With my A620 dangling from my wrist, standing in Times Square station by the shuttle, looking at the signs - a man approached me and asked with great sympathy where I was trying to go and whether he could help me with directions.
Ah - but if I'm so much of a New Yorker - why was I looking at the signs? Truth is, I am subject to momentary spells where the design of the sign becomes compelling. Why did they make this a circle and that a square. Why was that yellow and that red? These spells generally pass without incident but there may be new drugs to take care of it.222
"Can I help you sir" from a fellow New Yorker means that you have really hit the New York Photography Zenith. It means that you are now the helpless tourist. Congratulations.
I told him that I was trying to figure out the best way to get to B&H Photo and asked if he had ever heard of that store, and that I thought it was on 34th street but I wasn't sure how to get there from 42nd street and that was why I was looking at the signs.
He thought about it a minute and suggested either the R, the W, or the 1, 2, 3. I thanked him profusely for his kindness - told him that the subways were just so confusing and that I was from Milwaukee. He said he was glad to help and then went on his way.
Hooray. I have finally made it into the true photographer tourist hall of fame. Next stop: get taken in a three-card monte game on 10th avenue.
