I've always been intrigued by how people's minds work and am endlessly fascinated by the seeming differences between the mental processes of men and women. For instance, I believe that the reason women drivers are considered by many (mostly men), to pose an unqualified hazard on the roads, is that men have no idea how women think, or how we will react in a given driving situation. The problem becomes insurmountable when men begin to gesticulate in a testosterone-motivated attempt, to encourage a female motorist to back up, or to drive "around" a post traumatic stress-inducing car wreck.
My mind, however, works differently, even from that of most women. My brain has divided itself into three specific and mutually exclusive sections, (rather than the usual two.) The first comprises speech and language, motor skills and coordination, logical reasoning, and emotional pain. The second is dedicated to the instantaneous recall of phone numbers. My work number, numbers of clients, my family, my friends, their families, my physicians, their family's friends and clients... etc. And the third (the one in which I take most pride) is 100 per cent devoted to the perpetually relentless, uncontrollable and often senseless, retention of song lyrics! It's so devastating when I realise there are other important things… like quantum physics, European world history, and techniques of French cooking.
I owe my grandmother everything. She is 99 years old, going on 33. She called me one Saturday evening a few months ago to say ‘I fell and dislocated my rotator cuff but don't worry… the lawyer says I can get $15 grand. But it's not the money mind you; it's the principle of the thing. And I'm earning you my inheritance!'
I've begun, rather tentatively, to garden. I work most effectively when my husband yells at me while I'm weeding or planting something. Or I realise while at the garden centre that I've forgotten to call my mother to wish her happy birthday.
My favourite city in the world is a country... And it's Canada. I was almost born in Canada as my mom went into labour while she was visiting Niagara Falls. Another thing I like about it is Canadians actually drive at the speed limit. Their main highway - the TransCanada Highway, feared by moose and RCMP [Royal Canadian Mounted Police] alike - is one lane in each direction in some places. Can you imagine? I-95 is 14 lanes wide through New Jersey alone!
I love public transport and transportation planning. Los Angeles has 38,000 bus stops. Did you know you have to be clairvoyant to ride the bus in most cities? Yes, you must have extremely advanced psychic powers. How else are you going to know which bus is the right one, which bus stops where, or whether or not the first bus to pull up to your stop in over an hour will get you where you want to go? I live in Hoboken, New Jersey. Hobokenis a precious little city in Hudson County. Here Santa comes to town - every Christmas - wearing cement shoes. He jumps off his sledge and tells Rudolph to keep the motor running. They play Frank Sinatra all day every day at the post office.
I love living in under appreciated and undervalued places. You get a real break on the rent and keeping your money in your shoes really saves on bank fees.
I've always fantasised about going back in time and changing history - like to September 10, 2001. But even if I actually got the chance, I would probably blow it as I was a terrible history student. I vaguely remember something about some Archduke, maybe Ferdinand, being assassinated by a Bosnian Serb, (or was that Robert Kennedy?) And what did the Chappaqua Bridge have to do with the start of the
Quick questions
Name one special bond you share.
With my cat, Etosha, who is 18 years old. I found her behind my building and took her in when she was just a kitten. The truly amazing thing about her is that she fetches. I guess nobody told her that it was a canine thing to do.
What is the nature of your work?
I am an urban planner. I decide which places will have great towering buildings that touch the sky and which places shall be suburban. And which places shall remain rural… open space with blue skies and trickling brooks and chirping birds just the way nature intended.
My world
- Who… Cynthia M Nikitin
- What: Vice-President, Project for Public Spaces
- Where: New York (speaker, Abu Dhabi Global City 2011)
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