We think “our life” is normal
We live in a very self centered society and I am no different when it comes to the word normal! Of course I am normal…..everybody else is weird. Of course we wear normal clothes….everybody else is weird. Of course we do normal everyday living….anything different is just plain weird………
That is how we think. We live in the sphere of our world….more specifically our daily routine….and anything different well….becomes the oddity. I have traveled much in this country. I have lived in many different states, yet I find that wherever I am….becomes the new normal!
I thought living in California would have prepared me for anything…..but not New York City! Here are just a few things out of the norm:
We paid close to a hundred dollars in toll fees on our way to NY City! As much as $13 one time….$7.50 the next etc. They didn’t nickel and dime you to death…it was billed to death! Around here…..we don’t charge ya extra for driving down our roads….we are glad ya here!
I thought my husband drove a long distance to work in Huntsville (an hour and ten minutes) Well everyday in NY, we drove in Staten Island along with all the crazy---non following traffic rules---people to the Ferry parking. Then we pay, climb the stairs and walk to the huge waiting area………and wait, as long as 3o minutes depending on if we missed the last boat. Then ten minutes before the ferry boards….a couple thousand people begin moving to the big doors. As soon as the doors open, masses of people crowd and press in to try to get there first. Sitting among the hard faces of the people we travel 30 minutes across the water. Then we debark along with throngs of rushing people. We climbed down the stairs, wishing for some germ-X to the outdoors. Then you have to walk a short distance to the subway, buy tickets…..try to figure out what in the world you are doing, while people and trains whizz by. Then you wait for the right train in the dirty, strange hole in the ground for your correct train.
Suddenly your ears cringe as the screeching of your train comes in. You wait anxiously for the people in the subway car to get off, blocking your entrance. Finally you jump on knowing the doors will shut instantly leaving you behind. If you are lucky enough to find a seat you bounce and tussle, hoping not to touch the person sitting next to you. You don’t look anyone in the eye…….and you don’t smile or talk to anyone (it’s an unspoken rule I learned right away!) You ride and ride until you finally see your street name come up. Then you better stand and get close to the door….or you will be riding longer than you need to!
Then you climb the stairs again. Finally coming out of the hole in the ground, right into NY City. You have to get your bearing to see what direction you need to walk. As people squash around you quickly heading to their destinations. Then you wait at the corner for the “Walk” signal. Then you wait for the cars to stop…..then you wait for a signal again. The cars, taxis, and buses do NOT stop at red lights, so you have to walk out in front of them! Sheww! You get across (and you may have to cross several times before arriving at your destination!) Then you walk, walk, and walk some more. Trying to keep up with your group is no easy task! People weave in and out all around you. People cut in front of you….they are rude and determined. Horns are constantly blaring! You have to keep your eyes peeled or you will get run over! It could take almost two hours just to get where you need to be!
Then you walk around the attraction, then if you are doing more than one thing that day…you do all of that again and again except for the ferry which you have to do when you are ready to leave.
Now that is VERY different, than my normal of driving up, parking and going inside a business! I was so toast at the end of each day….my body hurt and my legs ached! New York City is not for the faint hearted, the handicapped, or the elderly.
My normal…a red light means stop, a stop sign means stop and wait your turn. My normal….let others go before yourself……NY folks have no such considerations. My normal….don’t honk just because they don’t go fast enough….their normal….they honk at you even if you are turning! My normal….help others….NY normal….do it yourself and be quiet. My normal…..look around and see how to be a blessing……NY normal…..argue and fight with your co-workers, be loud and heartless while waiting on customers. My normal….everyone is a person…….NY normal……you are just one of the mass cows going to market. My norm….pay a reasonable price for food…..NY normal…..$20 for 3 cups of coffee and two desserts! My norm…a nice quiet coffee shop with great coffee and a mocha motif….NY norm….no motif, the tables are dirty, most people stand to eat and they have terrible coffee. My norm…most every store has a bathroom, or there is a public one. NY norm….notta! Restrooms were nowhere to be found!
My Norm….a few sky rise buildings, smaller buildings for one of our “Big city” downtown areas, NY norm……….miles and miles of sky scrapers as far as the eye can see.
My norm….identifiable schools of all levels……….NY norm…never saw a single school. My norm….there is a Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian and a church of Christ on nearly every block. NY norm…I never saw a church of any kind.
