Stop To Smell The Roses

June 2. After my first warm shower of this trip was yesterday, it only makes sense that they turn off the hot water today for construction. Thus I did not shower. I made a day of gardens and parks my agenda. I started off with Union Square Park. I had been once before, but this time I took pictures and walked around. I was a little disappointed, but had some great big hydrangea that were very well kept. I then walked the few blocks to Washington Square Park. The main reason I went was for the arch. Thus it was a success. I read a chapter out of my book and then headed back to the train to head to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. The trip was kind of an adventure. It made me feel a little out of place. I could count on one hand how many people were white, and coming from Colorado it is usually the opposite. The subway was doing random bag checks and there were police on almost every corner, just for reference that is not even close to the case where I live in the city. The gardens were pretty though. I mean to be brutally honest, I feel like if you have seen one botanical garden you have seen them all. I did enjoy reading in the park though. Had a nice lunch, no refills though. Damn. Then went into some bio domes. There version of a desert was not nearly dry enough, but it was a nice relief from the city. The tropical rainforest was insanely humid, it felt like 80% humidity. I came home, feeling just as out of place as when I came. Made it home for the day pretty early. I might have to work tomorrow. Not sure if I want to or if I would rather just stay home or go to the park. Undecided.

Washington Square Park Arch

Brooklyn Botanical Rose Gardens

Spurred by the idea of stopping to smell the roses and inspired by finishing my book today. I started thinking about what Chuck Klosterman says, or I guess he quotes.

"The world doesn't disappear when you close your eyes, does it?" "My actions still have meaning , even if I can't remember them."

This made me think back to when I was a kid, or days when I am feeling particularly ego centric. I used to think that the world was really only in existence of what I saw, and everything outside of that didn't exist. Events occur for my sake, to affect me. And my actions in turn affect the surrounding world to later affect me. I feel like this world that I imagined is similar to that of the Truman Show. But every now and again I catch myself thinking, "I wonder what her family is like?" "What do they do when they sit at home?" "What is there biggest problem they are facing right now?" I think a range of things about complete strangers. But depending on my mood, I acknowledge the strangers. Other times they are just pawns in my game of life, and they will either go unnoticed in this game or they will be taken down. There are no other options really. In the book Klosterman also says "Life is rarely about what happened; it's mostly about what we think happened." Perspective gets the best of us. So in a matrix of lives, where we can not control what people perceive, and where we usually don't consider our actions, including the small ones. Makes me settle on the quote "Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it." Klosterman also notes in his book how our lives can and will be summed up into one sentence. So I guess from all of these quotes and thoughts I get this. What do I want my sentence to say?