NYC 1988
There's a strange light in New York City like no other. It's as if the light has been bouncing around the same old haunts for decades... so much so that it's slightly worn, torn and yellow-tinged at the edges.
I'd never been to Tiffany's, but there it was. Dying to see the forbidden treasures under guard inside the luxurious fortress, I wandered about the store ogling the fine sterling diamond-encrusted frogs, and glistening multi-carat dog collars. It was all so glorious and grand... that is, until I noticed my every move was being tracked by stern suited men with ear pieces and remote-controlled surveillance cameras.
At first I was crushed to be considered a "suspect". The more I became ashamed of my own poverty, the angrier I got. How dare they! The arrogance! I only wanted to catch a glimpse of decadent opulence. I only wanted to dream for a few minutes. I felt I had just as much right to be there as anyone.
Soon, I was gradually herded in a near "bum's rush" sort of way back towards the multi-level security gates and back onto the street. Back to the dirty-water dog steam and roasted chestnut aroma wafting and mingling with taxi exhaust.
I took one more look back into the forbidden fortress and wished I had actually taken something from them. Then I caught it... a glimpse of that magically strange NYC light creating a dual reflecting dimension in one of Tiffany's precious display windows. So, like a thief and when no one was looking... I took that instead.
Skip Hunt
Austin, Texas
"Tiffany's" ~ NYC © 2011 Skip Hunt