Letter From New York

From my favorite book, "Letter From New York", by Helene Hanff (it is really a BBC radio talkshow, about her life in New York, compiled into a book):

1981 January

My friend Arlene is not a dog lover. Which is the least of the differences that makes us the world's unlikeliest best friends. To begin with, she's twenty years younger than I. To continue, she's been twice married and divorced, while I've been single all my life.

Like me, she presently lives alone. But I live alone in a studio apartment, consisting of a living room with functional modern furniture, and small alcove for my desk, typewriter table and bookshelves. And Arlene lives alone in an eight-room penthouse, with a bedroom suitably decorated for Marie Antoinette, and a living room positively alive with silver and china ornaments and glittering chandeliers.

To round out the picture, I am plain and mousy, while Arlene is black-haired, flamboyantly beautiful and the last word in high-fashion chic. But we're the same size. And since Arlene wouldn't dream of wearing the same wardrobe two years running, she gives me her designer suits at the end of each year and I wear them for the next eight. "


May

A couple of years ago, just before I was to leave for London, I came home one afternoon to find the phone ringing. I answered it, and Arlene said, 'Where were you all day? I've been trying to get you.' 'I was downtown buying a raincoat for London,' I said.

And her voice came wailing over the wire, 'Why didn't you tell me you needed a raincoat? I have raincoats!'

'I just thought it would be nice,' I told her, 'if I bought something I needed, for a change!'

Would you like to know what she said in a disapproving tone? With thousands of dollars' worth of clothes she'd barely worn, hanging in my closet? She said, ' You're extravagant.'

My Favorite Author

My all time favorite writer is Helene Hanff, and my most favorite book of hers has to be "Letter From New York". It's a simple and non-fancy book, the author feels like someone you know. Indeed, Helene Hanff writes like a friend, talking vivdly about the city she had lived all her life. I often find myself seeking comfort in her words and even imagine living in New York City, sitting on the steps of her apartment building with her and her neighbors' friendly dogs, talking about everything under the sun.

Helene Hanff made me love books and opened my mind to reading. Sadly, she passed away in 1997. However, thanks to her books, I remain comforted in this friend whom I have never met.

Why Is Something Nonedescript Attractive To Me?

We were filming So Simple in Tokyo. I also sat at the spot where Peifen is sitting in this picture. It was near the treehouse cafe featured in episode 7. The neighborhood was a very simple and quiet one, despite it being smack in the middle of the city. The buildings, all not more than 5 stories tall, were quietly leaning on one another, looking neighborly like old friends. The sprightly looking vending machines made passers-by stop in their tracks and take time to glance over the neighborhood as they waited for their drinks. As I sat there with a can of warm milk tea in my hand, I noticed nothing special nor nothing shouting for attention. Yet, in that state of nothingness, there was a strong feeling of peace that made me beauty that is introverted and unassumingly diginified.