mini-Pay It Forward (plus a quick recap of recent events)
I did a good deed tonight. Lately, anytime I come home with an unlimited daily MetroCard (aka "FunPass"), I sort of hang around by the token booth and wait to give it to someone. Last time, I waited for someone who looked like they might need it…most people ignore me, but one older gent came over and was concerned that I might be lost or have some other problem. I explained what I was doing, told him that he was the first/only person who spoke to me, and gave him the MetroCard. He was, needless to say, pleasantly surprised. Then tonight, I was standing around, being bypassed by the usual self-absorbed hipsters, when I noticed a woman frantically attempting to wrangle the MetroCard machine. She kept turning around to seek guidance from the token booth clerk, who waved ministerially back in the direction of the row of machines. Sensing a mitzvah* opportunity, I went over and asked her if she needed help. After meeting with the same touch-screen problem as she did, I noticed she was waving around just $2 (the cost of one ride). I said, "Do you just need one ride?" She answered in the affirmative. Happily, I pulled my FunPass out of my pocket and offered it to her, explaining that it was good just for today, and I no longer needed it. She was astonished, and asked me a few times if I was sure. "Yes," I told her, "I’m just going home. It’s only good for today. Take it!" She smiled, and said to me, "You’re blessed. Good karma, good karma, thank you!" She hit the nail on the head- I wouldn’t say I’m a superstitious person, but in the past couple of years I’ve been making more of a concerted effort to live according to the principle of adding more positive energy to the world. I believe or hope that by helping others when possible, you may be more likely to have good things happen back to you…and if not, at least you’ve brightened someone’s day and spread the love, so to speak. I honestly do hope for good karma, consider "do unto others," etc., which is why I try as often as possible to do things like giving my cold medicine and tea to a sick coworker, leaving my number on the windshield of that car I accidentally scratched (when I could easily have gotten away with it) and paying the repair bill, etc. I never actually saw that movie, Pay It Forward, but I certainly understand and attempt to live by the general principle…almost went so far as to say to the lady at the train station tonight, "Just pay it forward!" when she actually called down the stairs after me to see if I wanted her $2…but I thought that might confuse her. Instead, I shook my head, smiled, and waved at her as she scampered off with my MetroCard, her $2, and a moment’s worth of human kindness.
I like doing good unto others. Maybe that marginally improved karma will help me get my landlady to install that extra electrical outlet she promised, or help find $15 at a karaoke bar again, or help get someone I love to notice me more… At least, it seems like a better strategy than hanging around underneath birds’ nests…but either way, I feel good for helping a stranger tonight.
* mitzvah = Jewish word for a good deed.
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It has indeed been awhile since my last post, and I’ve given up on making promises to recount the tales of this or that excursion, amusing anecdote, or what-have-you. At the risk of disappointing my readers a bit, I’m just going to provide a couple of news updates in short form:
- I had a great time in Chicago, being taken care of by two of my dearest friends in the world. They’d never met before, but I was glad they got along and I was able to spend time with both of them. Most importantly, I got some much-needed down time away from work/summer in NYC/etc. with two loyal friends who really know how to take care of me…with the possible exception of attention to sun damage.
- I somehow made it to the end of the summer school session. Actually, in some respects it went quite well, and it’s hard to imagine how exactly I would have passed the time without that structure…plus extra money’s always good.
- After this I visited one of my favorite cousins, Dave, out in California with his wife Becky and son Dean. I’d never met Dean before, though he’s already 16 months old. Click here to see evidence of his budding comic genius, and try to ignore my maniacal laughter. Over the course of the 5 days I was there, I saw everything from kids in cowboy outfits riding bucking sheep in the bullpen of the State Fair; to hiking a poison oak-lined trail along a cliff while my cousin was getting paid to take work-related phonecalls on his two cellphones; to about 2000 rubber ducks being dropped off a bridge for a "race" (aided by boats with water guns) while a wacky marching band from UC Davis (my pics aren’t uploaded yet, but their website is here) danced and rolled around on the ground, all while playing tubas and glockenspiels.
- I made the most of my remaining vacation days here in NYC: seeing friends, visiting museums, attempting to further modify my surroundings (apartment), etc. Going back to work still felt like I never left, though.
- A couple of friends are in from out of town, and I’ve been traipsing all over the place with them. Helen (a fellow shrink and Flickrite from England) accompanied me to the ever-delicious Shake Shack the other day. Then today, I went to Coney Island and Brighton Beach with James, who was my penpal of sorts back in high school…he says I should just call him my friend (less complicated), but I kind of like the old-skool connotation of having communicated with him by post for a few years…despite the fact that we fell out of touch and reconnected a couple of years ago through the modern miracle of Friendster. Anyway, James was dealing with some post-festive bodily complaints, but he gamely agreed to sample a Nathan’s hot dog with me. He passed on the Cyclone, though. This being the potential last summer that this landmark (and historically deadly!) attraction is actually open for public use, Karin and I decided to take our very first ride on it (we are lifelong Brooklynites, by the way). So yes, folks, among my many accomplishments today, I can announce that I have officially lost my Cyclone virginity. And I will never go on that terrifying old beast again! Pics (naturally) to follow.
That’s all for now, I think. I’ll spare you the descriptions of exciting (to me) Target purchases, songs remembered from childhood (perhaps next time) and recent meals I cooked (Last night was a success, but the night before was gross- who ever thought you could screw up a soup? Yet due to my obsession with not wasting food, I didn’t throw it away…instead I left it at my family’s house today, knowing someone will eat it at some point).
Hope you are all well, if anyone’s actually reading this. 
