Plague Journal, Somethin’ Better
When I was younger I was fascinated by the city. I grew up in a what was then a small town in North Carolina. I remember riding my bike into town as a kid. The scale of a small town is dwarfed by that of a city. I have lived outside of Chicago for many years now. My gaze is still drawn to the window when taking a flight from O’hare, as the plane makes a steep ascent over the Chicago suburbs, little houses, neighborhoods, broad thoroughfares extend from horizon to horizon. Off in the distance by the lake, the skyscrapers of Chicago reach skyward. I never tire of the scene.
And I remember my evening flight into Las Vegas, the city in the desert that glittered below, like a plate of neon diamonds.
I have to mention Tokyo. I lived in Tokyo for two years, and my memories make the time seem magical. The old yet modern city is on the edge of the Kanto plain, with Mt. Fuji in the distance. The city is structured around a necklace of neighborhoods, connected by the National railway, and the commuter rail lines, which radiate into the countryside like the spokes of a wheel. Each neighborhood has its distinctive temples and marketplaces. Some have a worldwide reputation, such a the Ginza, or Shinjuku, or Shibuya.
Despite my enchantment with cities, I know that a city can be a difficult place to live. Cities are places biased in favor of youth, that time in life when one has “energy to burn,” and lives under the illusion that life goes on forever. Yes, with that mindset a city is a good place to find (or lose) oneself, in the abundance of opportunity, in the creative melange of options. A city can also be a place of the opposite extreme, of poverty, of indebtedness, of misery. Cities are our expression, the work of a people, which displays the promise and the liability of the human experience. Human nature; the paradox of Homo Sapiens; the nightmare and the dream.
This song by the Eagles says it much better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzJl45VXpu0
In The City
Somewhere out there on that horizon
Out beyond the neon lights
I know there must be somethin’ better
but there’s nowhere else in sight
It’s survival in the city
When you live from day to day
City streets don’t have much pity
When you’re down, that’s where you’ll stay
In the city, oh, oh.
In the city
I was born here in the city
With my back against the wall
Nothing grows, and life ain’t very pretty
No one’s there to catch you when you fall
Somewhere out on that horizon
Faraway from the neon sky
I know there must be somethin’ better
And I can’t stay another night
In the city, oh, oh.
In the city
Lyrics written by Barry De Vorzon and Joe Walsh
2 thoughts on “Plague Journal, Somethin’ Better”
I agree that there is a fascination with the Big City for many of us even though a rural setting (not the suburbs) can offer us a peace of mind difficult to find in an urban setting. I will note that places such as New York City actually are conducive to an older person. Each block contains all of the various necessities for living including small grocery stores, restaurants, cleaners and almost every other modern convenience, so someone with limited mobility can find all they need within a compact area. This is not so in the suburbs or especially in more rural settings. The other thing to note about the Big Apple is Central Park, a true natural oasis within the confines of a huge metropolis. Brooklyn also has Prospect Park, a lesser known but very large tract of trees, meadows, and solitude.
I agree this has been true of the city environments in which I have resided. I loved the neighborhood in Oak Park when I lived there. Everything I enjoyed was within walking distance. Agreed that suburban living requires an automobile. Owning a car is expensive, as well as adding a layer of complication to life. Personally I prefer lots of green space, and love that parks are public spaces where everyone can socialize close to Nature.