New York in spring is my favorite time of year. There is temporary relief from the smog-choked air after a gentle rain, or a breeze rustling through the trees. Before I ever lived in New York I thought it to be a concrete jungle but now I realize that wherever you look there is something green planted by the city, or a nature loving soul.

Sometimes in spring, new birds appear other than the pigeons, which seem to survive in any kind of weather or condition. Their cooing sound can even be heard above the roar of the traffic, blending with the constant blaring of sirens and horns. New York is a noisy city, but after awhile your ears shut off and so do your eyes as you hurry your way down the streets, which are often full of people doing the same thing.

I used to wonder, when I arrived here 5 years ago, where everyone was going, and why were they in such a hurry, but after a few months I became one of them and only cared about my own destinations and happily left them to theirs. To stop anyone and ask for special favors is not done in this city, unless you are an unsuspecting tourist and then you are likely to just get glared at.

Not to say that the people here are unfriendly. They just have a different way of relating. To some it appears harsh and uncaring, and to others it is just the way things are and one never gives it a second thought. The rest of the country labels New Yorkers as rude -- no! -- we are just in a hurry and very glad when we arrive safely at our destination in one piece and with our billfolds still in our pockets.

Today was Central Park day and I made my way down 80th street, past Amsterdam and over to Central Park West. It was a nice walk. Cool, only about 65 and the way was fraught with only a little incident. There was only one person running down the street close to where I sauntered along. They were running away from another person who was sporting a butcher knife and talking in some language I could not identify. They turned the corner at Amsterdam and I lost sight of them and continued to concentrate on the beautiful day before me.

There are many entrances to the Park and I crossed 79th street to use that one, which has mostly, trees and bushes. Music from the klieg drums drifted to my ears and it was good to hear it again after the deafening sounds of winter. I rarely came into the park during winter. I am not a fan of snow or cold.

Wearing jeans, a tee shirt, brown loafers, and white socks, I looked very much like others around me. There were several mothers, in groups, wheeling their babies on the concrete pathways. I headed for the grass and took short cuts around trees, over rocks and between bushes. It led me where I wanted to go: "my" special bench not too far from the entrance. I wanted to just sit for awhile and take in the sights, smells, and people. A hot dog vendor with steam rolling from his cart had placed himself not far away. Business was brisk.

I sat and threw my head back and took in the height of the tall apartments lining Central Park West. The buildings seemed to reach for the sky, which today, was bright blue with little cloud cover. Even through the constant haze one could still see the blue. I breathed in all the air I could get, ending in a cough as carbon and gas smells entered my lungs at the same time. Oh, the wonders of New York. Where else could one be gassed to death sitting on a park bench in the open air? I'll tell you, it does not get any better than this.

My stomach started growling and I knew that a hot dog was in order and after checking my funds I decided to spring for New York's best restaurant. The vendor dug deep into his pit of dogs and pulled out a scalded piece of meat, slapping it on a bun, followed by sauerkraut and mustard. He opened some kind of cheap diet soda and I listened to the fizz as he handed it over, all for $6.00. Heaven.

There is nothing like the grizzle of a vendor-cooked New York Hot Dog on a breezy spring day on the outskirts of Central Park. I returned to my bench and savored every bite licking my lips and sad when the last morsel had passed within.