Thoughtful Up The Avenue

I’ve lived in this neighborhood for so long, I know many stories, too many perhaps.

As I stroll, I remember.

The doorman at 941 Park whose young son fatally fell from scaffolding at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, yet still manages to smile.

I often see a woman hailing a cab from 1100 Madison who’s had cancer 9 times.  She lost a daughter in a car accident, along with her husband who left her for someone healthier, but goes to the office every day, in a suit and heels.

A man at 1107 Fifth, the head of the Port Authority Association who was leading a breakfast meeting at Windows of the World when the first plane hit..September 11, 2001, leaving a stunned, young wife in his wake.

I know a woman, who’s hitting 80 with a 60 year-old, bipolar son she’s been caring for his whole life.  I saw her recently, health issues of her own, pulling him along as if he were 6.  What will happen to Jeffrey if, and when, something happens to her?

Ann, at 1180 Park, had a 4 year-old son with a congenital heart disease they operated on, assuring her, when it was over… he’d be fine.  When she went home to shower and change following a 72 hour vigil, the little boy died after asking Mommy to please bring him back some pizza.

How do these people live, carrying their many losses?

Right foot, left foot, that’s how.   images-1


About Susannah Bianchi

This entry was posted in Faith, Family, Health, History, Home, kids, Love, New York City, parents and tagged , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

16 Responses to Thoughtful Up The Avenue

  1. micklively says:

    It all makes the things I moan about seem so very trivial. Good piece Susannah.


  2. Gail Kaufman says:

    So sad, but we need to be reminded of stories like these to appreciate what we have and to remember human capacity for resilience.


    • Resilience, that’s the word alright. I always cringe when I hear someone say, God doesn’t give us more than we can handle, and I think…oh yeah? Then you remember an Ann who lost her little boy…sigh


  3. skinnyuz2b says:

    Susannah, stories like these put my little annoyances into perspective. I’m going to be extra grateful today, and hopefully for quite a long while.


  4. There are a million stories in the naked city. Some are so powerful and tragic.


  5. joannesisco says:

    Everyone has stories. Some are much sadder than others and you touched on a few.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Elle Knowles says:

    This says it all. We should all be thankful for what we do have instead of always wishing for more and more… ~Elle


  7. A wonderful reminder that smiles and struggles often walk the same walk.

    Liked by 1 person

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