When playing cards, a push is when you and the dealer have the same hand. A push for me, however, is nudging an overflowing grocery cart around Whole Foods. In poker, when you push, your bet is returned to you. In New York City when you push, you could easily end up in a fist fight with a guy named Oliver Featherington who’s loading up on celery juice and cornering the market on organic peanut butter. Some gamblers regard the push as sign that they should go bigger on the next hand, while others collect their winnings and change tables, convinced the push means that a loss is coming. While grocery shopping, I can go either way. Sometimes I completely abandon the cart, and while frustrated and starving, I start to mentally order in from Seamless on the walk home. Other times I push through, determined not to let Mister NutButter steal my rightful place in the checkout line.
Grocery shopping in New York City can be a bit of a gamble. Sometimes it’s a game of defense. Sometimes it’s a game of offense. If you’re brave enough to go, be prepared to play.
Ace it. Run it. Sink it.
Living in the Big City teaches you to be assertive (even aggressive when necessary), or you literally could have someone else eating your lunch. Finding the balance is sometimes tough to navigate when so many external forces tell us to “Just Do It!” As kids we’re encouraged to ace a test! On the field if we’re hurt the coach says to walk it off! When we finally make it to the green, our foursome buddies tell us to sink that putt! Even Willy Wonka told his visitors to press on! There was so much time and so little to do. And then he corrected himself with the famous, “Strike that. Reverse it!”
We are all facing uncertain times during this pandemic and so much is beyond our control. I have no idea where I’m going to live once the magic offer materializes on my for-sale apartment. I’m job searching and close, but no offer yet (fingers crossed!). Universities have not yet determined if spring commencement ceremonies will take place for graduating seniors and I’ve always dreamed of seeing my son donning the cap and gown. The vaccine is coming, but how soon because my antibodies have already worn off. (I think there are a few million people ahead of me on line…on my block alone.) The waiting game is tough for everyone on all fronts. I know I should just relax and be calm, but I’m a New Yorker, and that would be pushing it.
“Are we there yet, Dad?”
Bart Simpson
“Just a little further, son.”
Homer Simpson
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