Here I am in New York City. I can't help but feel a bit nostalgic when I think about the last time I was in this city. Only a few days before 9/11, I was standing in the first tower of the World Trade Center to meet my uncle for lunch at his office. I remember looking around that massive building, trying to imagine how difficult and scary it must have been for the occupants when the car bombs exploded in 1993. I couldn't imagine trying to get out of 110 story building under attack. Little did I know my uncle would be doing just that in just a few short days.
But now I'm back in the city with my 8-year old niece and seeing it again with a fresh perspective. I'm not going to lie. New York City is a great place to visit. Everyone should see it at least once in their life and I have every intention of bringing my sons here to see the Thanksgiving Day parade and spend a few days soaking in the atmosphere and culture when they're old enough to appreciate it. And if I'm ever filthy rich, I wouldn't mind having an apartment in the city to visit a few times a year but I have no desire to live here fulltime. I suppose I could get used to the masses of people and maybe even the fact that I never really feel clean here. I've driven in the crazy traffic here before so I might learn to enjoy accelerating at full speed and stopping on a dime....and I'd even develop the patience to sit in traffic for God knows how many hours a week. But all the concrete with so little green space. I just don't see how I'd ever learn to love that part... short of building a house in the middle of Central Park, which I think they'd frown on.
So here I am back in the Big Apple with an eight-year old who sees this place as the world's biggest adventure park. Of course she's using Toysrus and FAO Schwartz as her guide, but she really sees beauty in the whole city. I think I realized I was in for an awakening when we in the taxi coming in from the airport. Whizzing by were lots of old buildings covered with graffiti and razorwire. One building in particular caught my attention, probably because of it's odd design. It was sort of building like a X with little iron balconies filling in the corners. I'd say it was very old with dark brown brick, probably 50+ stories high with plastic lawn furniture and little hibachi grills covering the tiny balconies. I can't really explain it but there was something about the dark dreary color and junky balconies that just seemed sad looking to me. The thought of living in such a confined space made me feel almost nauseous. My niece noticed me staring at this poor, pathetic deathtrap and without any hesitation said, "Now that's a nice building"!
And there you have it, folks. That says it all. Seeing an old city through new eyes.
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