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Living In New York. It Is The Only Place For Me

August 1, 2009

Monique Forrester writes: ‘Do you love it, hate it, or have you simply adapted to the elements in order to tolerate it?’ The old man who asked me this had only two teeth left in his mouth. We were both returning, on one flight, from our different destinations to the Big Apple. I always seem to get to sit with people on planes who like to talk and ask questions.So there I was, being asked by a little old man whether I liked New York. And at first I had an inkling to mutter some simple answer, like, ‘Yep, I love it. There’s no place like it…’

But then I thought the better of it. All of my life I have lived in New York. The Bronx, to be exact, and sometime in Brooklyn, the biggest borough, where they like to answer a question with a question and say Go Figure when they get confused.

It was an unplanned change in the routine, so I ran with it. I told the old man that in all actuality my first vivid trip to Brooklyn was not until I was an adult. That shows you the extent of my hometown traveling, I said, as I vowed to make it up to myself. The old man laughed… while simultaneously spilling a bag of roasted peanuts all over my laptop.

‘In my short life I have only traveled to seven places outside of my comfort zone,’ the little old man said. ‘So which part of America would you have liked to live in?’

‘The East Coast is my fancy,’ I retorted. ‘New York is the only place for me.’

At the same time I had to ask myself: how do I know that life in Cairo, for example, is not just as lovely, or in Rio de Janeiro? And how do I know that Nairobi would not have been a better place for me?

But the answer came through, loud and clear: I love New York. I was born here and I would probably want to die here. Sure, I’m very adventurous and would like to see other places. And yet… Yet, I would always want to come back to NY.

I suppose New York chose me and not the other way around. The funny thing is that my forefathers landed in New York on a whim. They first attempted to conquer Canada but, I guess, it simply was not meant to be. I would have probably made a cool Canadian, but as it happens I was born in the good ole’ US of A.

To be completely honest, my life has been filled with culture and divine insight, accompanied by wisdom earned from Father Time, himself. The lessons I have learned have been hard-hitting, jab throwing, knock you down in one punch – blows.

But you may ask: aren’t lessons learned everywhere in the world? Yes, of course they are! Whether or not we are all learning at the same time, is a paradox for the geniuses to unravel. I love the Big Apple and living here has opened countless doors for me. I gather the same experiences could have happened somewhere else, but I am sure of one substantial thing: one of the reasons foreigners see New York as the land of opportunity, or the United States in general for that matter, is because of its ubiquitous mystery.

Where else can you get mugged and selected for the role of your life, all on the same day? Or how else would you ever get to enjoy the museums, the parks, the monuments, the people, the music, the passion, the pain, and the unlimited pleasure captured in one place. The beauty of the skylines captivates you before and after the world changing disaster. Besides, the spirits of the people here are more tenacious than anywhere else in the world.

From the South Street Seaport to the exotic air owned by Fifth Avenue. There is a little gift for everyone who ventures north, east, south, or west, in the City that never sleeps. Let us not forget to mention the hidden nooks and crannies nestled deep like Blue Lights. A secret hideaway overlooking the Hudson and at night you can actually make out a few constellations in the dark-violet smog filled sky.

Where else can one can get lost in time and spend a lifetime reminding yourself of all the reasons why they love New York; but in New York. So grab your knapsack, tip your hat, and click your heels over here so you can feel it for yourself.

– End –

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