Lady and Man Liberty

I draw very strong associations in my mind between James Taylor and every earthy/woodsy place I've ever been in the United States.  Specifically, places on highways that are in the middle of nowhere.  When I was younger, my family used to drive up to Boston for a family party every summer, and among the CDs we heard were James Taylor, the Bee Gees, and Earth Wind & Fire.  I think Roxette was in there somewhere, but we don't talk about that.  But every summer, listening to James Taylor rolling down I90/MassPike, we'd literally hike our way from Cleveland, and "Stockbridge to Boston".

I'm listening to James Taylor and that really only means one thing.  I'm ready to come home.  I'm ready to be "Homeward Bound".  Oh no, here comes Simon & Garfunkle...  (once the acoustic nostalgia begins it snowballs.)  It's great being here but I will be glad to be back in Cincinnati.  Heck, I will be glad to be on an airplane looking down on rivers and wondering where did it learn to look that cool?  I miss things being cool just because they naturally exist cool.

I was in a clothing store in SoHo yesterday after I got out of work and there was a quote on the wall that said "effortless cool is a detailed process."  First of all, that quote perfectly describes the hipster movement.  Second of all... what the hell??

In that same store I decided to try on some clothes(the sole purpose of my excursion was to try on clothes that I would never ever buy.)  I was experimenting with various shades of tool, and these clothes were definitely tooly.  I have a weird 'love-hate relationship' with many of these clothing stores.  On one hand, it is fun to go in and see the absurd things that people buy, and try on the most ridiculous/expensive thing in the store, just for fun.  I have no intention of buying a button-down that costs $180 or a t-shirt that costs $75.  What do I look like?  On the other hand, I also get this fun-depressed urge to commit arson, and burn the store to the ground.  (To be clear:  this is the "hate" part of the love-hate bi-angle.)

*For all you literalists out there, I don't actually mean to commit arson.  If it makes you feel better, you can think of "burn" the way that Elvis means it, or Nickelback, or Usher, or in that Disco Inferno song.

After I went to SoHo, I decided to go to the tip of Manhattan to ride the Staten Island Ferry.  I wanted to see lady Liberty.  She looks green, unwell.  She's probably tired from holding that torch up for so long.  How many years has it been now, 10?  I can't remember.  You'd think that the French government would build a Man Liberty next to her, to help her hold the torch, or at least to give her somebody to chat with.

MAN LIBERTY:  Oh, hi, Lady Liberty? (nervous, holding flowers)


LADY LIBERTY:  Oh, hey.

MAN LIBERTY:  Do you mind if I join you?

LADY LIBERTY:  Oh yeah sure... no problem.  Now you decide to show up.

MAN LIBERTY:  (unsure of what to say)  Well... I, I brought you some flowers.  From France!  You remember France, right?

LADY LIBERTY:  No.  I don't remember France.  And I am SOOO glad that you brought me flowers (American sarcasm).  This is just great (sarcasm).  Just what I need, something else to hold (more sarcasm).  Look everybody!  Two hands!

MAN LIBERTY:  (a bit embarrassed)  I just...  I'm sorry, I didn't know I'd offend you.

LADY LIBERTY:  Look dude, they sent you to help me hold this thing.  I get that.  I appreciate it.  But it's a shade over a century late... (eyes watering) I can't even feel my fingers anymore.  And you come in here, with your shiny copper tan... (waterworks) I can't do this...

MAN LIBERTY:  (steps in and takes torch, she sobs with head in hands) Hey, it's okay.  It's going to be okay.

LADY LIBERTY:  Really?

MAN LIBERTY:  Yes, or my name isn't "Man Liberty".  Wow this is heavy.  Can you hold it while I tie my shoe?

LADY LIBERTY:  Get off my island.

END SCENE/(TREASON?)

So my experience on the Staten Island Ferry was great, and I took lots of pictures.  There were a bunch of high school kids looking around for a phone charger on the ship, a woman who nursed a Heineken from South Ferry to Staten Island, and a bi-racial couple from Eastern Europe who made it into one of my pictures.  Speaking of pictures, PICTURE TIME!

if anybody speaks 'that', email me with the translation.

Lady Lib. 

staten island dock, looking at manhattan 

 Michael's perspective

the "Lonely Island"

In conclusion, while I'm excited for this last week, I will be more than happy to finally get back to Ohio.  I miss people that I know and love.

Enjoy this great tune by James Taylor titled "Shower the People".  It's easy to forget the people that are really important in your life, but so incredibly important to let them know that you still care about them.
James Taylor - "Shower the People"


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