Salute and Celebrate

      The Salute to/ Celebrate Israel parade is today on Fifth Avenue in New York City. I plan on attending and supporting Israel. I have gone most years that I have been living in New York . They say that this is the fiftieth year for the parade. Pretty cool.
       I used to go to the parade because its a very social venue. Lots of singles, lots of old friends. Now many friends have moved away or are married. It can be awkward seeing married friends. They wonder why I am not married yet have never suggested any prospects for me. I try not to let it get to me. I love watching all the people march in their support of Israel. Its also nice to see the mix of people in the crowd although it seems there are less who come to join than there used to be. Then again maybe there is the same amount as always but since I've become accustomed to the New York crowds it does not seem as crowded. No matter. I plan on joining the festivities today.

Buses

     As of last week Brooklyn city buses have a glass partition around the bus driver. I hope the glass is shatterproof. Its a little scary looking. Perhaps there have been a lot of attacks on bus drivers lately. I guess this will help protect the bus drivers.
     The single most scary thing that happens on  a New York City public bus is when a wheel chair passenger comes on board. The driver stops the bus and gets up out of his seat

to help the wheel chair passenger onto the bus. I am always afraid that the bus is going to be hijacked by another passenger while the bus driver is helping out the wheel chair person. I am not sure that a protective glass partition will protect against a hijacking while the bus driver is not in his seat and helping the wheel chair person.

personal space (or lack there of)

i am someone who needs a lot of personal space. it is somewhat difficult to be this way in a city that is full of physically and verbally pushy people. the worst offenders are frum people . they think that they can stand really close to you because they don't think you will beat them up because you are frum as well. i usually avoid stores in midwood during the busiest hours because i do not like the invasion of my space. i also try to go to personal space friendly stores such as any trader joe's , duane reade and cvs.
it is most awful entering certain grocery stores in midwood. people congregate at the doorway and make it difficult to enter the store. when it is time to pay the person behind me always likes to stand close enough to me so my elbow jabs them when i am reaching into my wallet. they are in that much of a hurry. i always wonder what kind of married life these people have if they feel the need to stand that close to me in line at the supermarket. must not be too great.

frum and single

i think i have hit my saturation point in the new york singles scene. with all of the singles here you would think i would have met mr .right. guess again. i always thought that if i did not find anyone by a certain age i would leave. i have passed that age and now im thinking now what?
i take advantage of the cultural aspects of new york city , but i also know that other cities have culture as well.  the same things that are in new york city exist elsewhere but on a smaller scale. though new york city has so much to offer, there is not always enough time in the day to enjoy it all anyway.
the job market is tough everywhere, but even the fact that i have a job right now isn't enough to keep me here. i am not a chief executive commanding a ginormous salary or someone with a family to support.
 the shtus in the shidduch scene is driving me a bit crazy. there are lots of mr. right nows out there just not a lot of men who will be there for the long haul. i don't know if the phenomenon is new york specific or if its this way everywhere. i just don't want to be single forever and i see some of the older than me singles around here and i don't want to be one of them.
any suggestions?

avenue u subway art

i visited the avenue u subway station on the q line today. to my delight i caught a glimpse of the emerging subway art on the coney island bound side of the station. it is quite impressive. it made the act of standing on subway platform a little brighter.
the avenue j station looks like a dive. i haven't noticed any emerging mosaics there or on the avenue m station. the renovation of the avenue m station is much further behind than the avenue j station so perhaps there is still hope for a mosaic . (im not holding my breath)
subway safety and punctuality are more important than subway beauty. subway beauty is easier to maintain (sort of ) than subway safety or punctuality.
im not sure that mayor dinkins was referring to the subway mosaics when he would pontificate about the lovely mosaic of new york city, but when i speak of the lovely mosaics of new york city i am most definitely referring to the lovely subway mosaics.