Monday, June 19, 2006

Walking at Night in the City

People are different at night. At least I know I am. I get mellower, softer, more in touch with the stars and the stuff the stars are made of. I get to feeling better about how the world turns and about the people who live here. I feel there is more space to breathe.

I like to go walking at night. I like to walk when I meet a new friend. Walking makes it easy to talk about things. We share the motion and rhythm of the conversation and the motion and rhythm of the walking. In some small way it’s almost like dancing, without touching.

When we dance we give and take. We lead and follow intricate footsteps without really watching each other. Dancing is kinesthetic, heartfelt, and feeling-full and mathematical. Dancing is a nice way to get to know someone. It’s slower and less intrusive than a conversation filled with eye contact and questions that are only in our heads.

Walking through New York City this week, I spent three hours getting to know a new friend. We talked of things that we might never have mentioned had we be sitting in a single place trying to hold a conversation. Walking at night in the city isn't like trying to hold anything. It's like dancing your way into a friendship.

At least that’s how it seems to me.

−me strauss Letting me be

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Beautiful way to look at things. It was a nice walk!

"ME" Liz Strauss said...

Hey, I only sent you that link to read. I didn't expect a comment. :) Great to see you over here. It was a nice walk wasn't it? Thanks for the dance, friend.

Anonymous said...

Glad you had a nice evening.
Hope your Monday is as well.


Take Care
Michael

"ME" Liz Strauss said...

Thanks, Michael,
Have a great week too!

Anonymous said...

I never liked walking ... from the moment I started I hated it. My mother said that soon after learning how I sat down, took my shoes off and refused to walk another step. But we found out a bit later that I have really bad arches and very weak ankles and walking has always been very difficult for me. These days it is virtually impossible.

HOWEVER, if I could ... I definitely would. It seems to me that walking allows you see things in a much more personal way and at a much slower pace. Both of those fit into my way of seeing life and so I am sad that I can't enjoy that aspect of life.

I'm glad that you had such a nice time acquainting yourself with your new friend. I love the night.

"ME" Liz Strauss said...

Hi Mama,
It makes me sad to think that you don't get to know the pleasures of walking or dancing. Ah but you write and you see and you love the night and your mind goes places doesn't it? You scurry with that mind yours like a mouse does.

Anonymous said...

I've never really been able to enjoy walking, even when I didn't have arthritis. I guess I really didn't miss it till now. When I see people complaining that they have to walk from distant parking places into stores I wish I could tell them they are missing out on SOOOO much .... but then they'd just laugh and say it wasn't so.

But, yes, I do imagine going places on my own two feet ... and they are marvelous places!

"ME" Liz Strauss said...

Your imagination is wonderful. I smile and crawl inside it from way over here. I bet that you and I could "walk" around the world inside our head together without a single problem and leave those complaining fuddy duddies wondering.

Anonymous said...

This post really grabbed me. I love NYC, walking, nighttime, and walking/dancing with friends. Now you've got me started on a fantasy. I want to go to NYC to meet up with an old high school boyfriend who lives there. And I want to walk with him at night.

"ME" Liz Strauss said...

Hi Betty,
what a great fantasy that is. Now you've got me thinking of one. It's a different city with a different boyfriend, but we're still waling at night. :)