Paths
A path, the general form of a filename or of a directory name, specifies a unique location in a file system.
The PATHS (Providing Alternative THinking Strategies) curriculum is a program for educators and counselors that is designed to facilitate the development of self-control, emotional awareness, and interpersonal problem-solving skills.
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PATH (Port Authority Trans-Hudson) service between New York City and New Jersey.
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A Garden path sentence is a sentence for which the responder’s most intuitive interpretation is an incorrect one, ultimately luring them into an improper parse. Garden path sentences are used in psycholinguistics to illustrate that, while reading, human beings process language one word at a time. The “garden path” is a reference to the saying “to be led up the garden path”, meaning “to be misled”.
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or perhaps you are simple talking about the path you decide to walk everyday.
Regardless of the type of path you are talking about they all lead you somewhere. Everyone has and is on their own path. I have been trying for the last three weeks to walk a new path to places. When I leave my apartment, when I leave my classroom, when I go out shopping. I have been trying to walk different ways even though I am heading to a familiar place. New paths bring you new experiences. You see new things and meet new people. There is something comforting about old paths but truth be told, like old files that should be deleted, old paths. like old conflicts, don’t need to be embraced. You remember the old paths, learn from the old paths but sometimes it is best just to let go and move forward on a new path. The small little changes you make with your feet sometimes really do help to provide an alternative thinking strategy.
This summer in New York we rode the PATH train. This PATH brought us many new and interesting places. The PATH was quick and efficient and helped us enjoy the New York traffic as a tourist photo opportunity instead of seeing it as something delaying our path to fun.
Enjoying your path somedays takes work and somedays your path is filled with simple morning hellos, beauty and new experiences. For me the goal is to find a balance between planning my path and surrendering to embrace my path, where ever it takes me, where ever it leads me and whatever happens to be on my path that day!
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own.
And you know what you know. You are the guy who’ll decide where to go.”
-Dr. Seuss-
A Moment at 1090 Madison Ave
The booths in Nector Coffee Shop and Diner in New York at 1090 Madison Ave and 82nd Street are beige and plastic. The table tops are light brown and the wait staff wear white uniforms as they dance around the small space. After a day of classic New York experiences, singing at church in Harlem, enjoying Central Park and then touring the Metropolitan Museum of Art we were thrilled to sit down, enjoy a bottle of wine and debrief on our adventures. My open roasted turkey sandwhich, had bread perfectly soaked with just the right amount of gravy. Watching the table next to us struggle with getting ketchup from a bottle then lead us to a lengthy conversation about the fine art of the perfect way to pour ketchup.
I looked across the table and smiled at my friend. Like many of the other New York moments on this trip, this trip to the diner had now become a part of the story of us. A split second on the journey that is our friendship. All friendships have their own unique paths. The moments and ways you met, the times your friendships were tested and the days you just laughed together in the sun. Like the New York PATH train after 11:00 p.m. not all friendships travel in the most direct route but sometimes the starts and stops, like the ride to Hobeken, are needed.
Being away for a year I have missed a lot of stops on my friends lives. However this summer I have enjoyed catching up and adding new pieces to the stories of us. Together we are on a journey, though high school heart breaks, from first loves, to first wives, from fallback jobs, to careers, from babies to writing books. We paint new apartments together, take rides in new cars, embrace new adventures and quietly hold hands when someone we love dies. We are always in each others hearts even if we aren’t physically in each others lives. Friendship doesn’t come with an expiration date.
As we paid our bill and enjoyed a watermelon lollipop we smiled. It was good to be a diner in New York. It has been great to catch up with friends this summer. To add more pages in the story of us.
“Old wine and friends improve with age.”
New York Characters
Louis: I have to say, this is my first trip to New York…not for me.
The garbage, the noise, I don’t know how you put up with it.
Carrie: Thanks. I had a great time.
Louis: Wait, you’re going home alone? It’s rough out there.
Carrie: Nah. It isn’t so bad.
Carrie (voiceover): If Louis was right, and you only get one great love, then New York may just be mine…and I can’t have nobody talkin’ shit about my boyfriend.-Sex in the City-
New York City is filled with characters. Creative and interesting people are everywhere! They sit down beside you in the diner, stroll into the subway and start singing or serve you a perfect plate of pasta. From the bouncer on the street corner to the lounge singer that went to India to learn a new way to strum his guitar this city holds a treasure trove of characters, stories and adventures.
In a city that doesn’t seem to sleep we walked, explored and rode the subway and Path until the wee hours of the morning. The sun came up in Hoboken and we just hoped from New York restaurant to perfect pubs. Days spent enjoying the great New York green space and searching for great NYC shopping deals!
It has been said, ” Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard” and I get that. New York is a fantastic city but it has challenges. The subway can be hot, the city air at times seems un-clean but the energy, the people and the culture makes living in New York experience so worth having. It was only six days of New York wonderful and that has left me wanting more!
8.3 Million People
Perhaps Mr. Ernest Hemingway said it best,”In order to write about life, first you must live it!” So with that being said my friend, who will be hence forth known as Cheryl from the Trailer Park, and I are off to New York City! No laptops, no phones, just us and the other 8.3 million people that live in 305 square miles (790 km2) of land! See you in 6 days!
Peace, Paint and Play
“We do not quit playing because we grow old,
we grow old because we quit playing.”
-Oliver Wendell Holmes-
Yesterday I sat with a paint brush in my hands again. I listened to a creative artist share about how instead of “taking” a single picture she had painted her way across countries. I turned backwards, upside down and sideways as I listen to an inspired women connect the practice of yoga to the way we live and play.
So wonderful to sit and learn. Amazing to see how play can inspire your everyday.
Today the plane tickets and hotel got booked for an amazing city, with plenty of incredible places to play!
Start spreading the news. I’m leaving today ( Well August! )
I want to be a part of it – New York, New York
These vagabond shoes, are longing to stray!
Right through the very heart of it – New York, New York
I wanna wake up in a city, that doesn’t sleep.
-Frank Sinatra-
Kuwait City, KUWAIT
Christine Oastler is a freelance travel writer, teacher and artist, currently living in Mahboula, Kuwait. Born and raised in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, Christine obtained her Bachelor of Arts at Trent University and her Bachelor of Education from Queen’s University. Currently traveling around the Middle East she finds herself riding the odd camel and embracing a new culture!