ode to 53rd st

the cloud has broken! i was so worried it would last until the show was over, but i feel so much better now! i went to the tiny consignment shop on harper at 53rd, and the saleslady was so nice and friendly. i didn't find anything for my show, but i was starting to feel like i'd accomplished something today. i decided that since i was out, i should see if there was a clothing store in harper court. i walked all around it's twisty staircases and balconies, past dr. wax and the calypso cafe and baby phd. no clothing store. however, there was a cool looking toy store called toys etcetera. i peeked in the windows and went in. it was glorious. reminds me of funtoysia back in reading, all the neccessary things for a good toy store, playmobil, legos, brio trains, ravensburger games, craft kits, books, etc etc etc. crayola has a new set of "multicultural" markers- they are 8 different skin colors. there was a harried indian woman there chasing after her son, who was poised to grow up to be a bollywood hearthrob (he looked just like the star of the movie i saw on my flight back from germany), and his fellow 10 year old friend. there was a dad with a pale, pale pink baby in a front pack who had huge eyes gazing around at all the colors and shapes, stunned just like i was. i was trying to decide if i could ever justify buying my own the incredible labrynth. i know i wouldn't be able to convince my friends to play the enchanted forest... but i decided aganst it, as i already have games that i don't play. need to find some game playing friends. we seem to just sit and talk. i guess there's too much to do out in chicago. as i walked back home i passed the healthfood store, which was packed, i was glad to see. i like to know natural health is important to people besides white northsiders. i finally bought more of my favourite dishsoap (ecover chaomomile and marigold) and some other random items. walking home i was rejoicing in living in hyde park, what a wonderful place it would be to raise a family, there's anything you could possibly want in a neighborhood execept a gay bar. there's the beach, the park, the university. the lakefront path, the shops on 53rd, ida noyes hall- independent movies, yoga lessons, folk dancing and more, all in one building. there's the bowling lanes, the track, the swimming pool. 53rd alone holds the freeling pot and pan comany, hyde park produce, 2 used music stores and lots and lots of restaurants. there are lots of wonderful things on 57th street that i don't even know about yet cause i'm so rarely down that way. i know about the 24hour kinkos and the medici bakery, though. and we have wonderful things that no other place in the world has, like boyjan's baazar, with funky ethinc unicef trinkets and beads. or the co-op, the countries largest and longest running co-operative grocery store. or rajun cajun, which serves vegetarian indian food- also non-vegetarian and soul food. (we think it must be the product of a mixed marriage). i love hyde park. if i'm going to be in america, i can think of no other place i'd rather live. as i was coming home last night, walking up the steps from the subway, there was a map on the wall of the rta throughout the city and the suburbs, and the you are here sticker in the middle of the loop and i got a quick rush of that feeling you get when you're on vacation. "i'm in the mainz altstadt and it's snowing!" "i can't believe i'm actually walking through central park!" "here i am riding the subway in the loop-" but wait- this is my Real Life. it's not vacation. all my trials and pain actually take place in a big city full of people who are like me and who aren't. where i can ride public transportation. where i have my own tiny studio apartment. so, dear readers, know that i have again reached a point of contentment, and be glad.