New Yorkers Share the Most ‘New York’ Things To Ever Happen to Them

«Only in New York» is such an overused sentiment. As a New Yorker who often feels as though I’ve seen it all, something about it can feel a bit off, or self-congratulatory. But then I remember «What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas,» and am glad that my fellow city-dwellers simply love to share stories that are often an amalgam of funny, rude, and just plain insane. 

One of my favoriteNew York City tales is from well over a decade ago. I think I was taking the train home to my internet-less, stoveless, centipede-plagued basement studio in the East Village after a tearful post-breakup night out. It’s not the longest ride, but it feels very lonely when you’re already depressed and going home to a dungeon is less than exciting. After riding a stop in an empty car (a not-so-rare occurrence on the M train at the time), a man jumped in. I’d seen him before. His hair was tied into a flashy du-rag, and he was wearing those beer-goggles, the ones with liquid in them that’s meant to resemble an actual mug of the stuff. I know there were other wild accessories, but I’m getting old and my memory isn’t what it used to be.

 Anyway. The sax player proceeded to launch into a tale of how he was actually a space alien sent to Earth to save us from George Bush. While the cause seemed a little dated at that point, I was charmed, and he made me giggle a bit through my teary eyes. I gave him some money to help him on his mission, and he proceeded to plant himself next to me and play a warm solo that completely reversed my horrid mood. People still talk about him. 

The memory returned to me when I saw a thread from Twitter user @DanSaltzstein asking New Yorkers to share their most «New York» stories. While I was disappointed to see that my extraterrestrial buddy hadn’t made the list, the string of silly and strange stories warmed even this jaded heart. 

Deja un comentario

Tu dirección de correo electrónico no será publicada. Los campos obligatorios están marcados con *