Lately, I’ve had a few days where I’ve thought: “I really don’t like the way that my life is turning out in this city right now.” I’ve had jobs that match my skills, feed my passions, and pay my bills before, but I don’t have that now. And, I wonder when/if I’ll find it again. I’ve also wondered: How bad does “bad” have to get before you decide that a situation isn’t working? More than once, I’ve seriously considered whether or not I should simply call it quits and move back to Illinois in order to save my ever-deteriorating financial situation. Whenever I have these doubts, I try to do something “Ridiculously New York City”. I go to Times Square. I score cheap Broadway tickets at the half-price ticket booth. Or, I walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. The activity usually reminds why I love New York and reenergizes my commitment to stay here.
Yesterday? Yesterday, I went to Central Park. New York City’s “backyard”, Central Park is honestly one of the most beautiful places on earth. And, this time of year, it’s amazingly beautiful. The air is slightly crisp, flowers are in bloom, the grass is bright green, trees are coming back to life, and evidence of spring is all around. It’s nice to know that, no matter where I am in the city, the park is no more than a subway ride away. So my recent trip to the park, as always, was definitely worth the visit. It totally cured my case of the blues. Ahhh … New York. Even though life gets pretty tough here from time to time (and, lately, more that usual), I still really love this place. If this city was a lover, I’d write it a love letter to express how much I care. In the meantime, I’ll keep my unoriginal comments yellow-post-it-note brief: “I *HEART* New York.”
Please use the comments link below to write a Post-It note to *your* city.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Cibolo – You are a little bedroom community. Thanks for having my wonderful new house, good schools and lower insurance rates than the nearby metropolis. Thanks for all your cows and horses – the boy loves them and I love that he will have a safe place to grow up. Thanks for being home.
NYC- I’ve been here my whole life, and 2006 may be the end of the line. I’ll miss the cool little-known bars (Hello Orchid Lounge!), the variety of international foods, the diverse population, the tkts booth (ALWAYS use the one at the SS Seaport, silly! There’s NEVER a line!), The Brooklyn Botanic Garden (it’s Cherry Blossom Season, people!), the carousel at Coney Island, the amazing view of the skyline as the N train pulls into the Queens Plaza Station (or as you drive ove rthe upper level of the 59th St. Bridge).
Sometimes I hate how grimy it is, or how crowded, or how few people smile or say “hello” on the street, or the occasional incredibly violent crime. But I can’t imagine living anyplace else…but I think it’s high time I give it a try!
(and although Central Park is indeed gorgeous, and served as my backyard for my entire childhood, Prospect Park is shockingly, shockingly, beautiful and well worth a short subway trip. Stolie, you simply must go!)
From the desk of Denver –
Called mother nature about temperature extremes. Said she was working on it but had a mix up down in the factory and accidently sent rain & snow today. Said she was sorry about that. She would take the blame, but really thinks it’s all the number of single drivers on the road. Asked for a little more moisture, but she couldn’t guarantee anything saying it’s those damn Rocky Mountains diverting her best efforts. She’s placed a call to Mother Earth to have the mountains lowered or reshaped, but is pretty sure she won’t hear back. She then got annoyed about my constant phone calls and said she’d start sending rain on the weekends only to ruin all the outdoor events over the summer if I didn’t stop calling.
Bath: I don’t think I’ll ever consider it bad. It’s full of old Georgian buildings, hills (which are a bitch to walk) and lovely gardens and stuff like that. I think it is one of the nicest cities in England and I can see why it is a world heritage site. I defintely will come back here after I graduate and leave the Uni.
Colombo: Back in Sri Lanka. Lovely country, shitty people mostly and right now on the brink of yet another war thanks to a silly suicide bomber who blew herself up this week. Sigh…
PS: Central Park is lovely. I was there in Nov 2004 for a day and I loved it.
Common said it best: “At times I contemplate movin to a warmer place then the Lake and skyline, give me a warm embrace”
MamaChristy: That’s very sweet!! :)
missbhavens: Don’t leave!!! Okay, if you must you must. I think it was like Buddha, Allah, Marx, or somebody else entirely different who said, “the only thing that is constant is change”. So, moving can’t be a bad thing. I’m sure that the city and the people that you’ve come to love here will miss you as much as you’ll miss them. (PS: I went to Propect Park for the first time last summer. You’re right; it is beautiful.)
Howard: I *HAVE TO* to go Denver some day!!
Darwin: Believe it or not, I’ve been to Bath. When I lived in England, I took trips to see the smaller cities throughout the country: Leeds, Bath, Dover, etc. But, I’ve never been to the larger cities such as Bristol, Birmingham, and Manchester … BTW, sorry to hear about the bombing. :(
Carlos: Seattle is on my list of cities I’d like to visit before I die.
Actually, I was talking about Chicago
Ohhhhh … okay, I get it. :) I guess that explains the “Common” and “lake” references. :)
Note to Arcata:
I *love* your plaza, rich with stinky wanna-be-hippies, and being accosted by panhandlers younger than me for change or a drag on my cigarette (get real!). I *adore* your quirky overpriced shops and redneck police department.
Confession time: the only reason you’ve kept me here so long is the fact that I’m addicted to your incredible whitewater, thousand year old redwoods (no other simple trees can compare)and of course, the finest buds anywhere.
Unfortunately, I’m bound for *bigger* and *better* places (heard of Lewiston, Idaho anyone?)I’m sure I will miss your foggy summer and moldy housing. Someday I may EVEN come back for winter boating, imagine that!
One suggestion: How about instead of spending six weeks fighting over an ordinance opposing the Patriot Act, you fix the bloody potholes in the streets. I’m tired of bending the wheels of my bike on the commute to work.
Thanks,
Lo
P.S. Your neighbor, Eureka, stinks (literally)…btw.
Okay, I find it slightly disturbing that anyone would ask a complete stranger for a drag off of their cigarette. :(
{ 1 trackback }