Sunday, July 30, 2006

"Call it New York Karma if you like."

Then we made our way back to the subway and headed uptown. Downtown? Whatever- towards the financial district. Toward the World Trade Center site. It was hard to find because the buildings weren't there to serve as a beacon. What? Too soon?

We saw a few buildings with giant drapes over them, perhaps to serve as blinders for the employees within, to keep them sane and productive, but I'm sure the official reason was far more utilitarian. There were mounds of construction everywhere, surrounded by streets barricaded, but we weren't sure if we were in the right place or merely among the melee of constant New York renovation. Finally, we spotted the garish tourist trap memorial- Ground Zero.

We made our way down the stairs which also served as an entrance to the subway to view the rebuilding through wire fences and black drapes similar to the ones that turned nearby highrises into giant shadows, into buildings composed of dark matter. We stared into the black hole of the site, and I, for one, didn't feel much different. It was somewhat impressive to see the scope of it all, how big it was. Although, I never saw the towers in real life, so I suppose much of the awe and indignation was lost on me. Plus, it doesn't help that I'm an insensitive asshole. Meh.

We continually cracked subversive and insensitive jokes and took satirically somber photographs of ourselves ensconsed in serious discussion and gazing pensively and morosely at the site, laughing hysterically for an instant here and a moment there, while simultaneously telling each other that we had to shut up lest we get our asses kicked. I guess it's a good thing that I didn't wear this shirt that day. I don't really own that shirt. Sigh...

After growing weary of being callous jerks, we decided to make our way back to the subway stop we came from as my appointment was drawing near. We had about 45 minutes, and the ride back downtown, uptown, was only about five minutes, so we had plenty of time. Of course, we got lost. I don't know how. I guess I just hadn't paid attention when we walked through Manhattan. I was more interested in walking through Tribeca and saying "Don't mind if I do," continually. I'd been saving that one.

We found plenty of subway stops, but none of them had the corresponding color or letter that we needed to get back to where we needed to be. I tried to walk quickly, but Rebecca's foot had begun to bother her, and the rain was picking up. Call it New York Karma if you like.

2 comments:

Kristen said...

I want to see the satirically somber photographs!

Don't mind if I do.

Unknown said...

haahahaha... Kristen steals all hilarious comments! :)