My norm….A Wal-Mart in every town that has a McDonalds. NY norm…there is no wal-Mart in the entire state!
My norm, sky scrapers are for businesses and corporations. NY norm….sky scrapers are your Walgreens, your dry cleaners, your deli shops, McDonalds, apartments, specialty shops like Hershey’s chocolate store & M M candy store, shoe stores and TV Broadcast and corporations, stocks etc. We even made a purchase at a Walgreens in The Empire State Building!
My norm…the homeless really look like it and there are only a handful at any given place. NY norm…they are everywhere! Some will sing or do something with a bag for you to put change in. Almost every time we rode the subway there was someone different asking for money. It is much more in your face….but I am not sure what “poor” or “homeless” really means in NY! As soon as it rained someone was panhandling umbrellas at every door.
My norm….temp change means fog! NY norm….temp change mean smog! My norm at age 15 you are taking you are eager to take your drivers permit test and start driving asap. NY norm….I think there are thousands who live there all their lives and never learn to drive or own a vehicle!
Motel 6 does not exist in NY! Only sky rise VERY Expensive options! Our norm….is to obey the law to moved over for emergency vehicles. NY norm….doesn’t move or even flinch with emergency sirens and lights behind them!
Our norm….a few policemen protect our small little town, most of which I see drinking coffee with a person he might be writing a ticket for. NY police are everywhere! I have never seen so many! But I wonder what laws they enforce since so many are belligerently broken.
Our norm….to see families laughing at the park together, or shopping. NY norm….didn’t see many children (and those I saw I think were tourist) The word family to NY people is an unfamiliar term.
Our norm….several parks, with trees, squirrels, play equipment, and a few picnic tables, maybe an a pavilion. NY norm…one park, called Central Park…it was quit unique, I had hundreds of benches where I am sure on a nice sunny day they would be full (it was cold and rainy the day we were there), It had the most exquisite detailed sculptures, tiled pictured pavilions, ornate amphitheater, famous water fountains, a carousel, major landscaping with each area lined with flowers. It was over 800 acres. Just like everything else in NY…it seemed to be exquisite to the hilt, biggest, prettiest and best ever….yet the people the very things that matter most, seemed to matter the least!
Our Norm for a special event in a park would be…..a watermelon seed spitting contest of a hot dog chow down race. NY norm…is a movie or TV series being filmed….I had the chance to be on Law and Order. They simple cone off where they want to film, put up a sign that if you go in that area you are agreeing to be a volunteer non paid extra for that scene clip! There was a line…this seemed very in the ordinary for NY folks….for us…it was weird!
A Few NY abnormal signs: (1) NO standing anytime (They even had sharp pronged apparatus around the pipes and hydrants so people wouldn’t sit on them! (2)Rat Warning in the subway (3) Fresh Bagels sign instead of Fresh Donuts! (4) Lawn open hours 9am-6pm (this was in the park on a fence) All the grass areas were fenced off with ornate fencing to keep people off the plush grass except in certain areas!
Our norm to go to the top of a skyscraper…. Get in the elevator and go to the top and look out over the city. NY norm…to go to the top of The Empire State Bldg. was $45 per person! Then you had to weave through the ropes, get your picture made, weave through some more, get a pat down, check purse and backpack, weave some more, ride the elevator (which they CRAMED you into) to the top, stay in line to look around the top (we only paid to go to the 86th floor!), take a quick picture before someone moves you on!
Our norm…to see advertisements on billboards along the hwy. NY norm to have gigantic electronic screens for advertising. Sometimes a whole building face was the electronic screen!
Our norm for taxi’s….we don’t have any! We would call from a bigger city to come fetch us. NY norm….more taxis then cars by far!
Our norm…Iced tea with lemon is common in any restaurant. NY norm….canned tea or nothing.
Our norm…to talk to or maybe even go to lunch with someone you meet at a gas station. NY they are not friendly at all…and I don’t recall seeing any gas stations either!
Our norm….wear comfortable shoes or just good ole flip flops. NY norm to see woman of all types wearing high heels on the subways and walking down the streets.
I learned a lot through our differences, but I was so thankful to return home…the trip caused a great contentment to wash over me!
When we left I shook my head and wondered how someone from NY would manage in our small southern town!
I agree with Dorothy……There is no place like home
Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 7:23
