For years I have been learning to be more present, meditative and to enjoy what I encounter during the day. I often find myself noticing beautiful landscaping, flowers, birds, animals, insects and vegetation I see during the days activities. I know that living in urban or suburban areas in the New York and Los Angeles areas can often be a journey through landscapes that are very barren, busy and noisy or occasionally more green and peaceful. I notice and appreciate projects which slow things down and add touches of nature here and there. Just the other day as I was leaving the Great Neck adult school building on Cumberland Avenue I saw a big Racoon looking at me as I walked by that rainy morning. He or she ran off into someone’s yard within a few minutes. I have seen these dexterous adaptable ubiquitous mammals in many of the best neighborhoods in California, New York and elsewhere. Once as I drove home to LA’s westside from Encino I decided to avoid the infamous slow moving 10 to 12 lane parking lot on the southbound 405 and take streets through the hills. I was on one of the streets near Havenhurst when I was surprised to hear the clattering of hooves clomping on the asphalt. I looked over to see a large buck hoofing his way up the hillside roads in between the houses. It was incongruous to see the impressive animal with his large antlers walking among the houses on the hills overlooking the San Fernando valley. Wildlife was even bolder during the temporary retreat of humans during the pandemic. We heard of deer wandering around Paris and peacocks ranging farther than usual around parts of LA.Many homes around Los Angeles have rewilded their yards. Instead of having water intensive boring lawns they have natural parklike plantings which encourage fauna like insects, birds and small animals to visit or inhabit these bits of more natural landscape. Once in a great while there will be a rare gorgeous day when the air is clear and one can see farther than usual in LA. You will see the snow shining on the mountain tops. Do we always have to be productive, watch every minute and every dollar? Take a minute, smell the flowers, heck maybe eat the flowers if you feel like it.
I know it can be hard to enjoy the ride with so many people having so many pressures in their lives. Haven’t we all seen other people running and rushing with gritted teeth trying to get through their errands and tasks as quickly as possible? I have seen people wield their carts, especially large grocery or even worse the gigantic Costco carts like tanks with little regard to anyone who may be unlucky to find themselves in their way. It is funny to see diminutive, often older people trying to navigate the Costco aisles with those carts that are often bigger than they are. Getting a grab at the free samples is no joke there.
I hear the sounds of honking often. I have enjoyed many casual conversations with people while out and about around Long Island and the city. The other day I was shopping at the Trader Joe’s in Westbury which is generally a well behaved madhouse. I said to my partner, Corey, “what do you want to make for dinner” and a woman nearby said “isn’t that always the question?” Little pleasant exchanges like that give us happiness all around. I took a surreptitious photo of a guy with a beautiful white cat he had on his shoulder during his time shopping at a West LA Trader Joes. Seeing the dogs with their winter fashions around New York is fun. Some are wearing cute jackets and even sets of matching shoes. I often enjoy a little conversation with strangers I encounter along the way. Once in a while you get a little more than you bargain for, of course. As I was leaving the Great Neck diner one evening after dinner with a friend an older man went from saying hello to complaining to us about the Nasseau legislature and the presidential candidates. I enjoy the complimentary entertainment in the subway stations with the often very talented singers, dancers or whoever else is around. During St. Patrick’s day weekend I saw a woman dressed up like an Irish clown or mime entertaining people rushing through a part of the maze of Penn station.
I look forward to the next characters I see in the subways or around town, and any parts of nature that I see.
Ben Bregman | April 2024