A little over 9 years ago I left Brooklyn in a fit of urgency. I had just been laid off, I saw the .com bust coming, and I knew that while NY unemployment was awesome, it would not pay the rent. So, I had my parents convert a flying trip out to see me into a driving move their sorry ass daughter back to MN trip. It was all a rush. I realized after I left that I didn’t get a chance do many of thing things one should do before they leave New York.
Thanks to being sick, I still haven’t done some of them. Including eat pizza, Gray’s Papaya hot dogs, and anything tasty from a food cart. However, I did visit my old neighborhood in Brooklyn. I took pictures of all of the things that I wanted to remember. Not so oddly, not much has changed in 9 years.
The German meat market, owned by Italians, where I learned how to eat steak.
I think if everything was different, it wouldn’t have been so hard. It was hard though. I had to mourn losing my dream of living there all over again. It is an odd place to be, when you know your dreams have come true, but it was at the expense of other dreams.
The fruit & veggie stand, right next door to my apartment, where I learned about blood oranges, and that the wild leeks I had eaten out of the woods my entire childhood were called ramps when they were served in the big city.
If I had stayed, my life would have been different. Not bad, just different. However, if I had stayed, I wouldn’t have what I have. I have an amazing husband (who cleaned the house while I was gone, so glad I brought him home that cheesecake from Junior’s), I have a brilliant and wonderful daughter, and I have a great life.
My address. I lived in 1R, behind that lock smith. I bet anything that place is still run by the crusty old man who was there 9 years ago.
So I walked around my old hood, alone with my thoughts. I thought about what was, what could have been, but more than anything I thought about what is. It was a precious reminder to document my life, but never forget to live in the moment. Memories are valuable, and the future is bright.
Lemonade stand leftovers. I think we need to do this at home soon.
One Comment
I give so much credit to those of you who just pack up and move to places like NYC. That was a great idea for you to go back and walk around, if anything a sense of closure.
Hope you’re feeling better!
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