My Sidewalks

It is a wonderful thing to be able to walk around your neighborhood under the shade of tall mapples and alongside magnificent pre-war buildings. I have had the pleasure of growing up in one such building. Twelve foot cielings, large foyers, ample windows with balconets characterize these buildings, as well as the unmistakeable red brick, and roof tops with structures reminiscent of bell towers. Some of the buildings may even make you think of a castle of sorts. Jackson Heights is no medieval town and its inhabitants are from all over the world. In my building alone I do not exagerate when I say that on every floor you will find a different nationality, with more moving in at a rapid pace. These pre-war buildings dating back to the early 1900's are desirable pieces of real estate. What I consider to be the real treasure of these buildings to be however, lies hidded beyond its brick facade, where only the tenants are lucky enough to go. These buildings dont just have your typical New York building tiny plot of a garden. The span of the garden is from one end of the block to the other. They are like valleys and the buildings serve as mountains surrounding them on all side. When I walk through the garden sometimes, the long way home, it is my moment of zen before reaching home and the duties that await me. Looking at the outside of these gigantic imposing buildings one would never imagine that a delicate garden lies within, just one of the many secrets not easily revealed by a New York sidewalk.