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Infinite Unique

It was a Monday evening and I was walking from work to my hotel in mid-town Manhattan. I don't come to this office often enough to remember all the quirks of how to get into the building from door marked with a different number than the actual address of the location where Google Maps navigates me to. So every time I am here, I circle the block a few times before I remember that there is a salad bar right next to the door I am looking for. It had been that kind of morning when I arrived and had felt ridiculous dragging my carryon bag around the streets, trying to find the mystery door. 

But in New York people can be and feel invisible no matter how personally significant their attire or actions might be. It is also common knowledge that by my age women turn invisible though I would argue that is even more true for men of my age but its not talked about as much because women in their youth can often be too visible - even uncomfortably so. So as I walked to the hotel, I paid more than usual attention to my surroundings. I was curious about who the crowds or even a few random passersby might find worthy of a fleeting glance in this city.

Soon enough, I caught sight of a young man who looked like a Greek god - he was likely in his mid 20s. The guy was dressed sharp and carried himself like a model - maybe he was one. The endless stream of people passed by him and not once did anyone look his way. Soon after I lost sight of him, I noticed a very beautiful young woman who also happened to be exceptionally tall and should have been easily visible. She went just about as unheeded as the guy. I found some comfort knowing that my looking lost and confused, unable to find the door of an office is a totally irrelevant data point to the crowds. 

I am just a middle-aged out of towner, one of thousands in that area. It matters nothing whether I wear understated clothes or decide to pair hot pink slacks with a leopard print top like the woman about my age who was waiting at the traffic light near my hotel. I thought she looked great and was able to pull off that look quite effortlessly. But this is one of those special places in the world where everyone is a adds their bit into the infinite cauldron of unique so no one and nothing sticks out. I have always loved that about New York City and it does not get old.

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