I have been looking forward to leaving
New York since Thanksgiving, if not before. Between the late nights
at my internship in New Rochelle and the stresses of being a
surrogate soccer mom to a pair of elementary schoolers, my
sleep-deprived self was crying on the inside. Tomorrow, my dad is
coming to the house where I’m living and we’re packing up my year to
head back home to western Pennsylvania. I was still excited to leave
as recently as last Friday. But then I spent last weekend in
Manhattan. I got nostalgic on the train back to Pelham Sunday night,
and I wasn’t even leaving yet.
If you asked me a week ago (or three
days from now) what I didn’t like about New York, I’d have to ask you
to take a seat to prepare yourself for all the things that bug me
about it. But now, the day before I leave, I’m preparing to take
pictures like a tourist of everything that I see. I want to take
pictures of the two kids that I’ve spent the year hanging out with.
I want to photograph the three dogs that I’ve been fortunate enough
to live with who have brought me so much happiness and calmed my
frazzled nerves through the year. I want to document the two parrots
who have brought me significantly less happiness and caused the
frazzled nerves. (Note to my future husband: you are not allowed to
own pet birds. Ever.)
As challenging as this year has been,
I’ve learned a few things that I’d like to share with all you
readers. All four of you:
-
I think I finally am starting to
understand why people have children in the first place. -
I am in no way, shape, or form
ready to even think about having my own children for at least eight
years. -
Everything bad about New Yorkers
mostly has been imported from New Jersey. -
Everything bad you have ever heard
about northern New Jerseyites is true, and much worse than it
sounds. -
Sleeping and snuggling
six-year-olds are so adorable. -
Shrieking and wailing
six-year-olds are significantly less adorable. -
Highlight of my life: listening to
a pair of eight-year-old boys discuss the merits of boxers over
tighty-whities in depth on a tire swing. -
Highbrow humor: “Knock knock.”
“Who’s there?” “POOP!” -
Other highlight of my life: “Then
I punched my weiner. And it hurt.” -
Living alone is lonely. (Thank
you, Captain Obvious.) -
I am so excited to live in
community with six other amazing people for a year. -
I love public transportation.
Love love love love. -
Subway rats are not cute.
- Nothing beats singing, “When I’m Sixty-Four,” at the top of your lungs in the car with a first-grader.
-
After spending a year as the
equivalent of a domestic Batman, I’m ready to do something less
sedentary.
Support update: I’m still in need of
$8460 to fund my Race, $740 of which MUST be in my account by July
28. We fly from JFK on August 11 at 5:45pm to Dublin. I cannot wait
to reunite with my new family.
