Christmas Tree Guy

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The Christmas Tree guy set up shop the day after Thanksgiving.

He came from Oregon, hired by a company that operates about one fifth of the 100 or so tree stands that pop up in Manhattan each season.

They put him up in an apartment with several other guys for the five-week stint. He sold 550 trees, with most prices ranging from $150 to $200.

I asked him what he had learned.

He said that sitting in a shack for 12 hours a day, confined to one city block, provided a particular perspective. It was the world in a microcosm.

There was the guy who does handstands on the corner each morning and the self-anointed healer who strolls by swinging a lantern of smoking embers to bless parked cars and stores with incense.

There was the random woman who brought him coffee every morning and the guy who, while buying a tree, complained that his monthly rent went up to $11,000. That’s a lot for lodging, Christmas Tree guy pointed out.

There were half a dozen Senegalese delivery guys who locked up bikes to the lamppost nearby. He waved and they used an online app to communicate from French to English. They described an epic journey to get to America.

No one learned his name, but everyone knew who he was.

That’s because he wore the company-mandated “uniform” of overalls. People on the street or in the bars would call out, “Hey, Christmas Tree guy.”

He said New Yorkers knew as little about Oregon as he knew about the city.

People seemed to assume overalls were normal attire and that he lived in the woods.

In fact, he came to make money to start a business. He wants to install and repair computers, TVs and appliances for older people. Recently, he’s been fixing and flipping dryers online. He said Facebook Marketplace is the place.

He was glad the season was over. Selling trees was exhausting. It has also left him no time to do any sight-seeing. He hoped he wouldn’t be back.

He had only one free day before he left town.

I asked him how he planned to spend the time.

He hoped to visit Rockefeller Center.

After selling hundreds of little trees, he wanted to see the big one.

BRIEF OBSERVATIONS

GEN Z WILL CHANGE THE WORLD: Ian Bremmer has an interesting take that suggests Gen Z will push companies to take sides on political issues.

INCREASE IN GAMING: The trend is not a surprise, but the increase in time spent gaming is surprisingly large.

SAM ALTMAN ON WORKING HARD: Sam Altman’s take on how hard work early in life compounds.

LOCKING UP THE TOOTHPASTE: Rampant theft has prompted CVS and Duane Reade and other pharmacies to lock up the toothpaste and other items. Ironically, they don’t lock up the dental floss.

CHRISTMAS TREES: I didn’t know this.