Lost Malas of New York
I met my very dear friend Brian at the corner of St Mark’s Place and somewhere, I can’t remember exactly. New York’s not my city, I here conducting business for a Hong Kong client and staying at one of the better hotels New York USA has to offer business people and travelers alike. The neighborhood I’m in is called the East Village, I was hoping to see some lively happenings, but it seem quiet sedate. I guess the gays and punks have quieted down. But, that was back in the day I guess. Now there are just a few shops and maybe a hand full of people left hanging on to the old image of the East Village. There’s even a Chipotle restaurant here, yes, the times they are a changing.
Before my friend Brian arrived, I went into a quaint little Tibetan shop and browsed through the silver pendants and various Buddhist malas made with all sorts of stones, like turquoise, coral, tigereyes, lapiz and other type semi-precious gems. I remember when I was in Nepal , I’d pay up to $12 for a mala or a pendant and I would wear both as a necklace. While I was in India, my mala necklace broke while I was walking back to my hotel and the beads went everywhere. I think I only managed to grab for one of the beads before all the street urchins grabbed them up for themselves. I was upset for losing it so quickly after I had just purchased it. So I bought another mala in Darjeeling for about the same price and mailed this one home. Now, I can’t even remember where to find it, I haven’t worn it in so long. So, while in the Tibetan shop, I noticed the same type of mala that I like to wear going for about $50. I decided not to buy it.
We friend Brian and I finally hooked up and we went off to some Japanese restaurant and ordered spicy noodles with tofu and cabbage. While we were waiting for food, my dear friend gave me a present. I opened it up and low-and-behold there was the mala I haven’t worn in ages. Brian told me, I must have left it over at his place the last time I visited him and he found it when he finally moved out of there.
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