Keep it simple

People in Brooklyn have Stoop sales. We call them garage or rummage sales, but the concept is the same; you remove things from your home that you no longer want or need, you put a price on it and then you wait for people to come and buy it from you. Although the concept IS the same, there is one big difference.
Compare these next two scenes.
Last month as I was preparing to move I had a large garage sale. I started preparing the week before, going through all of my drawers and closets, cleaning the garage, taking the items to the garage, finding 'make- shift' tables, putting up a tent in case of rain, pricing everything, going to the local newspaper and paying $70. for an ad, waiting until dark the night before to take everything out to the driveway to display it so that I would be ready at 6:30 A.M. for the early shoppers (who pretend they were not aware that the sale starts at 8:00.)
Last week my daughter-in-law said she wanted to have a stoop sale. We planned on having the sale last Sat. On Friday I was dreading all of the work we would have to do that night. She shrugged the idea of preparing off with a "We can do that tomorrow" I am thinking "WHAT?"
Sat morning at 10:00 we started to hang items on the iron fence around our stoop. She brought down her jewelry box and laid some pieces that she wanted to sell on a T.V. tray. My son found a clothes rack in the basement and we hung some clothes on it. Shoes were placed on the sidewalk. People walked by and bought stuff; all morning long. At 2:00 we decided we were done and put away the few unsold items and my daughter in law put her $75. in her pocket and enjoyed the rest of the day.
Hmmmm, I like the idea; "keep it simple"

Don't underestimate the power of the 'stroll'

If anyone were to describe me, a statement like this would probably be part of the description:"She walks very fast with her back straight." Let me just stay "Things, they are a changin."

The first few days here, my friend (who drove the many miles from Iowa to NY with me) commented on how slow the people walk. I hadn't noticed, but since then I have become one of them. For me, if I walk fast I just might not get there(because I will die, or at least feel like I am dying) I have discovered the stroll as a means of survival.
In New York everyone walks, and not just a small distance. Three days a week I push a stroller with either my little 2 1/2 yr old Lucy in it with Sammie on a leash or visa versa. We walk 11 blocks to and from the day camp twice a day. On the other days we walk 10 blocks to the park.

When I get groceries I take a cart on wheels and walk 4 blocks to market and return with a cart FULL of "stuff". I am lucky, my flat is on the ground floor, most residents have a flight or 2 of stairs to climb with groceries in hand.

New Yorkers walk and walk and walk. IF you want to take the train (subway) you need to walk to the station. Then you need to walk down the stairs. When you get to your drop off site you need to walk up the stairs and in some cases, a lot of stairs. Then you have to walk to your destination.

Does this sound like a bad thing? It isn't. You just have to remember to Stroll.

Did I say this was going to be easy?

My intention was to journal my journey from Iowa to New York city. Well, THAT didn't happen! I have been here for 3 1/2 weeks now and I DO have some stories.

As the photo shows, my friend (who volunteered to drive with me and then fly home) and I set out on June 26th and arrived in Brooklyn on the 28th.

Going across Manhattan to get into Brooklyn was not the best idea MAPQUEST ever had. That truck you see in the photo drove down the length of Manhattan starting at Times Square during the Gay Pride Parade. Two little ladies in that big truck stalled in the middle of the celebration; yeah well it sounds funny NOW. We did have quite a view.

Check in regularly if you want to see New York city through the eyes of a person who has lived in small towns in the Midwest her entire life .

That's all for now.