Sunday I went on a typography walk with letterer Paul Shaw. The event was sponsored by the Type Directors Club in NYC. I went back and forth about it, but Angel convinced me it was job related and educational. Does that mean I can take it off my taxes as an educational expense? Then, of course i hurt my knee, and again I wondered if I should go thru with it. But that was short lived. If I could get out of bed without falling over, I was going.
Most of the group was meeting in the City and taking the train into Newark. We were to meet at the platform for the WTC train. During the week it's platform H. the email said to check the signs. Be prompt. Shaw doesn't use a cell phone.
I left here with 2 hours to spare, parked in Newark about 3 blocks away from the station, and headed to Penn Station in Newark. I arrived a half-hour early and followed the signs and found a platform saying "departing for the WTC". Wait. I want "arriving" and I don't see any letter telling me what platform I'm on. I ask the transit cop, he tells me I'm at the right place. I didn't think so—there was no "arriving" signs. I'm still looking for letters of platforms. A man asks if I needed help. He too says I'm at the right place.
10:47 arrives and the PA announces that the WTC train coming in. Whoosh here it comes and it's on the other side of the tracks. How the hell do I get over there? I run down the steps, go up the next door, still not there. Down and up the next door. Still no. Finally find a door for H and I am far, far away.
At this point I am devastated. I prepare to find a restroom, pee, and go home. I come out of the stairway for H and I see a small group of people talking. One is looking at a phone. The older man has a lot of papers. Could that be them? He sees me and said "Are you Gayle?" I found them! One of the participants were emailing me. It would have been useless because I used my school email and it's not on my phone, but it was a nice thought. Running all those stairs would come back to bite me later.
And we're off. We spent a good portion of time in the train station. Lots of good stuff there. I'm not going to bore you with a lot of pictures, because it's my passion, not yours.
Then it was time to hit the streets. One thing I noticed was the amount of homeless people. If a building was closed or shuttered, there was someone sleeping in the doorway.
We walked for two hours, looking at type. I was having a wonderful time. But my knee was beginning to hurt. I was done. I was also on visual overload. My mind could not process more, no matter how much it wanted to.
We we a few blocks away from the train station and they started discussing lunch. It was my out. Even though we were standing in front of a Dinosaur BBQ, a place my brother has told me a lot about. (It might not be as good since they are now adding locations. And why Newark of all places?) But one person in the group was a vegetarian, so they were exploring other less mammal heavy options.
I excused myself and went back to the station. I finally used the restroom and bought a green tea at the Dunkin Donuts in the food court and headed back to the car.
I had just pulled onto Rt 78 near the airport the phone rang. I have hands free calling, and I was on straight highway. I answered. It was Bonnie. "Where are you?"
"Somewhere around Newark."
"Where?"
"Newark. New Jersey."
"Why?"
A typography walk. Like we do when we are walking. But with knowledgeable people.
"You're foolish."
I went home and put my leg up for the rest of the night. Monday I didn't walk on purpose. In fact I didn't walk Monday, Tuesday or today. I've just been super lazy. Or maybe I just needed some down time. Tomorrow is always another day.
1 comment:
So glad you went!
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