and so yesterday, I finally made my way back to the office...in the city...after 13 months...now, understand, I do work largely from home...going in one or two days a week at best...but...so there I was...bracing to see this city...my only city...after a long absence...the changes are there...but in honesty they were there before...the changes are, in part, due to the ravages of a society where the gap between the "haves" and "have nots" is stretched beyond the limit...where there has been a mayor who still cannot get beyond singing "Kumbaya" and really do the work...the sometimes ugly and unpopular work that is needed to run this city...there was a sad sigh in seeing it all...the barrage of "closed" and "for rent" signs...the homeless, both breaking your heart and leaving the hair at the back of your neck standing at attention...and so I did my Dorothy skip on the yellow brick road...making my way down the street...avoiding the dog crap...at least I hope it was...dotting the landscape...and opening the door to my favorite coffee shop...which was open and survived this era of Covid...leaving a tear in my eye...the wonderful early morning aroma of fresh brew and warm pastry...and there she was...the manager...cheerful and welcoming as if we had never missed a beat...we talked briefly...I told her it was my first day venturing through the midtown tunnel...and smiled at her...but the mask...could she see the smile lines crinkle in the corner of my eyes?...in the office...placing my hot paper coffee cup in the middle of the desk resembling a Mt. Vesuvius of papers...I sat...and closed my eyes...yes, it is like the seventies out there...without the good music...but it is my fervent prayer we come back again...the hustle...the bustle...the people...the only city...New Yawk...
