Safety in Numbers
Do you know that scene in Hitchcock’s The Birds where Tippi Hedren is waiting for school to let out and slowly, slowly around her land thousands of birds? No? Well get right on that. Anyway, a similar thing happened to me recently only it was with cop cars. Yes, there I was in beautiful Columbus Circle when suddenly what seemed like every police vehicle in Manhattan and perhaps some other boroughs descended upon me as though the world’s largest donut shop were opening. I could not figure it out.
While I stood, agape, taking pictures like my camera was on fire (wait, no, I’d just drop it then, wouldn’t I – well you get the idea) several people came up to me as though I might know what was going on, simply by virtue of the fact that I was taking pictures of it. One woman told me in a grave voice that she was sure it was something dire. She said, “and you know where I’m from so I know about these things.” Huh? Have we met before? I mean, she had a sort of African accent but there are a lot of countries in Africa, or so they tell me. But she did point out to me, way on the top of the Time Warner tower, a small object. She was convinced it was a sniper. After she walked away, no doubt to polish her tinfoil hat, I zoomed in on it. It was a camera. Well, duh, it’s CNN’s building. No shocker there. (click to enlarge)
So I asked one of New York’s Finest. He said “training.” They train by calling a hundred police cars to a shopping mall? “Is it for terrorism?” I asked. “No!” he barked back at me. Well, gee, don’t be so touchy, officer. It’s not like I was about to speed-dial Osama and give him the 411.
By the time I was down in the subway entrance I realized I had forgotten to ask the most important question. Um, who’s watching my neighborhood?
Well, of course it was training! Where else can they learn how to park all those cop cars in that perfect little row?!
I was hoping for “Police & Thieves” (oh yeah).
Jane, I know! But the real question is, how did they find all those open spots right next to each other?!
Culotte, that was actually my first thought, but there were no thieves and so it’s 50% less apropos.
And that’s what keeps me from being a thieve. Random convergence of police.
And by the way, I love the Police and the Clash.
Excellent ! was so an interesting topic, i can’t stop thinking about this since i’ve read it. The cops, the building, images are flying in my mind .. all is so … um wait i really need to read it twice, i’m sure i forgot something.
I zoomed in on it. It was a camera
oh my god, it was a camera !! this was i missed !!!
RN, it’s only appropriate to say that as it is a shopping mall.
Annoyingmouth, I get the feeling you’re being…sarcastic. Are you saying this post doesn’t live up to my usual standards? YOU WRITE A BETTER ONE, MISTER!
Oh, my, I think I was yelling there.
PS to Annoyingmouth:
Mechant.
Maybe they were there because they heard Darryl Strawberry was back in town?
Oh the possibilites for songs! I Fought the Law came to mind immediately.
P.S. I miss being anonymous. I feel so….exposed.
Why are all the songs about cops by or covered by the Clash?
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It’s OK, KP, you look my-t-fine.
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Incidentally, folks, please observe this little rule: make fun of Becca’s writing, your country loses the World Cup. Coincidence? I think not.
Oh i’m shocked ! how can you .. !! ??