We went to Yankee Stadium. We were the only ones not decked out in Yankee gear. There is something fun about baseball history in NY. It, like many things feels very American here.
Chronicles of our move.
New York, I love you.
There is something funny about New York…everything, and I do mean every-little-thing is an adventure. I am so happy when I arrive where I planned to be, and being on time - nothing short of monumental success (I high five myself for getting there).
There is incredible food everywhere, and the people – there are so many of them, and they are all going somewhere….
I now ride the subway nearly everyday (and eat ice cream, and think about eating pizza at least 10 times – but that is a whole different story). This subway riding is new to me. There are 1.1 million people who get on the New York subways daily, and I am now one of them. I used to drive to work everyday. I had coffee, I tuned my radio to what I wanted to hear, or made phone calls to those I love (yikes! I wasn’t a texter – promise!)– I mostly called my mom (I miss this), and nearly everyday – I arrived at work having encountered few other people face to face (except the lovely folks at the Matchbox Coffee Shop – please visit for me and say hello). And now, the subway has become a new rhythm to my days. I begin most days underground with strangers all hoping for the same thing – that the G train will be somewhere close to on time, and bring us to our desired stop. This has been amazing fodder for me to spend time observing. I sip my coffee, and wonder what all these other people are thinking as my own mind races. I stare too long at strangers hoping to understand the reason they decided to wear that thing in their hair, or that jacket, or ask myself “are baby backpacks possibly coming back? I have seen four today” – I do live in Brooklyn after all. I read over stranger’s shoulders trying to get the latest, or the strangest, or just see what they are reading. There was a woman reading Jane Eyre today and I recognized it over her shoulder and was happy for her – she will be transported for the duration of her subway ride to a different place and time. I feel a special affinity for the people reading the books I have read, as if I know what they are going through – (ahhh, Mr Rochester, I understand, I understand, it’s complicated). I hope for a little Minnesotan space when someone stands just a little too close on the platform, but if they smell alright, it isn’t so bad. I can’t possibly avoid the music blaring from some people’s headphones – (OY! I can only imagine them screaming “WHAT DID YOU SAY???” 50 years in the future). I hope that guy who is confrontationally sharing his manifesto loudly in the car doesn’t make eye contact with me – I don’t want to talk. I really want to see rats run across the tracks out of morbid curiosity (I call them all Splinter, and hope they are training some turtles – maybe if I anthropomorphize they will stay away) but, really am happy when I don’t see them scurrying about.
The adventure of a new everyday is new to me. I was very familiar with my previous surroundings. This new city is all things I haven’t tried, and new ways to do and talk about familiar things. Sometimes this is great and welcome - like eating in new places everyday, filling my senses with new and amazing things, delivery! (Everywhere delivers - all of the restaurants bring it to you - and so quickly). The sights, the sounds, the patterns…it is all really exciting and making an observation that leads to future success is so fulfilling – finding the grocery that sold yummy eggs was big, and yet, I just wish I knew where to buy my face wash.
I am learning to become much more comfortable with a little less control over my daily experience, and it is rewarding, terrifying, and exciting all at the same time. I simply can’t make the train arrive ontime, but I might just have the best arepas I have ever encountered. Each and every day brings more understanding and wonder, and each day is an adventure. New York, I love you.
