Gosh, I miss New York. I miss its sounds, the chums I made, the guarantee of viewing at least one crazily clad person per block and the sight of the skyline when I'm drivin' in on the clearest, sunshiny day. I love the melange of culture and color.
I even miss summer's smell of hot piss and funk in the subways and the crowding crush of people in places that, while I lived there, I would rarely ever go.
I'm only an hour and a half away, and since I can never justify why I'm not there more often, a few Saturday mornings ago I just got in the car. Kim was visiting, a couple of my cousins were in town, my dear Aunt Mary was feeling adventurous and Mags's stubbornness was on hiatus. I wanted to go and chill and roam the city with my loved ones; Aunt Mary decided we all needed new handbags and possibly some perfume.
Canal Street skeeves some people out, overwhelming them. I love it--the incredibly incessant chatter, the coaxing and chiding, the chase. I love how Aunt Mary loves her some hagglin', and watchin' Mags people watch is just the kind of Saturday fun I adore. These days spending time with my mom and her baby sister makes my day (and any time with my sis is a bonus). I love getting to know them as women--it's been one of the sweetest gifts as I've grown up. There's so much unspoken history between them and I love being around them when they let me in on the good times. I also like gettin' a good eye on my genetic future, and the ladies have a flair which they so obviously share:
I wasn't looking for anything in particular. There were so many goods to be had I just waited for something to speak to me. I soon found myself hugging something a bit outside of my comfort zone. Now I'm solid in my commitment to the large bag--ain't nothin' little about me, what I'm doin' or what I want. Plus, I'm practical which means I gotta come prepared. But lately I've been hankerin' for something bolder and the purple pocket eater is doin' it's thing.
By day's end, any worries we had about Mags and the strength of her knees were summarily dismissed, which was impressive and a relief. The woman is a trooper. It was Kim's last day with us and a beautiful, laughter-filled day. They are my sunshines, my beacons and my anchors.
