NEW YORK MOMENT

to further boost my thoughts on New York, I want to share something that happened to me earlier today...

I was late for work and in the car service I take every morning down Fifth Avenue. The traffic was unusually high and we were at a complete standstill. The weather was close to perfect Spring temperature and I chose to get out of the car and walk the rest of the way, down Fifth, to my office on 44th Street.

I had walked about a block when I noticed a very sweet, black labrador retriever inhis golden years. His face was turning white and I figured he was about 10 years old.

His owner, was bundled up like it was single digits on the thermometer. I didn't really care to look closely at the owner, as his dog caught my fancy, not him or his strange get-up. We stood on the corner and chatted about dogs and Central Park when the man produced an orange from his pocket, peeled it (putting the peels back in his pocket) and proceeded to eat one piece and share the next piece with his trusted friend. It was very sweet and the dog happily sat, shook hands and caught his orange slices in mid air. His owner was all too thrilled to show off his well trained, albeit spoiled, dog.

I had to get going and excused myself to continue my scurry down Fifth. I looked up, as I stepped off the curb and tripped. I recognized the hooded gentleman well. Upon witnessing my recognition of him, and my flubbed attempt to apologize for not doing so earlier, he raised his finger to his mouth and went "Sshhhhhh" .... I squinted as I didn't understand what he meant. He pointed to a small group of paparazzi-esque photographers hovered outside a green awning about 50 feet away.

He said, "see those guys over there? well they are waiting for me and they think I am still inside. I snuck out the service door. I am dressed like this so they won't recognize me .... clearly it worked. And now my dog loving friend, I am going to the park to share another orange with Sam and let him run around a bit."

I smiled and walked away.

I love New York.