Translation: I need you to forget for a moment that you grew up with the ultimate goal of marrying the man of your dreams while wearing Caroline Herrara, grow some thicker skin and get our client in Allure’s Best of Beauty round-up.
This might make HR squirm, but I understood exactly what my boss was saying when he gave me this professional feedback. I’d venture to say any New York PR girl has heard a personalized version of this at some point in her career.
This past week I did something I’ve been talking about for almost three years now: I booked a weekend trip to New York and since then I’ve been flooded with memories. On March 29, I’ll return to the bustling city I once called home with one of my closest friends (and also a former New Yorker). I’m going back with three more years’ life experience, a better fashion sense and a thicker wallet. When I moved away in 2009 I pictured myself visiting frequently – and until recently, I haven’t been able to narrow down why it has taken me so long to go back.
For me, New York is that relationship you know isn’t right for you, it might even be bad for you, yet for a moment in time it’s all you wanted. So maybe I haven’t completely experienced this in my own dating life (cheers for me having mostly healthy relationships), but I’ve watched enough Sex and the City episodes and seasons of The Bachelor to be able to spot this. So now, three years later I’m completely and irrevocably (Bella uses this word in Twilight, which I just watched. You're lying to yourself if you pretend to dislike this movie) in love with Atlanta – so I’m comfortable visiting my New York love affair.
I’ve always felt a strong connection to New York. And let me clarify, when I say New York – I mean the whole wonderful state. I cringe when I run into someone naïve enough to believe that New York City is all the state has to offer. Being a military brat I moved quite often, and while we did three different tours in Virginia, New York is the only place I’ve lived for five consecutive years. Before I called the Upper East Side home, I spent four years nestled in the Alleghany Mountains at St. Bonaventure University. I took weekend trips to Buffalo. And while that city will most certainly never make any “top 10 most beautiful cities in the U.S.” lists, the people there have more passion for their city, neighbors and sports teams than most could ever dream of.
Things I love and cherish about my time in New York:
1. Splurging and living in Manhattan, because this homebody was never going to go out if she had to cab it to Queens at the end of the night.
2. Going out Monday – Friday my first few weeks living in the city. So maybe this was because I was sleeping in an empty dorm room in NYU, but it still counts. I lounged with a new friend in a park until 1 a.m. when the sprinklers came on, danced my way down 2nd Ave and happily sat on the curb to enjoy a piece of pizza – because at 4 a.m. you don’t care how dirty that is.
3. The first time I successfully navigated multiple subway lines. May sound so simple, but man was I proud.
4. Calling out a cab driver for taking me the roundabout way across town during rush hour. No tip for you, Mr.
5. A successful girls night complete with rooftop cocktails and a dance party down the Westside Highway running path.
6. Sleeping on the couch of a guy I met two weeks prior. Don’t judge, I was homeless, living out of a suitcase and he is now one of my favorite people.
7. The fashion – although I’ll admit that I don’t think I found my personal style until moving to Atlanta, it’s New York that my inspiration comes from.
8. A revolving door of friends visiting. Who cares that they might have being using me for a New York vaca. It was amazing nonetheless.
9. New York beauty PR firm being the first job on my resume – because although I’m not a fan of the mentality that New York is the ONLY place to be, I understand my work experience there has opened some doors for me.
10. New York taught me to love running. When everything else seemed so big and scary – running felt familiar. I learned that city by running up and down every all the safe streets in Manhattan. Central Park, I love you. I’ve yet to find a running route that rivals you.
I’ll admit that since leaving New York I’ve been able to forget all the things I didn’t love about the city, and romanticize the things I did. Sound familiar for any of you that can relate to my earlier bad for you relationship reference? I can’t wait for my weekend in New York – but I know what will make it truly sweet is knowing New York will always be there for me, but I’ll be coming home to my cute little midtown cottage in the city that truly feels like home – Atlanta.
For all my friends that found true love in New York - more power to y'all.
For all my friends that found true love in New York - more power to y'all.
The above is supposed to match the below. Poetic license, it’s graffiti-esque.
