When you live or work in Manhattan (New York, New York to outsiders) and the too much noise and people threaten to rob you of your sanity, there's a place that is smack in the middle and offers refuge---Central Park.
This urban oasis was this country's first planned and designed public space, and it officially opened in 1876. The park is very large, measuring it the way New Yorkers do: its width goes goes from 5th Avenue (the East-side) to 8th Avenue (the West-side), and the length goes from 59th Street on the South-side to 110th Street on the North-side. So that no matter where you live or work in Manhattan you're not too far away from the park.
Which is great, especially in the summer, when the heat and unbearable humidity make you wish for an escape to the green and calm of the park. Now as it happens, in the summer Central Park gets very crowded and people fight to get the best shady spots, secluded spot, or a spot near the lake--so if you get a good spot, you have to defend it from people that want to fight you for it. You would be surprised how nasty people can get for a mere piece of grass or a rock to sit on!
You see--the way the Park was designed, there are places with high rocks where you can sit on and get a more panoramic view of the park, and these are prime desirable places. This is where a friend and I were sitting, enjoying the cool breeze on a hot August day and just relaxing--when we hear this loud obnoxious voice---a man, that was obviously very drunk, was yelling at us that we were in his spot and was making his way up to fight with us!
My friend, not wanting a confrontation, was ready to just get up and go, but I said no! who made him king? We are going to stay right here! So the guy comes over ready to get violent--when I confronted him--by asking him what was his problem?! He just stares at me--problem?---I don't have a problem--you have a problem! So I (using reverse logic) expressed shock, that such a civilized man as himself would prove abusive to a pair of people who obviously he wouldn't bother with, so why lower himself like that?
This left him--confused, he looks at us--and says --you really think I'm a distinguished man? Of course, we say, why , you cut a fine figure! why don't you just join us? This made him very pleased--and then he shook his head and said no,no...I best go get another bottle of beer so that we can all drink together---and with that he left..My friend just stood there amazed. How in the world...what did just happen?
I said, nothing, but it gave us time to get the heck out of here before he comes back with those beers.
