Sunday in the Park WITHOUT George!

As I sit at the bus stop, in Dumont, New Jersey, I am surrounded by people I have nothing in common with, yet we share impatience smiles and look down the never-ending road in hopes of seeing a faint image of our bus. There is a togetherness that we are sharing- a sameness; “WHERE THE HELL IS THE BUS?!” I jest. There is a warmth among us, but it is 95 degrees on a windless day what would one expect to feel. The bus finally arrives and these same people with whom I just shared unique life moments with are now the people I PRAY DO NOT SIT NEXT TO ME on the bus! I put my backpack on the seat next to me. I will only move it for attractive people that smell good. Attractive people can smell kind of funky sometimes. This bus travels through Union City so one can only imagine the people that get on the bus. I swear one woman has a pig head in her purse. It has been many years since I have taken a bus. Head sets and texting has taken the place of people’s need to make mindless conversation, unfortunately they still over spray themselves with cheap perfume and insist on sitting next to me! We stop at a red light and I look out the window, I watch people struggling to carry grocery bags to their apartment. They look so tired, so beaten up by life. I wonder what they are thinking. They are probably thinking “You son of a BITCH! Stop writing and help me with my grocery bags!” I can sympathize with their pain- I just found out the Express bus is a local and all these gross people are getting on board. Note to self: What sounds like a good idea usually isn’t. Next time drive! I never get tired of looking at New York City from the Lincoln tunnel. I guess riding a bus does teach you patience- I just wish it was filled with pretty people. So I get out of The Port Authority on 42nd Street and I am pushed, kicked and poked before I can make it out of that flee bitten hell hole- gotta love public transit. First thing to accomplish on my single day in Central Park is Brunch! There are so many places to choose from as I walk down 9th Avenue. I try to play a fake “Rachel Ray” from her NYC on $10.00 a day, but get hungry before I get three blocks. I stopped at NIZZO. They had a mouth-watering Pizza Uova ; taleggio, sausage, onion &2 eggs and Orange Juice for $14.75. Service was with a smile and fast. The food was very filling and good! You could see the poor waiter had a hard night and these tourists were giving him such a hard time. There were three tables one with six children and two with parents and grandparents. It was interesting to watch. They had all these maps and were quizzing the bitter brunch waiter and asking his suggestions. I can tell he is nursing a hangover, but the tourists think they are experiencing New York City Attitude. I remember those brunch days. I used to work brunch at the West Bank Café and had a ball with Alex. It was a buffet so all we had to do was take egg orders and drinks. We would be so hung over and gagging at what these people would eat! I walk through Broadway to get to Central Park. I LOVE the energy that Sunday matinee days bring to the mid-town area. I got to see my friend, Amanda Green’s “Bring It On” marque!

Love her! Love it!

My favorite Broadway Street is 45th Street. So many theaters with so many shows playing! I am a little disturbed by all the cartoon characters running after you to pose for pictures with them, but even more baffled by the dancing M&M’s, Peanut Butter Cups, and Twizzler Licorice stick. Broadway has become a deathly temptation for a diabetic.

Central Park There is a beauty just walking into Central Park that is matched by no other. I don’t care if you live in the open fields of a forest; Central Park puts nature to shame.

New Jersey may have the trees and the grass, but you never see people enjoying it!

I had a few sights that I had wanted to see the first being the famous Friedsam Carousel.

As a teenager I loved riding Central Park’s Carousel, it was one of the only Carousel’s that you could reach for the brass rings! I found the Carousel, but also found out that they do not grab for the brass rings anymore. If we keep taking traditions away there won’t be anything for the kids to carry on.

What I love about Central Park is that you do not need an ipod or head set for music, the music is supplied by the gifted music students practicing on the benches and the homeless. There is no better sound then being serenated by the sounds of the street. Walking through Central Park is like being a part of the theater of life! Central Park is filled with the most beautiful statutes. I found the Hans Christian Anderson statute and was surprised to see a line of people formed to take pictures sitting on his lap. I had no idea that people knew who he was!

The Alice in Wonderland statute always has me humming Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit”

You can’t walk through Central Park without stopping to admire Belvedere’s Castle. The young couple’s out on the lake for an afternoon row in the boats….Here I start humming “That How You Know” from Enchanted.

And how random that there is a Swiss Chalet in the middle of Central Park?!

Central Park is the real DisneyWorld for young and old! Strawberry Field's would definately be Wonderland- Where would we be if John Lennon was still with us?

As I leave the Park and realize I have no idea when the last bus is out of NYC! I have to race to the Port Authority because with my luck the last bus is at 6! As I am shooting down the street maneuvering between the residents of midtown who are getting pissed at me pushing around them I stop short in my spot! Time and busses have just flown out of my mind with the vision I am experiencing at this moment-a moment that will never happen again. People find excitement in NYC, they find careers in NYC, they find their dreams in NYC- I find a man walking a GOAT in NYC! I have to stop and take a moment to digest this, and also take a picture.

What i love is that no one else seems to notice that this man is walking a GOAT! So my day in the city has come to an end and like Maria from “The Sound of Music” when she leaves the mountains that fill her heart with music; I leave the city that fills my heart with clogged arteries! All the soda, ice-cream, pretzels, hot dogs, ice-cream, soda, and water I had to eat and drink to keep up my energy! I cannot wait to get off the bus so I can go to Dunkin Donuts/ Baskin Robbins Ice-Cream shop. I have a lump of hot dogs stuck in my throat and I need a milk shake to swallow it down!

p.s….Dunkin Donuts merging with Baskin Robbins ice-cream was definitely the wish of a fat person.