Good morning, Friday. Today is that day most New Yorkers and Americans everywhere dread. 19 years. Very hard to believe. I will never, ever forget that day and the gorgeous sunny Fall morning that accompanied it. It's particularly poignant this year as New York is facing yet again a crisis in terms of a sense of uncertainty and mourning lives and livelihoods lost during the pandemic. One thing's for sure, if you're counting New York out, you better get a calculator. We are nowhere near done. Know that.
Last weekend I did a ton of stuff in the city from walking over the Brooklyn Bridge (as a commitment phobe not my favorite) to visiting the newly reopened Whitney and the always magical Met. I dined outside both days and had a sensational lunch uptown with my dear pal Irma that felt like we were enjoying a meal in Paris. I strolled my beloved city for miles and fell back in love all over again. There are endless reasons to love New York City, and despite what our President (who made most of his money here) says about the scary democrat cities, we are resilient, strong, and awaiting what's next with all of our street smarts, grit, and creativity.
If you read my blog on the regular, you know how I feel about this beautiful city that has given me everything and more. I'm not mad at the people who left, they needed to do what they needed to do. I had moments of wanting to go but only for a few days or a week- there is just something about this city in crisis that makes me want to dig in even harder. I do love a challenge. I can't help it, it's in my nature.
Before New York, I was a young woman out of sorts. My love for fashion and all things cool and forward was not a great fit for me in Philadelphia. I had trouble connecting to people and my last year there was one of the worst of my life. I was at a deadbeat job, crushing on a guy who was emotionally unavailable and far too preppy, and eating microwave baked potatoes for lunch. I was far too full of life to be on that path. So I answered an ad and got a gig in Manhattan.
I will never, ever forget that feeling of moving here and being here and immediately feeling life begin and unfurl in all its glory. Even though I was working a few jobs and sleeping on a futon in a shared one bedroom, I felt I had made it. And I did. Because all I ever wanted from a very young age was to live in New York City. I've accomplished so much here, and I will for sure know when I'm done with it, though I may never be. It's simply part of my DNA to live here and laugh here and love here. And I take it very seriously.
Today I will take a few moments of solitude and reflect on that horrible day 19 years ago. The city came back then and it will also renew itself now. It's going to take more than a pandemic to have me fleeing for the burbs. I love my city and my beloved borough and that, my friends, is that. Looking forward to.a beautiful weekend in the best city in the whole wide world. Cause that's what's up this salute to the city kind of Friday in old New York. Yours, in never forgetting, because this ain't no ordinary love. XO