Together, Near and Now

Together, we find a corner grocery store on 5th Avenue and 28th Street, and buy yogurt and fruit.
-----
Together, we wander through Chinatown toward Umbertos. A stretch limo is parked out front, which reminds me of my long missing brother-in-law, George Koppmann and his Little Italy mafia stories. (We assume any current mobsters would drive something more subtle.)
-----
Together, we quest to Lichee Nut, in Brooklyn Heights, where Jennifer and George always went. I order the Lichee and Prawn for the first time. It is extremely good. In 2001, I ordered beef and black bean, which was excellent, also. I am both now and then as we wander toward the area where Jennifer and George had their wedding reception. (It is gone.) Together, we stop at an independent used book store, still open. Again, I am near and then, at a bookstore where Jennifer once worked. (Did she used to work at a Waldenbooks on this street?) We find 100 Remsen, one of Jennifer and George's addresses, before Jennifer died in the plane crash, before we get on the subway and search for Williamsburg. Williamsburg has a "vibrant music scene with young artists like 'They Might Be Giants.'" There is no direct connection to the L-line and I misunderstand the subway man's "Schermerhorn," so we miss out on Williamsburg. But, our triangular Brooklyn walking search for the L line leads us past a McDonalds, past Hank's Bar, where Hank music blares, and near a megashopping area with a Target. Jennifer had shown me this area, too, though it has changed. I am still near and then.
-----
Together, we wander toward Tiffany's and $1000 silk umbrellas.
-----
With Monica waiting at a park bench, I find the only publicly accessible restroom in this high rent shopping area at the brewery. Together, we wander to a ticket booth with a finger tapping attendant out of "Welcome Back Kotter." Together, we wander toward the hole that commemorates the World Trade Center, where out of respect, no one takes pictures. Together, we take the subway back to Bleecker, and Monica finds an Italian restaurant where the first course is olives. Together, wander to Delancy, where a menacing man asks for 75 cents. Together, we take another subway toward the hotel.
-----
Together, we search for luggage along Broadway, at Macy's, at Duane Ready, and at Walgreens. Together, we notice a sign that says "luggage" at a 5th Avenue souvenir shop. Together, we find our corner grocery store on 5th Avenue and 28th Street, and buy yogurt and fruit. We wander to complete our memories and to satisfy our hungers. I wander along routes of my past, but Monica is near and now. Together, we trek toward our future.