Mapping Progress

Last week I got on the subway and immediately felt that something was different. I took my seat and there it was directly across from me. The new subway map. The subway map has been the same for my entire life. More importantly, my entire idea of how New York looks from above is based on that subway map. I’m aware of the inaccuracies of what I keep in my mind’s eye. For instance: Staten Island looks like it is a hop, skip and a jump away from Manhattan and Brooklyn is supremely undersized. Nevertheless, I have always been fond of this map. The NYTimes had a fascinating article about how this map has changed over time and the reasoning (and irrationality) behind it. I will admit that I was shocked by how small Manhattan actually is. Yet the new map has made it even fatter.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/05/27/nyregion/new-ny-subway-map.html?ref=design

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/28/nyregion/28map.html

Transportation is one of the most critical aspects of New York City. It is what makes the city livable. This becomes even more obvious when faced with the latest MTA service cuts, which impact the outer boroughs most of all.

When Sylvia and Adrienne moved into the apartment on 133 Navy Walk Sylvia was very proud of her new and independent life. Just as important as being independent were her ties to the family. She talks about Alex’s mother and sister visiting and how easy it was for them to take the bus from the newspaper stand on the Lower East Side (see previous post: https://bkinloveandwar.wordpress.com/2010/06/16/the-windy-city/ ‎) to her new home in the projects. Here is a letter that mentions that. Note, her stationary still carried the old address, which she took care to cross out and re-write on each page.

My darling,

I am sitting peacefully in our own home on our own couch. The baby is asleep in her own bedroom – and I am in love with our little home. It’s adorable and I wish you could be here to help me admire it.

This will be the first night I’ve slept in the apartment and I’m not quite sure what my reaction will be. I believe I’ll feel lonely – as it will be one of the few times I’ve ever spent alone in our own home.  Also, dearest, I believe I’m a little frightened. Just one of those vague feelings – so don’t worry about it.

The baby loves this place. There was a minutes’ confusion whne I told her to take a doll into her room, but now she knows it’s her room and keeps running there all the time. Her room has the sun almost all day long – it has two windows.

The apartment is almost complete except for linoleum, curtains, etc. The “linoleum, etc.” will have to wait until I get some dough. But even as it is, it looks so cute.

So don’t waste any time, just come right home, do you hear?