Baby Geese

Are all baby animals cute? There must be some that are hideous, right?

"No," my husband just informed me. "They're all cute. It's evolution."

Indeed, today, while walking along the river, I saw two geese and their babies. On one hand, I felt for the adult birds, since they seemed rather patient with their squirmy children, who easily got washed up in the Hudson's tides and occasionally swam in circles. On the other hand, I hated the big geese for their smelly green poop and loud honking.

 

But the baby geese I just adored. They flopped about in the water, shook themselves off on a rock, looked confused and stupidly innocent.  Someday they, too, will vandalize city parks with their poop, but for now, I wanted to take them home and feed them with a bottle.

By the way, I just looked up pictures of baby snakes, thinking they must be ugly, or at least shudder-inducing. But no, they're cute, too.

The Metrobiker

Today I approached a man who stood in a grassy patch by the Hudson River, fashioning Metro cards into adornments for his bicycle. He had a slight build and quiet presence, which made sense -- after all, he had the patience to place each Metrocard in its assigned spot around his bike's frame and wheels. 

As we spoke, I learned that he routinely replaces faded Metrocards with new ones. It takes about three months for the plastic cards to start losing their yellow-and-blue color to the sun, he said.

The Metrobiker's concept is somewhat ironic: After all, he rarely rides the subway. The used cards come from his friends. 

When I asked to take his picture, he said, "Where are you visiting from?"

"I'm from here," I said. Part of me wanted to offer up my city bona fides: The monthly Metrocard in my wallet, my memories of school-issued subway and bus passes before the Metrocard was born.

But I smiled and took pictures like the perpetual tourist I am.