Wednesday, September 10, 2014

New York will always be home.

I was born there.

Raised there.

Went to school there.

Many schools.

Elementary. Junior High. High School.

College. Undergrad. Graduate school.

I worked. For years.

I interned.

I took continuing education classes.

American Sign Language.

Spanish.

I interviewed.

Found jobs.

Turned down jobs.

I wandered the streets.

Ate lunch in the park. Many parks.

I met up with friends.

For lunch, halfway between offices.

At great restaurants.

On park benches.

For many happy hours.

Cigarette breaks in back rooms.

On curbs outside of office buildings.

In cafeterias.

Smoke breaks when I didn't even smoke.

Walks around the building.

Fresh air near the water.

Coffee breaks.

Sneaking off to the movies.

Extra long lunches.

Playing pool during overtime.

Flirting with the bartender.

Stumbling to the train.

Hailed cabs late at night.

Calling for a car.

Cried tears of love lost.

Wandering through neighborhoods with a broken heart.

Holding my husband's hand before I really knew.

First kisses. Stolen. Quietly.

Broadway shows.

French restaurants.

Gloves lost on snowy nights.

Diners after midnight.

Shots at the bar.

Sparks flying.

I got married there.

First engaged.

Central Park.

The zoo.

The polar bears.

We got married.

Moved around the boroughs.

Found our way.

Found our fur-babies.

Years later - I left.

We left.

Came home for visits.

Met my niece.

Returned home with a baby girl.

Introduced her to a place like no other.

Years later - I returned again.

Said goodbye to my father.

A piece of my heart, gone forever.

New York is home.

Always will be.

Today I choose to remember the moments that I will never forget, beyond those imprinted in my brain forever. Beyond those that the entire world watched with me.

These moments find me happy, sad, aching, longing, loving.

In some ways they're similar to those that occurred so so many years ago tomorrow.

And in many ways they're not.

I try to forget the smoke. The tumbling. The walking mile after mile.

My shoes.

Scrambling for phone calls.

The tears.

The forever change in my view.

Instead I recall the moments of MY New York.

And I remember. And I pray.

Because in my heart of hearts I know.

New York will always be home.


* Linking up with Pour Your Heart Out today over at Things I Can't Say. *

19 comments:

  1. This made me tear up. I'm glad you have so many happy memories there and are choosing to remember those.

    Tomorrow is a tragic anniversary. But if we can't hold on to the good, that's a tragedy, too.

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  2. Beautiful post.I can tell you wrote that from your heart. Thanks so much for sharing it with us!

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  3. Love you babe.
    Such a horrific time for so so so many and I hope with all hopes that everyone remembers the good that happened before and the strength of a nation afterwards. xoxox

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  4. Well written. So happy you have memories to look back on. Hugs to you!!!

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  5. I was feeling the same things today. Looking up from the dentist's chair at the blue sky.

    You are lovely, and I can't wait to hug you next week.

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  6. So many good memories--thanks for sharing! I've never been to New York, but hope to some day.

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  7. What wonderful memories. It's good to remember the good times even on a tragic anniversary.

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  8. Hugs Andrea. It is a beautiful city that I would love to return to visit.

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  9. Very beautiful Andrea! I never got to visit New York before but what I've seen it is such a beautiful city. I'm happy you're remembering the good times about your home. God Bless America! #NeverForget

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  10. I love this post. So beautiful! xoxoxo

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  11. I'm replying with tears in my eyes. I'll never forget where I was or what I was doing the morning our world fell apart.

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  12. This is a great and powerful post. Yes definitely remember the good times. Don't let what happened change your vision of home. I wouldn't let it shape my hometown if it happened where I lived. You are awesome.

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  13. This was one of the most beautiful tributes I've read. Love it.

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  14. I feel the same way. Even though I don't live there any more NYC is still my home. I miss it very much.

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  15. This is such a dear post. NYC shaped you into a great person. The memories will be forever.

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  16. Beautiful post. While NYC was never my home, it is one of my favorite places on the planet and the place my sister used to live. You captured the city perfectly here. Hugs to you.-Ashley

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  17. Oh, wow, this is not what I was expecting from an NC "neighbor". New York is still home to me too. What a beautiful tribute.

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