Fondly nicknamed "The Box," on 40th Street and 7th Avenue sits a 10x5 foot mobile station whose purpose is to distribute insanely flavorful chicken and lamb along with basmati rice, salad, yogurt sauce, and pita - for $4.
The smiling Yemenites who run the show are there 5-6 days a week, 8-10 hours a day, in the sweltering heat, in the freezing cold, serving up hot, cheap food to all brave enough to try it. To those that do, it becomes a staple of their diet - to those who don't, well, they miss out.
Sometimes, I smell The Box when I am no where near it. (And yes, I just said "sometimes, I smell The Box.")
There's a revolving cast who man the ship - that's because these guys work 7 or 8 months, working and sleeping and repeating - all the while saving their cash.
Then they return to their homelands, and families and live for 4 or 5 months "like kings."
What do you do?
Whatever. Nothing. Whatever. Relax. Drink tea. Read. Spend time with family.
One of the gents just returned from his trip back home.
He said to me with somewhat stark wisdom, "If you work like animal, up, work, down, up, work, down, you will never come to know how you are at life."
You will never come to know how you are at life.
Wow.
