KristyWes

Diary of a New New Yorker, Season #2:

I met my friends, the Newlyweds, for dinner tonight at a Kosher French restauraunt in midtown. I had a brief insight that I am becoming a true New Yorker when, in my haste to get to the restaurant and out of the cold, I walked swiftly by Rockefeller Center and didn't even stop to marvel. I focused on dodging tourists, and only after I had passed did I stop and think, "Huh. That was Rockefeller Center I just walked by."

After dinner, and much laughing and red wine, my friends and I emerged on the city streets and noticed the lightest flakes of snow that were beginning to fall. It is winter now; no denying it. I have to stop singing "Autumn in New York" to myself, over and over. What now shall I sing? "City sidewalks, busy sidewalks, dressed in holiday style..."?

We walked, full and happy, to 5th Avenue. The Newlyweds turned uptown for a quick stroll to take in that holiday style, and me, the true new New Yorker, grabbed a cab to take me warmly to my apartment (20 blocks downtown).

Sometimes I get very caught up in the small details of my life here - the annoyances at work, the 2-3 neighborhoods I spend most of my time in, the pressing questions of where will I go to church, and who will be my friends, and where will I do my laundry?

But sometimes, like tonight, I am able to look farther than my daily minutae and realize that *I* *live* in *New York City*. Crazy. That's exciting to me. And should I get fired from my job tomorrow and have to move back home with the parents or something drastic --well, I still had my New York experience, however briefly. I had this night with the falling snow and twinkling lights and good friends and friendly cabbie.

Wishing you all a happy Advent - may we be insightfully focused on what it means to "arrive" - past, present, and future.