Roving Toilet Paper

A couple of weeks ago, I was walking through Tompkins Square Park, when I saw this toilet paper hanging from a tree:

Hanging from a tree.

At first, I thought it was a left-over anarchist decoration. Now, I'm not so sure!

Earlier this week, I saw what looked like the very same toilet paper, this time on East 4th Street:

On East 4th Street.

A long time ago, I saw a movie about an African immigrant living in Paris. He told a story about how back home, they believed evil spirits would inhabit inanimate objects to disguise themselves when they moved among people — even something like a plastic bag blowing by could be a spirit!

Me, I don't believe in such nonsense, but many East Villagers do. If you're one of those who do, watch out for this roving toilet paper — it might be the Devil!

#eastvillage #tompkinssquarepark #toiletpaper #4thstreet #superstition #trees

Trash Wars

East Villagers are famous for guarding their trash, and protecting it from contamination by other trash.

Here is one example, seen on East 9th Street yesterday:

One example.

How is this trash protected, you ask?

No 435 Trash.

My first thought was that the superintendent was identifying these trashcans as for exclusive use by residents of building 435, using the traditional abbreviation for "number" (No.), but forgetting the period.

However, this building is not 435 East 9th Street, but rather 447 East 9th Street, as can be seen in this close-up of the numbers above the door:

Numbers above the door.

My curiosity aroused, I set out to find building 435.

My search did not take long — I found it here, a quarter of a block away:

A quarter of a block away.

It's the beloved Pat Crystal Shop!

Evidence of 435ness:

The number 435.

Is building 447 afraid of gypsies?

East Villagers are superstitious people!

#eastvillage #9thstreet #gypsies #patcrystalshop #superstition #trashcans

Bad Juju

Have you ever seen those owl statues people buy and put out to keep pigeons away? They look like this:

Pigeon-scaring owl-statues on East 9th Street.

Usually they're standing upright though. I don't think pigeons are afraid of owls that are leaning, or lying down! They're probably more afraid that this rusty old fire escape will collapse under their weight!

So… I was walking across East 7th Street yesterday when I saw something that at first I thought was a variation of the owl statues:

7th Street owl-statue variations?

Do you see them? Here's a close-up:

Bats!

A vulture!

Because this doesn't have a crooked neck, I was pretty sure it was a turkey vulture, and I wanted to be sure, so I googled "turkey vulture", and as I was typing it, other suggestions came up in the autofill, like… turkey vulture totem!

Suddenly it became clear.

East Villagers are very superstitious people. Here is what one web site had to say about turkey vulture totems:

You know how to use your own energy powerfully and efficiently. You have the ability to see auras and colors around people with your higher vision and you know how to use patience as a means to an end. You easily go with the flow of those around you yet are fiercely protective of those you feel responsible for. You have keen insight into most situations.

I think I would have come up with something more like this:

Vultures: circle above you waiting for you to die; start eating you even before you're dead; go for the eyes first.

Bats: swarm around your head just out of reach; make high-pitched screeching noises; get tangled in your hair; suck your blood.

I won't set foot outside again without my lucky rabbit's foot… in the East Village Today!

#eastvillage #bats #vultures #totems #7thstreet #owls #statues #superstition