The following short piece was originally published by The New York Times in the Metropolitan Diary on September 19, 2021. Follow this link to read it with the other pieces from that day.

Something About Life

Dear Diary:

On one of the winter’s last snowy evenings, I was walking through the Village, heading for an uptown train with my umbrella, scarf and galoshes and intent on avoiding the icy spots on the pavement.

A young man, probably in his mid-20s, in a black pea coat and hoodie, approached me. I was prepared for him to ask me directions to the New School or the PATH train.

He stopped directly in front of me with a guileless look on his face.

“Tell me something about life,” he said.

Interesting assignment.

“It’s important to be present,” I said. “Stay in each moment as long as you can.”

He was still looking at me.

“And put worry away; it’s generally useless.”

He continued to stand there.

“That OK?” I asked.

“Yes,” he said, and then he walked off through the snow.

— Robert Moulthrop