Rubem is lucky to be alive — that’s what all his doctors say. Eight years ago, he was enjoying a sunny day in Central Park. One minute, Rubem was sitting on a bench, reading a book. Then, everything went dark. The next thing he knew, Rubem was waking up in a hospital bed.

He’d had a cerebral hemorrhage, a nurse explained. An artery in his brain had ruptured. Luckily, because he’d been sitting when it happened, he didn’t fall and hit his head. And, luckily, because he was in a public place, a passerby saw him collapse and called an ambulance. If he’d been alone in his apartment, he easily could have bled out before anyone found him.

Recovery was a slow and painful process. The part of Rubem’s brain that had been damaged was the one that controlled movement. It took six weeks of physical therapy for him to learn how to walk again. For months, he took hesitant steps with a walker, then a cane. “I’m a good-humored person,” he says. “I don’t know what a bad mood is.” But during this time, Rubem began to experience panic attacks. Even as he started to regain his mobility, he couldn’t bring himself to leave his apartment. “I never felt depressed in my whole life,” he confides.

For the first time in his life, Rubem went to a therapist. He was given medication and some coping mechanics to help deal with his panic attacks. Though some days are harder than others, he’s in a better place now. Rubem feels better than he has in years. He can now walk unaided, but he needs to be careful. He’s not as steady as he used to be. “I can’t stand for too long a time, or I lose my balance,” he says.

It makes it difficult to navigate the busy New York streets. The apartment building where Rubem lives in midtown is close to the Theater District. On Wednesday and Sunday afternoons, during matinee performances, the sidewalks are more crowded. There’s been a few times when Rubem was nearly knocked to the ground. “When I go down, I can’t get back up,” he says.

The nearest grocery store is very expensive. I have no other choice but to go there.

The nearest grocery store is expensive but, as Rubem explains, “I have no other choice but to go there.” Like many older New Yorkers, Rubem lives on a fixed income that doesn’t change, even as grocery prices soar. Between his small pension and social security, he only brings in $16,000 a year and needs to make that stretch.

That’s where Citymeals comes in. Rubem started receiving home-delivered meals during the pandemic. “It’s a great help,” he says. He likes the meals and supplements them with some very basic dishes he can prepare at home. “I cook black beans every week to compliment the food Citymeals delivers.” He prepares them the Brazilian way, starting with dry beans — never canned — and cooking them slowly with lots of garlic. “Beans are a very popular food in my country.”

Rubem was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, but he always had dreams of New York. Growing up, he adored the actress and singer Barbra Streisand and the city he saw depicted in her movies. It was a chance to see her perform live in 1984 that brought Rubem to New York. And he never left. “I loved this city from the first day I arrived,” he recalls. At the time, Rubem — who spoke Portuguese and Spanish — didn’t know much English, but he didn’t let that stop him. “I felt completely comfortable, like I’d been here forever. Nothing scared me in New York.”

Rubem got work where he could, a series of odd jobs he recalls with fondness. He cleaned houses, delivered food and worked as the nightshift doorman for a hotel on 49th street. Then, he landed a job at LaGuardia Airport in the car rentals and returns lot. Over the years, he worked his way up to the accounting office, where he stayed until his retirement.

After retiring, Rubem often traveled back to Brazil to visit his family. But, these days, he doesn’t venture much beyond his apartment. Rubem lives alone, but he likes it that way. Prefers it, in fact. “At this age, I couldn’t live with anyone,” he says. He enjoys watching movies or editing the photos he takes — a hobby he’s had since his 20s. “I keep myself very busy,” he says. “I can stay the whole day at home and never feel lonely.” Rubem has a tight-knit group of friends he talks with on the phone almost every day and he keeps up with his family over video chat.

“I don’t feel like I’m too old,” he says. “Though, I don’t like what gravity has done to my face.” For Rubem, aging has been about acceptance and a change of perspective. “There are certain things at my age that I can’t do, but I try not to let it bother me.” When the weather is nice, he’s still able to bring a book to Central Park and read.