The Scientist

The last time I walked from Times Square to 80th & Columbus, my mother was lecturing me the entire way.

The time was last fall. The occasion was my appearance in The New York Times. My mother was not pleased. Nor, for that matter, was my father. (Or, for the record, me.) With my mistakes in print, and my morality in question, the fifty blocks passed in a heartbeat.

Not so last night. My iPod was out of juice, and I was way too grumpy to call someone to share the commute. So, for the first time in I don’t know how long, I opened my eyes, opened my ears, and let the city walk me home.

It’s about a forty-five minute commute. It’s got upsides, and down. But overall, I’m not complaining. It is what it is.

The Upside To The Transit Strike:

1- Window shopping
2- People watching
3- The smell of Christmas trees
4- Christmas lights
5- Time to think
6- Fresh air
7- Blue sky
8- Bonus exercise
9- Shared experience
10- This City really is the best

The Downside To The Transit Strike:

1- It’s cold out
2- Fingers, nose and toes
3- Tourists
4- Honking horns
5- Sirens
6- Concrete
7- Planning ahead
8- Wearing uncool shoes
9- Hats mess up my hair
10- Commuter congestion (C’mon people! Speed up!)

At the end of the day — which arrives at 4:31 p.m. ET today — it’s impossible not to be optimistic. It’s The Winter Solstice. Tomorrow is going to be a longer, brighter day, no matter what. It’s science.