i am frantically looking for a solid wooden pedestal for thesis. people havent been so friendly on facebook marketplace lately. 

 

i found a good one. but the location said it was in pennsylvania. i asked whether there was a chance for a curbside delivery since i cant drive. the reply i received after was almost delightful – 

 

“possible. we will be in nyc at the world trade centre for my 86th birthday.

“i worked in the old wtc and my son lived in this village. 

“we could arranging meeting time by cell phone. somewhere near wtc.” 

 

we called. it was a voice of a grandpa who enjoyed telling stories very much (like most grandparents). he told me over the phone that he was still working at wtc when 911 happened. and he saw. 

 

their phone number started with an area code of 570. a very familiar area code to me since i went to high school in pennsylvania. i told them i used to be right next to wilkes-barre. and he replied – 

 

“an old neighbour. 

“we are in drums, where jack palance lived.” 

 

i hearted the message and told them i had only seen the movie Contempt. then he said – 

 

“in 1953 the movie Shane made him a star, but i liked him as Curly in City Slickers II. 

 

approaching the pickup day, they sent me a couple of more messages – 

 

“plan to ride the ferry from weehawken to brookfield place at vesey street monday around 9:00 - 9:30.

“will call you when we arrive in weehawken.

“look for 4 people, walker, wheelchair and oak plant stand. 

“meet in terminal.” 

 

it made me giggle. sounded lovely. 

 

we ended up meeting in the lobby of the hotel that they were staying in in financial district. the ceiling was very low. yet there was plenty of golden finishes and mirrors. the lighting was warm. as i walked in, the grandpa stood up and greeted me warmly. an old lady in the wheelchair seemed to be his wife. and the pedestal was resting right next to her. 

 

he asked me where i was from and i said china. 

 

he told me he had been to beijing. he also told me the oak plant stand was more than 100 years old. 

 

as we were chatting, i glanced the doorman who was standing nearby was smiling at us. 

 

it was adorable. 

 

i stepped outside after the meetup. it was a funny sensation to be holding an old wooden stand while standing on the wide concrete pedestrian walkway between two massive, tall, and weighty buildings in the financial district. being in between them, they didnt necessarily feel like buildings anymore. they were so big to the point that, what all your senses could detect were merely two endless walls, both to your left and to your right. they held you in between.

it felt cold and cozy, maybe. i wasnt sure.