2022 in Review

My Word for 2022: Wait

ON SATURDAY MORNING here in New York City, thousands of people stood in line in Little Italy waiting for an “Emily in Paris pop-up.” Emily in Paris is a series on Netflix. An Emily in Paris pop-up? I have no idea what that is. Women, men, couples, teens, even kids — the line snaked around Grand Street, down Lafayette, as far as the eye could see.

I couldn’t help myself. I poked my head out from under my scarf. Popped my AirPods out. “What are you waiting for?” A 30-something woman in a heavy winter coat and angled pink beret satisfied my curiosity. “It’s Emily in Paris. The show. A pop-up.” “But what does that mean?” She couldn’t answer. She was already modeling her beret for Instagram. I was dumber for asking.

As I walked along, I marveled at the length of this line. I don’t think I have seen this many people in the city since March 2020. Were they giving out a part on the show? Like, the lead? Were they offering a lifetime supply of French bread, quiche, champagne? Was there at least alcohol somewhere — a signature French cocktail of some sort?

I still cannot fathom what would possess someone to stand on the street for hours — New Year’s Eve style — and simply wait. I wish I could tell you what exactly was popping up. Apparently there was a French market selling French things. And a shitload of Netflix…