A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
In spite of the lack of a tea room down the block, I am beginning to feel "right" where I am now living. The move was more of a shock to the system than I had anticipated. I hadn't wanted to move at all. It was a financial necessity, as I, along with thousands of other musicians, lost a lot of gigs to the recession. My landlords and fellow-tenants were my friends. I'd never had, and could never have imagined, better landlords, and I will always be grateful for their generosity of heart. Living in their building, I felt more like a family member than a tenant. But I had to make the move, and what's one more move (the 52nd, maybe, or 53rd in my life)? I have moved so many times that I am very good at it. I know how to pack, right?
Not so, as it turns out. Packing up the belongings, yes but not the heart. I may be using up my moving lives. I was merry when I first arrived and arranged my furniture, and then I slowly sank into a sorry "slough of despond" that lasted through the winter. My cat, Bob, was depressed, too. Not as much light in the new place, and no mice, not one. I took a lot of Vitamin D. I got sick several times - perhaps because I am now in the crowd on buses and trains more often. My upstairs neighbors, as regular readers know, turned out to be very noisy. I felt isolated. Rare indeed is the Manhattanite who ventures off that island. Or perhaps there are more who do than I know, but the sea monsters in the East River devour them before they reach these shores.
And then, one windy day, I discovered the Bronx Library Center.
This is one of the most beautiful libraries I have ever lost track of time in, in a long life of library time, and not just because it has a lot of books (though it does). Designed by RIchard Dattner and Partners, this LEED-certified (Leader inEnergy and Environmental Design) building is spacious and full of natural light. As soon as I walked through the door, I breathed the same sort of sigh I always feel when I enter Grand Central Station, one of the great public spaces of the world. No matter what is going on in there, even in rush hour, there is always a certain quiet and calm in the air born of proportion and light.This library has that. There are lots of areas for reading, including an outdoor terrace on one of the upper floors. And, wonder of wonders! the day I went, I sat for a while to read, and it was quiet enough to do so, not because it was empty, but because of good design. I spent several happy hours there, and emerged refreshed.
I did not notice it at the time, but in this photo you can see there is a psychic reader next door. If all other forms of research fail you...
So, that very day, I started to see the Bronx with clearer eyes, looking forward to more exploring. Feel free to make suggestions, folks.