Night on 84 street

A weekend of rest---"enforced" rest--recovering from the chemo infusion on Thursday. Not much done except reading---but very interesting reading---but more of that later. Finally had to get out at night. Could not stay in. Visited the "game" coffee shop on 84 street directly west of Amsterdam. Probably the only place in the neighborhood where one can sit and read and not have to drink alcohol. Somewhat welcoming, though they got my order wrong. Continued reading Henry VI part II, a fascinating mess of different styles--I can't believe that only one person  was the author---one amazing scene in which a landowner kills Jack Cade, a commoner who had tried to gather an army of citizens and seize the  thrown. Lots to think about---does the scene forshadw MacBeth? 

Finally left--decided not to return to my apartment via Amsterdam, with its multiple bars-restaurants but opted for the much more quieter Broadway. First, however the trip from the coffee shop to the Broadway corner--dark and not much attended---and then the memory---that in the early sixties, the street was considered the most dangerous one in the city. And now--a west side nightmare turned into a much tamer block. But as I walked in the dark, I could almost experience  the "horror" of the past---sixty years of vision--the story of a street. I felt like I was reaching into the void. But of course, that is what one carries with one as one ages---the memory---the story of the past. Every walk down the west side streets, or the east side, or Park Slope, is like a movie--sixty or so years of change---my generation trying to find itself-- the :cooness" of not having a lot of money--and still living comfortably. The street was quiet-dark---did I think I was walking into a nightmare. 

Broadway from 84th South to the apartment. Quiet, a few restaurants opened---a few couples sitting in the outdoors outside one of the candy shops. A strange contrast to Amsterdam--on the trip to the coffee shop  I spent much time dodging people--weaing in and out.

So there we go. Had to publish this--give voice to the "nightmare voyage", Tomorrow a full day of work---and possibly laundry.