People Will Do What They Do

“It ain’t over ‘til it’s over,” the philosopher Yogi Berra proclaimed in the late summer of 1973. As always the man was on to something. The team Yogi managed that year—my all-time favorite—was in last place, the proverbial basement, at the end of August. But the baseball sage knew full well that his Mets were still within striking distance of first place with a whole month to play, a first-class pitching staff, and formerly injured players back in healthy form.

Indeed, it wasn’t over—not by a long shot—as Yogi’s Mets won the Eastern division of the National League and then the pennant against the heavily favored Cincinnati Reds. When they came up one game short in the World Series against the heavily favored Oakland A’s, it was, at long last, over. And with no apparent indications of widespread voting fraud or irregularities, Election 2020 is, too, over. Saints be praised!

From what the preponderance of polls were saying, though, I—like many others—assumed this year’s presidential contest would more or less be a slam dunk for old Joe Biden, which, I fervently believed, was for the best. While not especially impressive in his prime, he seemed just what the doctor ordered while considerably past it—i.e., when the viable alternatives proved not viable at all. But the wily, wacky Orange Man bedeviled the pollsters and the mainstream media once more. When I went to bed on election eve in a state of high anxiety, the race was too close to call.

I’m happy that things turned out as they did. When the Associated Press officially christened Biden the president-elect, I was outside sweeping up autumn leaves. Suddenly, I heard loud cheers, banging pots and pans, and honking horns. It was reminiscent of our daily seven o’clock salutes to the frontline health workers back in the spring, which seems eons ago. I nonetheless put two and two together what all the fuss was about—yes, it was over. Saints be praised! What follows are some random thoughts and assorted snapshots on the recent election, miscellany, and the uniquely bizarre time that is 2020.

As a matter of fact, I was more than happy with the election results. I was rooting for a Biden win and the Republicans maintaining a majority the Senate. And the odds at this moment favor that they will.

Why, pray tell? See the above title of this essay. It's what Nancy Pelosi said when asked to comment about summer rioters unlawfully pulling down a Christopher Columbus statue and dragging it into a nearby river. Her reaction was typical of feckless Democratic politicians at the time. Really, I think one can simultaneously support a just cause and maintaining the peace. It's like walking and chewing gum. This is why a divided government works for me. Not too many Americans are pining for another revolution. Warren Harding campaigned on the slogan "A Return to Normalcy" in 1920. Joe Biden more or less campaigned on the slogan "A Return to Relative Normalcy" in 2020. That works for me.

I came upon this food cart yesterday in Manhattan. Not quite the best name for the here and now, I thought.

It's sad to contemplate, but the neon lights are not going to be bright on Broadway for many, many months...

While that sobering fact isn't good for the business of show business, it's not good for countless other businesses as well. Nor is having to worry about people doing what they do with impunity.

While 7 Eleven has its welcome mat out come hell or high water, city businesses were preparing for the worst on election night. Yes, Trump is behaving true to form, claiming he couldn't possibly lose a fair election, which he did. But I wonder what would have happened if the shoe was on the other foot? After all, some prominent Democrats were claiming before any ballots were cast that they couldn't possibly lose a fair election. 

In a normal year, the Stardust Diner girl would be lording over a long and winding line of hungry tourists on a mild November Sunday morning.

But this is not a normal November Sunday morning...

One year ago today, the Radio City Christmas Extravaganza, Rockettes and all, began its two-month run and the holiday season had officially begun. That was then and this is now...

While the Hot Spot moniker isn't quite right for the zeitgeist, the In & Out Deli strikes a resonant chord.

I can't say where this takeout came from, but apparently a certain customer didn't think he got his money's worth.

You know, considering how close the election was: If Donald Trump had behaved like a quasi-rational man during the pandemic, he might very well have won reelection. 

But, as has been said time and again, you can't change a zebra's stripes or ask an orange not to contain vitamin C.

And now for something completely different: The block immediately behind this station entrance—28th Street between Sixth Avenue and Seventh Avenue—is the last vestige of Manhattan's Flower District.

Yes, it's been an especially colorful fall here in the Bronx. Somewhere along the line, I believe, the city fathers and mothers planted trees with seasonal foliage in mind. On second thought, maybe it just happened by osmosis. 

Halloween 2020 was on the nippy side in these parts. Trick-or-treaters were non-existent this year...

And it wasn't the weather that kept them home...

What are seven seemingly full bottles of vodka doing in the middle of a city sidewalk? A pandemic, a contentious election, social media, etc., etc. Why only seven?

(Photos from the personal collection of Nicholas Nigro)