Being in New York is like being home. The three flags complete that thought, on the way back from dinner last night. Went to a favourite restaurant where the waitress welcomed me back & praised my use of notebooks every time I come. That's a first. This morning I went to a renowned bakery & got some freshly baked madeleines. Outside I offered an old man to try one, but he refused in Italian. We started talking, with my hugely limited skills we still had an interesting chat. Been in the neighborhood for 51 year, worked day & night to provide for his family, a wife and three daughters. Never thought of going back he said. Ciao he said with a warm smile. This afternoon I went to see a show in a beautiful theatre. The woman next to me said I had no choice but to be her date, since there was no one on the other side of her. The bassoon player was more my type though, a nice looking guy with a 30's hairdo in a tux. The lady cried after the first half, rightly so but didn't say a word after the second half. I must have failed at the date-test. The show got me though. Left the theatre dreaming of being an English school teacher in Siam. Maybe in the next life. The woman by the waterfountain still lingered on in my mind though. She was concious that I might catch her in the frame. Such a lovely outfit. Waited patiently for the past to return. And now, the woman next to me said never to take sweets from strangers. Introduced herself so she could accept the piece of chocolate I offered. A piece of mind for a handshake. If all was that simple. That is New York for you, 24 hours of home away from home.