Impressions of NYC

In some ways New York was a major disappointment. Perhaps the hype of "New York City" contributed to it but I think I may indulge myself too much with my imagination. The first thing I thought upon seeing New York was that it was ugly. "Concrete jungle" is apt. I started feeling claustrophobic before we landed. Much of what I had seen in movies and pictures and such... I was surprised when I saw them in real life. Honestly, I would look around and think... "this is it?" Laugh all you will... but when I stood in Times Square... I kept looking around for the rest of it. I also had counted on being somewhat "cultured shocked" or even "awestruck" by it all. (I was imagining little country girl goes to big city scenes) Yeah, well, I wasn't. I felt so blase about it all that THAT shocked me. Growing up, I and most people I know, imagine NYC to be the most danger- ridden place. I cannot tell you how many people asked me if I was "scared" of going or how many warnings I got from people to not ride the subway. Yes, I rode the subway.. and besides it being dirty... quite enjoyed it. Frankly, it is necessary to get from one place to the other. I also ran around by myself.. going uptown and downtown... touring... while John was with his class. The other wives stayed in their hotel room. I didn't understand that. Really? You're going to go to one of the most "awesomest" cities full of touristy type things and you'll just sit around waiting on your husband? Yeah, no thank you.. I'll meet you later.

Does it sound like I didn't enjoy it? Oh, heck no.... IT WAS WONDERFUL! I loved it. Not only did I have a full week of doing only what I felt like doing...where I didn't have to put aside my wishes or wants to take care of someone else's.... but I got to have a good time with just my husband. John and I reconnected a bit. We weren't Mommy and Daddy there. We were John and Briana again. It was nice. To be perfectly honest... (and much to my GREAT surprise) I didn't miss the kids all that much. WHOA! WHAT? Yes, it's true. I knew them to be in good hands (Thank you McMama!) and I realised quickly that it was NICE not having to be "on-call" 24/7. I feel slightly guilty admitting this... my ambition, my desires, my thoughts, my worries, my whole LIFE is ALL centered on the kids.... and then I go away for five days without shedding a tear. (this is the same me that starts fretting when she's been away from the kids for more than two hours?) So, I suppose you can say that I discovered a new part of me.

We plan on returning. I plan on bringing the kids when they're older for a week or two of "field trips" for their schooling. New York has an awesome selection of things to do... I'm sure we didn't see a 100th of what we would like to have seen.

We ....

Went to Times Square multiple times
Saw Phantom of the Opera
(yay)
Ran around Little Italy
(nothing but food)
and China town
(nothing but cheap souvenirs)
Had a carriage ride through Central Park
(wouldn't do it again... not worth the $)
Museum of Natural History
(I love museums)
Museum of American Indians
(mostly clothes)
Tenement Museum
(interesting)
Empire State Building
Ran around Battery Point and Wall street
(John was pleased to see the Bull)
(No, we didn't have time to go to Ellis Island)

Shopped at...

Toys R Us
Fao Schwartz
Disney Store
Scholastic store
(okay, see, I was thinking of the kids)

"Shopped" at...

Bloomingdales
(hahahahahaha)
($250 flannel shirt anyone?)
(yeah, we just used the bathroom there)

The absolute BEST thing about NYC? The people! I loved seeing all the different people... hearing the different languages. I love to study people and they just fascinated me. Being there made me realize how little variety there is down here. I was amused a lot. Lately, I've been reading a lot of contemporary fiction (which seems to take place in NYC 90% of the time) People walking around the street seemed to me to have just walked out of one of my books. In one glance I'd see the tourists (with maps and fanny packs and lost looks), the business men and women with briefcases and suits, the homeless asleep on the bench or just chillin' in a park, the Nanny pushing around the rich little white kid with funny, designer clothes on and a stroller that probably cost more than my house, the gay men with salon hair and expensive clothes, the spoiled rich young'uns running around busy being "entitled"... etc. There were a lot of "wealthy" folks. You could smell them a mile away. The air around them just shimmers with money. I suppose you're not really supposed to stare at people and smile at them like they're a good joke.. but I really couldn't help it. I had quite a few "look-down-their-noses" looks from people but that just made me smile all the more because they were so "in character." Ah, the people!

I would never in a million years choose to live there permanently... being stacked like cockroaches is not my idea of comfortable living... but it would be wonderful to visit for a long period.. so that I could shop and see all the historical, educational things... and watch all the people. I imagine myself in a park with a laptop. I think just the deep history of NY and all its people would inspire me to write a novel.

Have I ever mentioned that I like to write?