Walking down Houston St - miniblog

I was walking the 10 long blocks from 1st Ave to the FDR with my son Numen yesterday. He was going to his orientation at Bard High School. I was telling him: I don't know how I feel about my kids being more intelligent than I. It gets a bit tiring. What's intelligence anyway?

He was wary:

-  I'm not even going there.

-  No, seriously, how would you define intelligence? 

-  It's one of those things you can't define. Like friendship.

14 and so wise. I took up the challenge.

-  It's easy: friendship is when you like someone and they like you back.

-  And why do you like them?

-  I think they must fill some need you have. If you like to think, they'll be smart for good conversation. If you like to be pampered they'll be caring.

-  Oh so friendship is a kind of cure for you needs?

He was skeptical. I gave up on defining friendship, but it was good to chat on a beautiful spring day, New York thriving with life and excitement around us.

Contributed by  - -  Arabella Hutter