It's A Love Story...

24 hours later and I have yet to blog about my awesome day in New York. I want to begin with a quick story. It’s the “When I fell in love” story only mine has to do with a young girl and a big city. I don’t recall the very first time I knew I was going to have a lifelong love affair with New York, but it happened somewhere between the ages of eight and ten. My mom and dad did a wonderful job of culturing my brother and I to the max. Mom’s friend Joyce lived on Houston Street for years, and there were so many times when I made her couch my bed and attempted to fall asleep in the city that never sleeps. At a young age, I was able to do all of the things “New Yorkers” got to do, and I was so grateful. I saw the Greenwich Village Halloween parade, bought countless outfits/Halloween costumes at certain shops, ate Mexican food at a local restaurant that had an adorable sombrero on the entry way, ate spaghetti at some of the best restaurants “Little Italy” has to offer (while also meeting a few Sopranos along the way), I went to gallery openings in Chelsea with my mom and her friends when I was just learning to appreciate the naked paintings on the walls as art, and saw countless shows on Broadway – my first show was “Beauty and the Beast” when I was seven. I learned the streets – dad drilled into my head that “midtown is a grid” in case I ever got lost. I learned a few subway lines (I’m still working on the others.) Dad also drilled into us from his days growing up in Staten Island that if you got separated on the subway, you got off at the next stop and waited. As a child, I was secretly terrified and elated that this situation would present itself. It did not until I was 18 years old, and by that time I made my own way to the restaurant without anyone batting an eye. Most importantly, I discovered the place I will call my home. It’s unreal that this thirteen year-old dream is very close to becoming a reality. New York is the capital of the world. There is so much to be found on that tiny island, and you know that if you make it there, you really can make it anywhere. And so, a girl from Jersey fell in love with a city, hoping and wishing that she would add to the growing population of eight million.

Yesterday, I traveled up to New York to see the Broadway show Memphis. My brother’s high school band went on a field trip, and I begged to tag along. I had to meet them at the theatre to get my ticket – which was discounted thanks to student prices! Someone asked me the other day if I was comfortable going to the city alone, and all I did was smile. Seriously, sometimes I prefer it. I traveled up on the train from Metropark and landed in Penn Station forty minutes later. Because I do know my way around so well, I easily went from the train to the subway with zero delay. One stop later, I got out at 42nd street and Times Square. I really lucked out on the weather. It was a little windy, but overall a beautiful day in New York. Spring has really set in. I walked over to Rockefeller Center and on the way stared at every sight around me. I feel towards NYC the way I feel towards my family and friends when I return from college – “I missed you a lot old friend.” I met B’s sister T for Coffee at 30 Rock where she interns. It was a lot of fun to catch up and to learn all about what she does at her internship. It is always wonderful to see a friendly face in a big city.

I left T an hour later and went on a stroll up Fifth Avenue to Central Park. This is why I enjoy going to the city alone. I walked along the park and felt at ease. It was nice to not have to get anywhere. There are times when I seriously want to train it up to NY just to go for a jog through Central Park. I think that is God’s way of telling me it’s time to find an apartment and some sane thoughts. After my walk, I made my way back to 44th and 7th to the Shubert Theatre where Memphis was playing. The Shubert theatre is a well-known theatre that has hosted a number of shows including A Chorus Line, Crazy For You, Gypsy, and Spamalot. Our seats were up in the balcony, but I had no trouble seeing the dancing and singing performed on stage. Memphis is loosely based off of a true story about crossing racial boundaries in Tennessee in the 1950’s. I enjoyed the show and especially thought Montego Glover who played Felicia Farrell – the leading woman – was fabulous. My brother and I discussed how she could give Michelle Obama a run for her money with those arms of hers…I need to start lifting heavier weights! Memphis was my brother’s first Broadway show, and I was very excited to share in the special experience with him.

When the show was over, I walked my way down 7th avenue to Penn Station. The weather was too beautiful to spend it underground. I left the city I love to return home, but I’ll always be back. You cannot keep me away for long. And hopefully soon (I’m keeping my fingers crossed for December/January), I will have my own humble abode in Manhattan where home will be a subway ride away instead of a 35 minute train ride and a 30 minute drive on the Garden State Parkway.