas at the Yankees game since the weather was supposed to get bad later in the weekend.  I changed the destination to the Bronx and 6 miles and an hour and 45 minutes later I was able to meet Blas and enjoy a great game.  Aaron Judge made two unbelievable throws for outs....one to home and one to second.  I want what he's taking.  Here's what I'm talking about(https://youtu.be/tGIQb9Iv9ns).

After repeated attempts to get in touch with Sophy to no avail, Blas took this now homeless guy in.  I'm extremely grateful to him and his family for letting me stay with them in Teaneck Friday night.  It was great seeing him and his family as well as getting to spend some time with them telling stories and just catching up in general on Saturday morning. 

They were my first introduction to NYC back in 2001 and I'll never forget the awe I felt riding around as Mrs. D drove us by the bridges and Ground Zero.  I still get chills thinking about it.  I'll also never forget the family dinner at their place during that trip where I saw how honest families can be with each other and how much they can enjoy each other's company.  I feel like I've come a long way since that night in my life.  I'm grateful for great examples of true connection and relationship.  I still have a ways to go and I'm ok with that.