I Love New York!

It was bracingly cold when I stepped out of Penn Station yesterday evening. It smelled just the same and I breathed deeply, letting the electricity and life of the city run through me.

NYC is a place I lived for 15 years but haven’t seen in the last 5 years. The last I saw of it was through the back window of our car as we drove into the Lincoln Tunnel with our newborn son. We didn’t want to raise children in the hustle and bustle, but that didn’t stop me from being a bit sad as we left. We’ve moved around and done a lot of living in the last 5 years, including having baby #2. But here I am, back for my first visit to see old friends. I traveled by Acela – a route I used to take very often. I don’t remember the Acela looking so beat up.

I am solo on this trip and that in itself is a strange sensation. My husband is taking the kids to visit his relatives in a nearby state and I took advantage of the proximity to catch up on some friendships I’ve neglected these past few years. We will reunite in two days. I need these two days for myself, or maybe for the person I used to be – I’ve neglected her, too. I am at a crossroads and need to start thinking about what I will do once both children are in school - career #3.

I have memories on just about every street corner of Manhattan since I moved so many times while I was living here through my twenties and thirties. I’ve lived in just about every neighborhood above 23rd Street. I enjoyed two distinct careers here, had been a grad student, fell in love, had my heart broken, fell in love again, threw some great parties with my roommates and made a lot of great friends. Some memories are happy. Others are sad. Living in NYC is certainly never dull.

The next two days will be full of visits with friends, wandering, remembering and shopping for the perfect Christmas present for my husband.

Check back here for some great Daily Photos from the Big Apple. God, I love New York.