This is perfect New York

One of the things I love most about New York is that you never know when you are going to stumble into a great evening. Tonight I set out for a run/walk, planning on my normal route around the streets of the Upper East Side. It was a really nice night and still early enough to be safe, so I changed my route and ventured to Central Park. I headed up to the Reservoir and was taken aback by the beauty of the scene in front of me. It was still daylight, but the sun was starting to set, making the sky a gorgeous mix of pinks and blues. The water was quiet, as always, and the birds sat perched all in a row along the "sand bar" in the middle.

It was such a tranquil scene, I might have forgotten that I was in the middle of the "city that never sleeps." But then there was the skyline...ahh, that Manhattan skyline that never lets you down. I ran/walked around the reservoir with my fellow New Yorkers - some old, some young, some fast, some slow, some alone, some in little support groups, some fit, some...not-so-fit, some wearing sweatshirts and black knee socks, some wearing very little spandex - and admired the juxtaposition of acres and acres of water and trees right alongside the sparkling, towering buildings.

But the lovely evening was only beginning. After my loop around the Reservoir, as I was walking back to my apartment, I happened upon the Metropolitan Opera's performance of Rigoletto in the park. I planned to keep walking, but like the Pied Piper, the music lured me to sit down. Now, I don't claim to be any type of opera aficianado, but the music was just beautiful...the kind of music that fills your soul and transports you to another world. For the second time in a matter of minutes, I found myself in disbelief that I was still in New York. I guess that's one of the great things about this city...it's a million worlds, a million places you'll never go, all wrapped into one tiny 13-mile island.

As I sat by myself (don't get sad for me, I only stayed for 15 minutes or so:)), I partook in one of my favorite New York activities - people-watching. Right in front of me was a cute couple with a picnic and bottle of wine who were clearly very much in love. To my left was a group of kids running around with the little neon glow rings that you get at the Stone Mountain laser show. To my right was a group of three middle-aged women who appeared to be still single and still very fabulous. And behind me was a row of elderly couples who probably had been coming to the opera in the park for decades...and who knew to get there early enough to snag seats on the benches so they didn't have to sit on the ground. I could go on and on...person after person, couple after couple, child after child, friend after friend who were brought together by this grand city and a Verdi opera. It just doesn't get any better than that.

"Anyone who lives in New York knows that this is perfect New York." Annie Leibovitz
:)