happier than
Friday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Wandering home from a long walk, one pondered. I could have jumped onto a train several times, but chose to just keep on scuttling. Pondering and scuttling go together.
Filthy black raincoat fluttering about, camera in hand, friendless and alone. That’s me.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I’m tired of tilting my lance at windmills. I’m exhausted by the ideological extremes I encounter. I’m tired of people who make personal statements using the pronoun “we.”
I’m at the end of my rope as far as enduring the malignancy and demands of the many narcissists whom I’m forced to interact with in my daily round. Vainglory makes me nauseous.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Everybody wants, but nobody gives. All is frustration, hatred, and envy.
I’ve come to an impasse, lords and ladies. Something definitely needs to give, and you know what? It’s going to be me.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Six months from now, and this is a plan that has been in the works for quite a while now, I will no longer be a New Yorker.
Ok, I’ll always be a New Yorker (I’m walking here), but I’m going to be doing that somewhere else where the volume is turned down a bit.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
What does that mean, though? I’m going to be leaving behind all that I ever was, all that I know, and starting over somewhere else in my mid 50’s – that’s what that means. Exciting, no? Terrifying, yes.
It also means that when I start announcing tours of Newtown Creek next month, if you’ve ever wanted to come on one – summer and fall of 2022 will your last chance. I’m not coming back.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Where I’m going, and what I’m going to do next is still forming. I don’t think I want to be “involved” in anything anymore either, due to that sour taste in my mouth which has been developing in the last few years. The Community Board thing is just depressing, and since the primal lesson I’ve gleaned after 15 years on Newtown Creek is that “nothing matters and nobody cares”…
Go west, that’s what they used to say, yeah? Go west. I’m done, so stick a fork in me.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
Buy a book!
“In the Shadows at Newtown Creek,” an 88 page softcover 8.5×11 magazine format photo book by Mitch Waxman, is now on sale at blurb.com for $30.
The Newtown Pentacle 
Glad you’re finally be able to get out of this place, and hopefully find a happier one. One where your favorite tree can be somewhere where you can put up a hammock and enjoy peace & quiet and a good book, and not worry about people or things. Thanks for your time and all you’ve done for NYC over the years.
lucienve
May 20, 2022 at 11:23 am
Ratso Waxman.
georgetheatheist . . . walkin' here
May 20, 2022 at 11:37 am
Mitch, best of luck to you with your new move. I have enjoyed your daily posts very much and will miss them but still have a few months.
All the best to you,
Terri
Terri Thomson
May 20, 2022 at 12:11 pm
Gosh Mitch, if only someone tried to tell you that local activism doesn’t work as our local Masters have Masters themselves who give them their marching orders which cannot be changed on a local level. Oh wait! Someone DID tell you this about 3 years ago.
So it seems they didn’t let you pick the color of the curtains after all. Yeah, I’d be sour grapes about that too.
Well, here’s another prediction for ya as I’m on a roll here: It does not matter where you go as any city will eventually bow to the UN sustainable agenda, the agendas of the Strong Cities Network and the Resilient Cities Network, the WEF among a plethora of business interests, gov’t and trans-national bureaucrats and other NGO’s if they haven’t already. No matter where you go, there they are! Globalism, baby!
Even people living in suburban and rural areas will be herded into some big city pushed to unimaginable population densities. Why? ‘Cause that’s the plan and ain’t me, you or any other lowly prole can change it. Not even our local elected apparatchiks.
Serfdom is our fate. Everybody, of course, except “The Beautiful People” in the killbox because population control needs to happen. Why? Because Our Betters said so and since they’ve proclaimed themselves the all-knowing expert High Priests speaking ex cathedra, they must be right and we must obey. Without question or debate.
But maybe I’m just some conspiracy theory nutter who’s too fond of quoting the books, white papers written by people in very influential foundations and NGO’s and agendas publicly debated and signed onto by elected officials to great media fanfare. Right?
Yeah, don’t listen to this lunatic who years ago told you SJW/woke activists are demented mutants, go back to sleep and everything will be just fine. Oh, and good luck on your move.
Donald Cavaioli
cavi900
May 24, 2022 at 10:01 pm
Mr Waxman I will miss seeing north-western Queens through your eyes. I hope your decision to find peace is a “corporate” decision, if you know what I mean, a team decision. Best of luck to you. – Dave
dbarms8878
May 25, 2022 at 9:37 pm