#4

Moving from Texas to 8th Street, a block from Washington Square Park, was to say the least a culture shock. In the few weeks I have been here I have called an ambulance outside the building for a drunk man, found myself giving directions to tourists in distress, and have come to memorize my doorman's favorite icecream flavor. The Village has many personalities depending on the time of day. At noon I know there will be a mad rush at Valentino's of students grabbing their second or third cup of coffee of the day, 5:00 a stampede of professionals getting off work, and around 1:00 in the morning I can always count on a fairly large group of students outside having one last smoke break before getting back to their papers. I am still wonder if anyone in the surrounding few blocks ever sleeps. In the dead of night I hear drunken words exchanged and the whine of sirens. I understand now what White says about the city being a place where you can "feel the vibrations of great times and tall deeds, of queer people and events and undertakings", and I can't help but wonder where a girl from Katy, Texas fits into the picture.