Incidental kindnesses happen every day. Challenge is--how do we make it even more common? Something that better seeps into the fabric of our culture to wash out the negative.
5
Lou, You had me at the title, Hola, J. Alfred, my favorite poem since college, where I also was majoring in Spanish. In the following lines you described my current condition--until "...you doubt you'll ever see Prague". Wrong! Thirty years ago, I decided I didn't want to be "drooling in my rocking chair in my old age" and repeatedly mourn, "I never went to Prague". So I went to Prague for a year, where I taught English in the first Western-style business school established since the fall of Communism. Now can you write a poem about never winning the lottery so that I can disabuse you of that comment, too, as far as I am concerned? It might help!
2
It was the late 1980s-early 1990s: I was into photography and some friends and I were going to the Whitney for an exhibition of photographs by Richard Avedon. As I left the Madison Avenue sidewalk, here comes Avedon out of the museum. The moment was serendipitous. I looked straight into his eyes, thrust my right hand toward him and said, “Hey, how’s it going?” He smiled and I could sense the who is this guy confusion in him as the thousands of people he’d met during his career zipped by. He shook my hand. I asked if he was happy with how his work had been hung and I could see his shoulders relax and his smile soften. “Yes,” he said. “I’m very happy.” “Ok, man. Ciao.” And off we went.
5
Bravo Erik Bierbauer -- JH is a gem, we have earth, and live only a few stops from LIC and Midtown East. Oh, and reasonably priced houses with front yards and backyards, and no one dropping bowling balls in the apartment above us (like in Brooklyn).
1
Ms. Xiao, great story! Really made my day.
12
My thanks to the witty Lou Craft,
I smiled and I winced as I read.
Well, first I had to find my glasses,
Which of course were on top of my head.
It's true that age is a humbler,
Adieu to any real shot at fame.
The once clear mind, now a mumbler,
You know... just like... what's his name?
It's good to have a reminder,
When dark years are hard to get through.
It's wise to treat yourself kinder,
May we blunder and revise just like Lou.
35
For the record, and those unfamiliar with this column, Lou Craft has been published here many times. You can do a google search, or check the New York Times site.
I got one story in; still feels good.
14
This collection was just lovely. Made my day brighter. Some days, a little can go a long way. Thank you.
43
About to retire for the evening. Finally, my day is made:)
31
That cashier needs to be replaced.
2
are you kidding me? have you ever been to ny?
18
He might be the store owner! And a cool dude.
21
@Walter McCarthy
I owned a store for over 25 years and I would have no problem with one of my clerks forgiving the 50 cents.
Not only is it great customer service but I am sure he still made a profit on the sale.
20
Wow. What great stories!
26
Please put a larger headline on the diary . Sometimes I miss it & miss so much when I do . Thanks in advance .
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Thank you NTY, for this beautiful series! It gives me hope that there are good, kind people like this everywhere. I hope to visit NYC one day, and perhaps I'll have a seemingly simple yet amazing experience like this.
38
Thanks for highlighting some of the humanity in this cold, dark, cynical city.
36
Thank you Lou Craft,
oh, quite so daft!
‘Twas that opening line-
must be me on your mind.
Unboxing all new shoes,
if I drank, there’d be booze.
The bunions jut out,
my face is a pout.
But, with your delight,
I’m not alone in my plight.
Yet, if I could rhyme with your flair,
I might be dancing on air.
42
Youth WAS fast and callow, Lou. What a splendid way to say it. Thank you for the encouragement to continue the struggle, advancing decades aside. We go marching forward with a sideways wink.
42
There is a 99cents store in my neighborhood that put their young son at the register ( I never asked his age but I guess he’s not older than 10). Always tell people not to bother to search for changes : he would say “ that’s ok” in his very young voice. I always insist that I pay because I have it, not only to him but everyone tells me to not to worry about it . To grown ups, I understand why they do it, but to a little kid? I don’t think he gets it , I always think that they are teaching this kid to: it’s ok to not to pay in full ?? Even seeing him working on that register makes me uncomfortable ! But what do I know !
11
Miahona, you said it, you don't know.
3
Re: Hola, J. Alfred
I loved your poem!! so witty and so true. we are none of us getting any younger are we?!
29
Dear Mr. Craft,
Your deck seems quite full plus a joker
Who spins wonderful couplets with flair
And you don’t need advice from Al Roker
To book round trip to Prague and go there.
Thank you for your delightful Diary entry to brighten this Monday.
Allen
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@Allen J. Share, I agree - what a delight, and your thoughts too. I'd thought NyQuil was the new cabernet and DayQuil was the new zinfandel, but Lou's sounds more correct.
(One of those collections of five that make this a Monday special event rather than a daily old-reliable. Hoping they go with whatever keeps the Times posting for itself and its metro section going and going. I'm starting to feel nervous that I may outlive the Times print edition for some reason. This scares me as other outlets which seemed to be there forever just a few years ago are disappearing without warning.)
34
I hear you, Freddie.
But I think the NYTimes will survive them all.
Lou Craft should be a regular; what do we know about him?
12
This seems like the most amusing and uplifting Metro Diary collection in quite a while...
maybe even since the unexpected once-a-week change...
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Hola, J. Alfred / Lou : I have read few summaries of our common path as this.
Your description is all too relatable and the humor is buoyant. I encourage you to
submit more often! Now..... where did I leave my keys?
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