In my last days as a New Yorker, I have set so many goals for myself, all at various degrees of priority: spend time with friends and family, practice banjo, finish my scrapbook from last year, crochet as much as possible to empty a bag full of yarn, get rid of as much clothing as possible - again, exercise, look up class info, register, browse apartments and rooms online that will definitely be unavailable by the time I get there, cancel my phone, and, finally, do and see every NYC attraction I've been meaning to do for six years. The list goes on as my premature silver hairs creep up with more and more frequency - and I don't mean that as a figure of speech, I actually have several greys - which reminds me to schedule a hair appointment with my mom...
I have always wanted to ride The Cyclone at Coney Island. I have come to the conclusion that I don't really like rollercoasters. I get scared and I don't like being upside down. I took a trip to Six Flags a few months ago and I spent the day with my eyes closed, upside down, imagining the ride to be over. I went on every rollercoaster in the park that day. Anyway, I wanted to try just one more - to see if I would like it - and so if anyone asks me if I went to Coney Island and rode The Cyclone when I lived in New York, I could give them a first-hand account. It turned out to be really fun.
Next on my list was an outdoor movie in my favorite park, Bryant Park. And not just any movie. They were playing All About Eve. The weather was perfect and we sat right in the middle and right in the front! It was amazing how everyone lined up at the edge of the lawn like a race. When they announced that the lawn was finally open, we all ran for the best spots. I love seeing classic films on the big screen. I thought it was so cute how everyone in the crowd clapped when certain
stars came on the screen (Bette Davis and Marilyn Monroe) and how people booed when Eve's diabolical plan came to fruition. I thought about people watching this movie in theaters when it came out in 1950 and I pictured them having the same reactions. Every once in a while, it's nice to be part of a crowd, when for the most part, it's something I try to avoid. As I watched, I took a minute to look behind me at the huge crowd staring up from their blankets and I looked up at the buildings and the night sky. It was beautiful. At that moment, I felt like I was saying my first goodbyes to New York City.
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| At least double this amount of people showed up by the time the movie started. |
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| My View |
The thing I've been thinking about as I prepare to leave is that things will go on in the places I once was. I used to work at Taproom. I walked up and down that restaurant thousands of times, but I won't do that anymore - other people will. I sat on my big blanket and watched All About Eve and looked up at the sky. I went to the library and walked through the aisles. I lived in rooms and apartments, here. Now, I won't be doing that anymore. It's such a strange feeling to take a moment to look around while you're in a situation and think about what the same place will be like when you're not in it, anymore. I'm not dying, but I will be a ghost like that, in those places, if only in my own memory. It's not a sad thing really, but for some reason, it makes me feel sad to look back on my life at this turning point. I only have a week left in New York and I can't help but feel like I'm running out of time.
Yikes - on a lighter note. I finished my scrapbook and I've been practicing banjo and I register for classes tomorrow. I have my Mean Girls dinner tomorrow night (more on my gang, later), my going away party, my family brunch, and lots more to do before the big move. So, stay tuned...
The pictures below also represent the several hours between pre- and post-PJ's. Anyone who knows me knows I love my lounge wear.
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| I'm learning bluegrass-style 3-finger picking - so hard! |
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| Finally! Putting the last page in place of my Eurotrip 2011 scrapbook. |
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