Category: Uncategorized

These notes on the wall at the recently closed St. Vincent’s Hospital are so sad! This is an “end of an era” thing, and it’s all kinds of sad.

History is turning a page. Every one of these page turns is like saying goodbye to an old friend. I have to say, it’s also sad because it feels like we’re one page closer to when the page is turned on me.

But it’s been that kind of week for me. Red Burns, the chair of the Interactive Communications Program at NYU (where I went to grad school) just announced that she is stepping down and Dan O’Sullivan is the new chair. I adore Red Burns. I want her to be running ITP forever. (Dan is a great guy though, and the perfect choice.)

I think for that reason I was drawn to read what people are saying on the wall at St. Vincent’s. I don’t like goodbyes. I want to see how other people handle them.

This one reminded me of the signs all around the hospital after 9/11. Just seeing the picture of someone there, it was like the pictures of the missing. Thankfully, this one is just the opposite.

Sigh.

Yesterday I noticed that a wall had come up over the entrance to the emergency room at St. Vincent’s. Later I saw that people have started writing on it …

People who worked there, or were patients there have started signing the wall. I remembered that this hospital had a floor for people with AIDS, before anyone knew what it was. Although there were problems at first (some staff members reluctant to treat them) it became a place of compassion. I’m sure there were many other great things were done here over its long history.

I was passing by the building where Carrie lived in Sex and the City and they were doing a photo shoot (not with anyone from the movie as far as I could tell). Someone watching said the woman who owns that building hates all the fans and everything to do with the show with a white hot passion. I don’t know how true that is. I’m sure she’s paid for this and when her building was used for the show (and movies). But I can certainly understand how after all these years she (and all her neighbors) have had enough. People still come to this block every day and take pictures even though she’s put up a chain blocking the stoop.

But personally I cannot wait to see the next movie!!

Last night was the benefit for the Grace Church Choral Society. It made me happy all over again that I am going to get to write this book.

That is Jorge Avila on the violin and Tony Bellomy (the associate conductor of the choir) on the piano. They played music by a composer I’d never heard of! And of course the name went right out of my head. I will have to ask someone who it was

I’m working perched on the tiniest, tiniest corner of this chair because I don’t have the heart to move him.

Everyone who has a pet is nodding their heads in recognition.

There are sirens all over the place right now, screaming downtown. I hate when you hear sirens blaring, sirens which are getting progressively louder and louder until then they all come to screaming halt right in front of your building. That’s no fun. (Except for the cute fireman part.)

I’m starting to freak out about not getting enough work done on my days off. Writing takes a long time. I didn’t notice because I had lot of time, so it didn’t matter if it took lots of time.

By the way, I just had such a delicious lunch. I discovered that if I marinated and fried a little tofu, I could steam a vegetable, throw in some pasta, splash it all with soy sauce, and voila. The most delicious meal I know how to make.