So after the show yesterday, Sam and I went for a walk through Times Square. It is always such a treat to experience this noisy, people-thronged, tourist-trap through the eyes of a visitor and we’ve had two opportunities to do so recently – first wit my cousin Justin’s visit last week and then yesterday with Sam.
Part of what makes New York so fabulous to live in is the safety, and I know it sounds unbelievable to those who haven’t been here yet (and those who lived here ten years ago!), but I feel so safe walking by myself in the city. There is a very visible police presence everywhere and being a cop is such a matter of patriotic duty they get a lot of respect. In addition to looking out for the safety of tourists and locals all over, they are also a huge source of information (Sorry officer, but do you know how to get to so-and-so?) and they are always pleasant and helpful.
So imagine my delight yesterday when I finally saw someone getting arrested in Times Square! Finally, a real criminal getting the New York law in action treatment! (Sorry, this sounds very rude of me, but it was truly a first for me.) We arrived on the scene shortly after this police van had apparently pulled in front of the alleged suspect (love my cop-talk!) and two cops had this guy in a vice grip, leaning against the van. One arm up in the air, the other against his back, the suspect had purple hair, was wearing a purple shirt and these baggy jeans that the cool ghetto kids wear. And he was swearing. A lot.
Sam and I stopped in our tracks and took in the scene. So there’s the police drama going on in the background, and directly in front of it is this bridal couple pretending to run through Times Square for their photographer, with thousands and thousands of people walking by, taking photos of the wedding couple, the suspect, the buildings, the lights, the people… It was truly like something out of a movie.
And I thought to myself that if you had to get arrested, Times Square would probably be the very, very last place on earth to do that in. I mean, considering the high volume of tourists with cameras, you probably don’t want to have your face attached to the body in cuffs? Our suspect soon figured that out too and asked the cops to pull his shirt over his head to protect his identity! This is when I figured ‘what the hell’ and pulled out my camera to get in on the photo-snapping action too.
This was such a ‘New York Moment’ I couldn’t stop giggling!