New York City, October 22, 2013

★★ Marigolds in bloom sat in their planting beds at the feet of honey locusts gone yellow. The sun passed unevenly through a field of white clouds not quite fused together over the blue. For all the sweaters and wool and puffy coats out on the street, the chill had been blunted by late morning, and the air was mild and damp. By early afternoon the sky had grayed over, and isolated drops were falling. Then off it all went, and the chill came on. A couple struggled to bundle a baby into its stroller, among all its baby wrappings.