Central Park, Manhattan

WE met Charles as he rested on a bench in Central Park.  Our interaction with him was fascinating, and in his 76 years of life he certainly has some tough stories.  Overcoming a “ghetto” upbringing, drug addiction and gangs, he worked as a cop for decades.    His answer when we asked him about his concept of the Good Life was a complete surprise, but his friendly demeanor ran opposite to his dark world view.

CHARLES
SOUTH BRONX

WHAT’S YOUR CONCEPT OF THE GOOD LIFE?

 

“There is no such thing as a good life.  The world is a floating garbage can.  Too complicated, too much drama.  Humankind can’t be civilized.  We don’t belong here.”

***

CHARLES was gracious even with his grim opinion of the human race, and we ended up sitting with him for a while listening to him tell his stories.  He said he liked to come down from the Bronx to “beat on” his bike here in Central Park, and try to literally exercise his demons.  It goes to show that Central Park remains possibly the only tourist attraction that actual New Yorkers frequent all the time.