I can walk to and from my new job, although it is contrary and a contradiction to my old walks.
Old walk: Pass by dozens of Ethiopian restaurants and wonder how they all stay in business.
New walk: Pass by dozens of bikers and strollers and other people who can say they “live in the city,” but who actually live steps away from a series of trails and paths that connects uptown to the close-in suburbs.
Old walk: Pass by older teenagers and assorted grownups smoking up in the alleys and any number of so-called parks.
New walk: Pass by younger teenagers smoking on an unofficial bike trail they’ve carved out of the woods, no grownups to be found.
Old walk: Always plan a stop for “frites” to dip in Dutch mayo.
New walk: Rarely stop for McDonald’s fries, and only if I am really, really hungry.
Old walk: Buy unremarkable coffee at the indie coffee spot, where something labeled “Intelligentsia” brews.
New walk: Actually, Dunkin Donuts coffee IS pretty good.
Old walk: Dodge taxis and wayward crazy or just plain sad people wearing trash bags filled with belongings tied to their waists.
New walk: Dodge wannabe intense bikers decked out in what racing bikers supposedly wear.
Old walk: Pass multiple strip joints, seeing the girls leaving and going to work, and wondering how they walk through those windowless doors everyday.
New walk: Pass multiple chains selling bagels and and bread and wondering how those workers walk through the plate-glass doors everyday.
Old walk: Never a dull moment.
New walk: Predicable moments.
Old walk: Scary, sometimes.
New walk: Boo! Ha!
I miss my old walks as much as I like my new job, when I finally get to it.
Sometimes, you just have forget that getting there was half the fun.
Nothing wrong with remembering old walks while enjoying the new ones. They are like old girlfriends…..with time they seem to have been perfect, though you know there was a reason they ended in the first place.
BD
I just wanted to say I’ve enjoyed reading your journal. I found it via Waiter Rant.
Sounds like you need a bike to fit in with your new walk…
BD–Very true!
Kepa–Thank you.
Just wanted to say, I love your blog. I read it all the time.
btw,..’frites’ (that doesn’t sound English, so where did you picked that up?)
and Dutch Mayo? Where did you find thàt in America?
Cos I for sure couldn’t find it when I was there.
Nat
Nat–There is a great little spot in my city that serves the best “frites” around. As for the Dutch mayo–that’s what they call it. Have no clue if it’s for real or not, but it tastes delicious and is perfect for dipping. Reminds me of the frites and mayo I had while traveling in the Netherlands.
Now if you could just manage: old walk – raining, new walk – sunshine, you’d really have it made 🙂
Hmmmm….
I am not trying to out you, RG, but the restaurant I own also serves “Intelligentsia” coffee – and it’s nowhere near the East Coast.
Hmmm….
Kim–Always gotta look for the sunshine–yes (and a bike would be fun)?
David–Hmmm…If you own a spot on The Big Island of Hawaii and have a job ready for me, I’ll happily serve Intelligentsia coffee and blog from paradise!
Intelligentsia coffee & tea is based in chicago. in the last couple of years, their wholesale business expanded greatly & their coffee can be found on both coasts now.