Saturday in the City

So apparently it's winter now. The weather has been cold and after daylight saving time (and on top of that, being farther east in the time zone), it is completely dark by 5pm. It makes me sleepy. It's also officially Christmastime. Stores are pulling out the annual holiday decorations and I heard my first holiday jingle on a TV commercial last night. Most of you know my soft spot for Christmas music (most likely thanks to my father), but I try to hold out until after Thanksgiving.

Anyway, this morning I enjoyed sleeping in - I allowed myself some extra time to just lay in my warm bed. When I finally got up and dressed, I walked to the subway station. I hadn't eaten yet, so I decided to stop at the Dunkin' Donuts along the way and see what all the fuss is about. I have to admit, my egg and cheese toasted bagel was tasty. And my pumpkin latte was really good as well. But the whole time I was drinking it, I kept thinking about how it was consumerism in a cup. It felt like I was cheating on Equal Exchange. I drank my latte and ate my breakfast sandwich on the train as I rode downtown. It was the kind of Saturday morning that one expects to have in the city.

I decided to go to the library and open a membership. I didn't have any proof of local residency on hand, so I wasn't able to borrow anything yet. But I had a book with me so I just read for a while in one of the reading rooms. The library is enormous - and so beautiful. I think I could spend all day there.

I ran a few other errands and then came back home. I just finished watching "The Hours," which never fails to move me (it is one of my favorite films). Now I think I'll drink some hot tea and read before eventually going to bed. To think I used to go to the bar on Saturday nights!

I remember one morning getting up at dawn, there was such a sense of possibility. You know - that feeling? And I remember thinking to myself, 'So, this is the beginning of happiness. This is where it starts. And of course there will always be more.' It never occurred to me it wasn't the beginning. It was happiness. It was the moment. Right then.
-"The Hours"