Sing to the Tune of New York State of Mind

Sing to the tune of NY State of Mind
Triumphant. Every time I see the skyline through a slot between buildings in Greenpoint it’s a jolt-- “New York”—like someone turning around and recognizing them, such a sensual synopsis in the brain. NEW YORK!!! I screamed it when I got out of a cab with my Dad and Grandma the first time I set foot in this Dreamland at 9 years old. Electricity. Dreams made real—Dreams grown so high they scrape the sky.

Or I behold the Bridges and Steeples and Edifices and stop and pinch myself to wake up because I just saw this apparition of Dreams and blew it off... “Hey, you’re in New York” I remind myself... Just to still be here is triumphant.

I’ve lived in 3 apartments this year before finally settling into this loft I love in Greenpoint. In New York you have such bright dreams, but simply getting the bear necessities is a challenge. So thankfully She has opened herself up to me, invited me in by providing this supportive, sweet, calm living space.

Once you live in New York you outgrow fantasies about escaping your challenges by moving. There is a morbid finalization to living in New York—yep, this is it. This is the heart of Western civilization. The only place you could move after New York is the Amazon; some jungle that is an immersion into the pure life-force. Here nature is the way wind piles trash around the gutters, the landscapes of the human face you pass, and your strong, tired legs.

I feel peaceful in nature, I love to hear a river trickling near my window. But I love the friction of the city; the interactions between my spirit and natural rhythms merging with the mechanical drone of subways and buses and traffic signals. Oh! the concrete jungle!
I wonder if I'll I ever move?..
For now New York is fun because it is a challenge. Subway navigation. Making enough to pay the bills. Getting the best deals. Getting there on time. Helping out friends, connecting people. It comes down to the breadth of energy we experience in a day here. For now I love it.