4o
On the early morning of my third day in New York, I decided to explore Central Park, which was just a 20-minute walk from my hotel. It was a beautiful day, and given the unique but often congested car transportation in New York, the choice between a 15-minute car ride and a 20-minute walk was an easy one.
I began my walk around 6 a.m., and as I approached the southwestern entrance, the Maine Monument came into view. This impressive structure, the Maine Monument, was erected to honor the American sailors who lost their lives when the U.S.S. Maine exploded in 1898.
As I wandered through the park, I navigated through crowds of joggers and playful dogs. I noticed that the grass areas had specific time restrictions, likely to prevent people from sleeping there overnight and to maintain some control if things got out of hand. Taking a moment to sit on a large rock formation, I admired the New York City skyline from within the park. It was a breathtaking view, but it also gave me an odd sense of being a main character in a video game. The towering, anonymous buildings, the people walking their dogs, and the homeless individuals sleeping under playground canopies made me feel like I was in a cyberpunk world where the buildings were empty and the people were mere NPCs.
It was a feeling I had never experienced before, and it made the concept of existing in a simulated reality feel more tangible. The people barely acknowledging my presence as I walked by reinforced the idea that I was just passing through this atmosphere.
After some time, I decided to look for a place to have breakfast. I noticed a diner across from Carnegie Hall called the Carnegie Diner. The name and the appealing menu sold me on the spot. As I walked in, I was greeted by a familiar face I couldn’t quite place. Despite never having been there and not knowing anyone in New York, this person looked strikingly familiar. While perusing the menu, I spotted chicken and waffles, which sounded amazing. Suddenly, it struck me—the person resembled Dale Carnegie. A quick Google search confirmed the uncanny resemblance.
It was a surreal experience. I almost mustered the courage to ask if he was related to Dale Carnegie but decided against it. This encounter perfectly tied into the NPC feeling I had been experiencing, as the odds of meeting someone who looked like Dale Carnegie at the Carnegie Diner seemed incredibly low.
After my meal, I took an Uber to my conference. As I left the park, the feeling of being in a simulated world began to fade, as if I was leaving the shroud of its influence. It was yet another small but mysterious part of the intricate life I weave.
