A Big Apple a Day: Day 1

New York is a city of scowls, grunts and the occasional "I'm walkin' here!" (no, seriously). Its also a city of smiles, wide eyes, and the occasional kind-hearted stranger. But New Yorkers and those who visit are a breed of their very own - unlike the inhabitants and visitors in any other city, I'm convinced. I can't put my finger on it, but what I can do, is put a title on it. I'm going to pick my favorite New York moment of the day, and I'm gonna call it "A Big Apple a Day". Its a little Seasame Street, I admit. But Seasame Street rocks. So there.

Day 1:

I have discovered a wonder of New York that has made me so incredibly happy, its almost embarrassing to admit my glee. I have discovered the $5 fruit salad. Served out of a vending truck on the corner of Broadway and Beaver (hee-hee), this Chinese husband and wife team serve up the most delectable fruit on the planet. To boot, it comes in a huge container, so stuffed that they have to put two rubber bands around it to keep it all in. Its like, 7 lbs of fruit. For $5.

In any case, I am not the only person who visits Mr & Mrs Fruit. There's always a line. Generally, people are courteous and patient. Until today.

So, its "raining". I've put this in quotes, because it had stopped at this point, and the one, single open umbrella within eye-shot was the one belonging to the woman in front if me. The use of an umbrella unless its absolutely necessary is very close to being my #1 pet peeve; behind people who confuse their, there and they're.

She gets the fruit, she pays, and turns to go. As she fumbles with her purse and fruit, she backs up into me, swings around, and grazes my cheek/eye with the pointy part of her umbrella as I do a back-bend (mind you, its 8:25 am - WAY too early for back-bends) to avoid the loss of sight at the hands of a useless umbrella.

And then, Lady WALKS AWAY. Just walks away! Without a word! I have dodged blindness and stepped on the toe of the man behind me - all on her account - and she walks away? (says the girl from Connecticut in me).

But then I stop to think. There are several potential reasons for her cluelessness, which I must consider;

1) She may not have control over her hands, and thus, anything in them - causing her to be at the whim of her umbrella and the slightest breeze.
2) She's one of those people who carries an umbrella, rain or shine, for fear of both water and sun (pet peeve #3).
3) I'm invisible.
4) She's a tourist (though it would be unusual to see a tourist in a suit with running shoes (pet peeve #4!)).
5) She's in a huge hurry, and doesn't care (which I can totally respect).

So I did what any New Yorker would do: I ordered my fruit salad.

But why does she get the Big Apple a Day award?

A) Lack of respect for other people's personal space.
B) Irrational use of an oversized umbrella (in a line!).
C) Zero *Umbrella Etiquette.

*Umbrella Etiquette: Knowing when and where to use an umbrella. Knowing that in a city of millions, one must be aware at all times about location and proximity of umbrella to others - especially others eyes. Understanding that when one is around others, one must raise umbrella above head-level to pass by. Realizing that we're all wet, tired, cranky and wanting fruit.