I Did It!
I actually walked 123 blocks south of here!

Well, it was a grand day yesterday! It was the right time of day for the sun to be on my face for the whole hike. With my scarf around my face, I didn't feel the wind when it did blow. And oh, the sights I saw!

The closest avenue to me is Frederick Douglass Blvd, which I realized actually becomes Central Park West at 110th St. Yes, It'd been at that corner, but never traced it as far north as where I live. After all, the C train doesn't run straight to 145th from 110th--it turns a bit to the west and lets you out at St. Nicholas Avenue which is like two Aves. away from Fred Doug Blvd.

So walking that stretch from my block to 110th turned me on to some magnificent work happening up in here! About a dozen buildings have been renovated. About half a dozen new buildings have been erected. Two or three more are going up as I type this. Another half dozen are being renovated. And I found the Strivers' Row of Grace Edwards' books. Truly awesome. I feel like I could live out the rest of my life in Harlem (provided I get a long healthy one) and satisfy my lust for the beauty in this city.

Then I got to the Park. I was going to keep going down Central Park West with my bad self, but at about 100th St. is this stone set of steps planted between these two gateway boulders that lead to an upper elevation on the northern Park. I could not resist it, no matter how short I wanted to make my trip. After I scaled those steps, the Park owned me. I stayed in it until I exited at 59th St and 7th Avenue. I had to stop once and do some stretching to keep my back from cussing me out. I don't have to tell you about the joggers, except to say there were plenty enough of them.

At 59th it was all "downhill". After getting that far, what was 36 more little blocks? It got sticky around Times Square, what with the tourists and all. But again, the sun was full on my face by that time. Many cares were neatly tucked when I reached the gym. So much so that when I came back, I was able to answer The E-mail (HER E-mail) in platonic, friendly tones.

She answered it back in kind.

No worries, mate! I'm happy to believe that I wildly and rediculously overreacted! If not, at least now I can react from a better stance than abject terror.

I think.

Me at 2/17/2004 09:51:00 PM

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