Geoffrey's Blog: July 2009

Thursday, July 23, 2009

A Fun and Unexpected Day!

It could have just been an ordinary Thursday. But it wasn't.

On the way to work, I usually sit in Times Square on the folding chairs for 10 to 15 minutes so that I'm not too early. Today, though, there was a beach on Broadway -- yes, a beach! Nintendo was pulling this stunt to promote their new game Wii Sports Resort. So there was a beach complete with sand, some water, palm trees and musicians playing Caribbean-type music on their drums. They also had a bunch of tents with TVs where people could try out the game. It was a fun little surprise. Of course I took pictures and video. Of course. (Oh, and they gave me a lei and I wore it all day in the office.)

Finally heading up to work and I see the Naked Cowboy. This is the guy who actually held a press conference yesterday announcing his run for mayor... Yes, of the City of New York. I know. This morning he was singing in front of a Univision news camera and reporter about where he stands on the issues... Seriously. (The guy who's always set up outside of the Toys R Us store asking people in his very raspy voice to feed the homeless yelled out, "Hey Naked Cowboy! Feed the homeless!")

Blah blah blah... Then came work, which is somehow more fun while wearing a lei. A bit more on the busy side and I ended up having to take a slightly later and shorter lunch break at around 3:40. One of the producers suggested some new places for me to try nearby and I really considered it. I had also hoped to eat outside but it was raining and I just wanted to hurry it up. I ended up going with Sbarro just a few doors down the block.

Most of the times I go to Sbarro, I take it back to my building and eat outside on the steps. But it was raining. I thought about just taking it back to the office because I don't like eating in Sbarro's basement. It was a last-second decision but I brought my pizza downstairs. Then I dabbed it a little, something my mom taught me to get rid of some of the extra oil. Then I hear someone call over: "Geoffrey?" Huh? It's my cousin Matt! "What are YOU doing here?" was of course my response. Matt doesn't live in the city. He doesn't even live amywhere close. He's about an hour and a half north of it. And here he was with his girlfriend Jerris in Manhattan downstairs in the Sbarro basement during my lunch break.

Turns out that Matt wasn't even the one to notice me... His back was facing me. It was Jerris. We had never before met. We're not even Facebook friends! But I guess she saw some pictures from when we were all upstate on Fourth of July weekend and somehow realized that I was me.

I sometimes "complain" about how I eat lunch alone most of the time. It's just impossible for multiple people at work to get lunch at the same time. But today, I had company, and it was pretty cool.

Coincidences are often fun... But just think of how many things could have been different, even slightly -- eating outside, different timing, etc. -- to have made us just miss each other. I wonder how many times those things happen and we just never know about them. How would I have found out that my cousin was in the basement when I was debating taking my pizza back to work?

I probably just wrote too much about something minor. That's what I do. And you're laughing at me now, I'm sure. Good! Because it was a fun day and now you know about it.

Sent from my Palm Centro smartphone.