Here’s something I really didn’t expect to write: I’ve been in New York for just under two weeks now, the longest stretch of time I’ve had here since I moved out of Brooklyn in 1992.  And I’ve been noticing something has felt very different about this place since I was here last.

People have been so… nice.

That’s so not what I’d expect, or what you figure on in New York.  But every single day, I’m seeing small kindnesses almost everywhere.

This morning on the subway, as I was exiting at Court St. in downtown Brooklyn, a woman with a baby in a stroller was facing a long uphill climb up a stairwell, where three teenagers in hoodies, standing with the bored and listless posture which is usually portrayed as implying menace, were blocking her path.  Then one of them noticed, and without being asked, simply hopped up grabbed the front of the carriage, and carried it carefully up the steps, while the other two walked alongside as spotters.  They smiled and waved and went back down the stairs, where I assume they then resumed listlessly killing time.

This is the sort of thing I’ve seen almost constantly on this trip — people being acutely aware of the presence of others, unasked, and making room and holding doors and generally doing the small things to help everyone get along.

I’m not sure if the city has changed, possibly still in some post-9/11 way, or if I’m just older and I see and appreciate these things more, or if it’s a combination of both.  Or maybe there’s magic fairy dust in the air, not that the Bush EPA would admit it if there were.

I realize there’s still an enormous amount of conflict and hardship here.  Somewhere on this island tonight, there will be murder.  People will be robbed.  There will be much of not playing nice, I know.

But dang if I’m not seeing a much friendlier city than the one I used to see here.  Assuming I’m even in the right place.