In which I am glad to not live in NYC
I always assumed that I would end up in New York, but after making the transition from little-big-city Pittsburgh to much-bigger-city D.C., I realized that I am fine here, that I don’t need to be in huge-ass-city Manhattan.
NYC has had way more than its share of drama, and the recent blackout is no different. I’m still waiting for some of our northeastern bloggers to come back online, but in the meantime, I am grateful that, in our 95-degree weather here, we have functioning air conditioning.
Of course, most of the major news coverage is of New York, and not of Ohio, Michigan, Canada and the parts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania that were affected. But it’s reminiscent of 9/11 coverage — how often do retrospectives and tributes focus seemingly solely on the biggest disaster site and fail to mention the Somerset, Pa., and Pentagon casualties? Too damn many, that’s how many.
In the story I linked to above, some assclown of a deli owner was whining about having to throw out $2,000 worth of ice cream, yogurt and other perishables. Here’s a thought — why didn’t he donate it to all the stranded folks who were half an inch from heat stroke in their 90-degree weather? Y’know, there’s so much talk of a newfound human kindness in Manhattan, but that sure didn’t symbolize it.
I awoke this morning to news reports of subway trains being stopped under the rivers up in NYC, and people had to walk for miles (with all the friendly rats) until they could see the light of day again. And what about all those elevators in those massive buildings? I am so glad I don’t work in skyscrapers anymore — Pittsburgh had its share of massive buildings, and I worked on the 57th floor of USX Tower for awhile and on the 36th floor of PPG Place. Eeek.
I understand that, here in D.C., no building can be taller than the Capitol Building. That is a Good Thing, although I am claustrophobic and would just spontaneously combust, were I trapped in an elevator, no matter whether near the fourth or 40th floor of a building. I am thrilled to, after years of being a city girl, be living and working in the suburbs, where I drive to work and the buildings are as short as the bus my colleagues must have ridden to school as children. 🙂