last week i was walking through the herds of tourists while trying to make my way through times square.

wow. note to self: i sound like a real new yorker!

anywho... i was waiting to cross the street and i noticed this guy dressed up like spideyman and talking on the phone in a phone booth. close by, i noticed this family of four - mom, dad, little girl, little boy - they were all checking SM out. SM then noticed the family and started to go into "SM mode." what i saw next really touched my heart: as SM approached the little boy, the boy's eyes got so big. there were so many emotions registering on that little kid's face: being scared, amazed, worried... he couldn't believe that he was really seeing SM. it was so cute because his dad was talking him thru what was happening: "go on, it's SM, buddy. whaddya think?" the kid looked like he wanted to go to SM but at the same time he held on to his dad's leg while taking it all in.

reminds me of stephen sondheim's lyrics from his into the woods song "i know things now" in which the character of little riding hood describes her experience with the wolf at her grandmother's house....

"...and he made me feel excited -
well, excited and scared."

i wish i had had my camera to take a picture that day to show you the kid's face.