Recognized Anonymity
Sometimes, paradoxes are so alluring.
One of the best things about NYC is the sheer anonymity it can sometimes offer to faces that wish to escape recognition or any social contact. And I'm not even talking of celebrities or Hollywood's A-listers strutting down Fifth Ave or Park Avenue with their little poodles and their big Guccis or Pradas that scream for attention. I am talking about regular people, wanting to escape the dispersion and/or recognition offered by small towns or small(er) cities. Being in Manhattan is like being a mere drop in a sea of people, caught in a tsunamic wave of throbbing humanity that's always full of frenzy and chaos, and yet... yet, somehow, being totally alone and isolated even in the midst of all that mayhem. Everyone joins you in minding their own business and giving each other the (metaphorical) space.
I have heard that some people find New York City to be rather overwhelming, but I find it incredibly soothing. It's almost a comfort blanket, at times. You get totally lost and that's how you find yourself. And, at some point, you look around and realize that others are also doing just that. The shared anonymity is instantly recognizable, and you nod inwardly with a quiet satisfaction, and walk towards the nearest park or bookstore or café or subway station or wherever really, only to lose yourself again. New York, New York -- the metaphorical cave to hide in...
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One of the best things about NYC is the sheer anonymity it can sometimes offer to faces that wish to escape recognition or any social contact. And I'm not even talking of celebrities or Hollywood's A-listers strutting down Fifth Ave or Park Avenue with their little poodles and their big Guccis or Pradas that scream for attention. I am talking about regular people, wanting to escape the dispersion and/or recognition offered by small towns or small(er) cities. Being in Manhattan is like being a mere drop in a sea of people, caught in a tsunamic wave of throbbing humanity that's always full of frenzy and chaos, and yet... yet, somehow, being totally alone and isolated even in the midst of all that mayhem. Everyone joins you in minding their own business and giving each other the (metaphorical) space.
I have heard that some people find New York City to be rather overwhelming, but I find it incredibly soothing. It's almost a comfort blanket, at times. You get totally lost and that's how you find yourself. And, at some point, you look around and realize that others are also doing just that. The shared anonymity is instantly recognizable, and you nod inwardly with a quiet satisfaction, and walk towards the nearest park or bookstore or café or subway station or wherever really, only to lose yourself again. New York, New York -- the metaphorical cave to hide in...
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