I find myself blocking out so much of city life by rote, because locking eyes with a pigeon on the ramp above me is not my idea of a pleasant walk to work. So I look ahead, and focus focus focus on getting to my destination---fast. Because for an introvert like me, noticing it all is exhausting. I walk fast. I do the Jersey swerve in foot traffic. And I sigh loudly when there is someone oblivious blocking the subway steps. The swell of detail around me is both constant fodder and joy but also …
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