Wednesday, November 19, 2014

New York State of Mind

Almost two weeks ago I took the bus up to NYC to meet up with some sewing friends for Patternreview.com's 13th birthday party. We toured the McCall's pattern company, and there was fabric and wine and conversation and cake, and more fabric, and more wine, and a good time was had by all.

I treated myself to Amtrak home because I didn't feel like spending 2+ hours on the bus, but the train stopped somewhere around Trenton and I still ended up spending 2+ hours getting home, just in slightly more comfort.

I always look forward to going to New York, because I always go for some fun purpose: a play, an exhibit, a meet-up with friends. And I always come home grateful that I don't live there.

Manhattan wears me out. Too many people, too much traffic, too much noise. Too much much. Every time I go, I come home a little less hostile about Philadelphia, at least for a while. Here I may only be 4 feet from my neighbors, but it's better than 4 centimeters while trying to cross a street. I think New Yorkers have a bad reputation simply because they're guarding what little precious personal space there is left in that teeming city.

It usually takes a day or two for my brain to settle back down, to a point where I can hear myself think, to be able to write or come up with anything out of the ordinary.

I know people who live there. I know people who did, and wish they still did.

I will never be one of them.

4 comments:

JuliaRu said...

me neither. enough said.

Becky said...

I enjoy visiting NYC, but I wouldn't want to live there either. I'm definitely a suburbian girl at heart, and I know I'd miss seeing all the trees when driving around here!

Kyle said...

It was great to see you again!
I love going to NYC and I love coming home where it.is.so.incredibly.QUIET!

Journeyin' Lady... said...

Touring a pattern company sounds so cool- you must have had a nearly wonderful day! I love riding the AMTRAK train so think that even with the delay it wasn't bad. A good day!