The Air You Breathe Is Not Your Own

That was my favorite of the many turns of phrase used by a passenger-preacher on the B train this afternoon, delivered in a calm, lilting Caribbean accent. It was one of those moments that reminded me in a very self-conscious way that I live in New York City. This happens, I thought to myself, in New York City, and—what do you know?—I live in New York City.

More specifically, I live in Uptown Manhattan, about 50 blocks from the soon-to-be-running second Shake Shack at 77th and Columbus. The current Shake Shack is over 100 blocks from my apartment. Do the math. I'll be too busy eating shackburgers and drinking salted caramel milkshakes for arithmetic.