Going back to California during Winter break I realized that one of the things I miss most about home (also one of the things I didn’t even think about missing) was driving. In California, unlike New York, getting your drivers license is really a huge rite of passage. Not getting it really puts you behind in the game and makes you “that friend” that always needs a ride. Being back home, I loved being able to just hop in my car and drive whenever I wanted to, whenever I wanted to. It was often one of the only parts of my day where I could be completely by myself. Always driving with the windows, blasting my favorite playlists, singing (not well), and thinking. I love the freedom and power I have when I drive.
That originally wasn’t going to be that long. I had only planned on it being a lead in sentence but then I guess that I started to ramble a little bit, like I am right now. Sorry.
In the city, it seems like the whole license thing isn’t a big deal. It’s actually common for full grown adults to have never gotten their drivers’ licenses. That works here because of the New York subway system.
When I am on the subway I usually have my headphones in and am looking down at my phone for the majority of the ride when I am on the train alone. On the train ride home from school on Thursday, however, i forgot my headphones so I was forced to pay attention to my surroundings. I read all the signs, posters, and ads. Most of them are dumb scams but I really liked one of the signs that I read.
I know it’s hard to read, but it says “The city orbits around eight million centers of the universe and turns around the golden clock at the still point of this place. Lift up your eyes from the moving hive and you will see time circling under a vault of stars and know just when and where you are.”
I’m pretty sure it’s referring to Grand Central station, but I thought it was a good time for me to read it being that I don’t often just look up and see what’s around me. The city orbits around 8 million centers, because each person in the city is in their own little universe, often completely unaware of things happening right in front of them. It’s easy to fall victim to such an unfortunate situation when everything and everyone here is in constant motion and always rushed. I think it’s important though, especially in a huge, amazing city like New York City, to take a look up every once in a while and be grateful for our surroundings.