A Love Letter to New York

Life has taken a more hectic than usual turn as my husband and I are in the midst of planning and preparing for a move. Despite the heightened level of craziness in my life, the blog has been on my mind and there are a number of drafts in queue to publish shortly. But this love letter must come first, and so tonight I have snuck out of the house (to the office of all places!) and away from the moving chaos to write this post and give this love letter the attention it deserves. 

It is really hard to say goodbye to New York, and even harder to sum up in one letter all that this city has meant to me. My romance with New York is no summer fling– it is a ten year love affair. I arrived in New York the summer of 1999 ready to start my first job and take on the city. And while knew all through college that I had to end up here, I was not quite sure we (New York and I, that is) could make it work. However, tonight as I walked down Columbus Avenue, soaking up a perfect night in New York City and replaying a decade of amazing memories in my head, I can tell you New York and I worked out just fine. In fact, my “relationship” with this city has been among my most profound and most enduring. 

My romance with New York is the epitome of a perfect relationship; it possesses the qualities I value most – it is loyal, accepting, and caring. The city stuck with me at my best and at my worst and accepted and loved me for who I was and who I became. Over the last decade I have seen boyfriends and even friends come and go, but New York has always been with me. Even when I left – short stints in Chicago and Boston –New York was always on my mind and in my heart. And when I was done stretching out my wings and trying out new cities and different adventures, New York welcomed me back with open arms. New York didn’t judge me when I made mistakes nor ask me to change. Instead, the city patiently watched as the girl (the college graduate) evolved into a woman (wife, mother, working professional). New York took good care of me – it always got me home safe and sound, even after a long night out partying. This is the city where I worked my butt off, mended a broken heart, spent a lot of money, married my husband, and gave birth to my son. I was in New York to welcome the new millennium and witness the September 11 attacks. We were truly together in good times and in bad. I cannot tell you how much of the girl from 10 years ago is still with me, but the woman I am today appreciates that New York has allowed me to evolve from that downtown girl to this upper west side lady. I am thankful for so many great eats, dancing spots, and runs around Central Park. 

And so as I prepare to say goodbye, I cannot help but smile on how much my love affair with New York has truly mirrored any great romance. There are the things that you love to hate (the endearing quirks of your mate), of which New York has many, such as constantly smelly streets, Penn & Port Authority stations, and crazy cabbies. There are the things that make that person special to you (the unique traits of your mate), of which New York has many, such as neighborhood bodegas at every corner, 24 hour Duane Reade, and delivery service for EVERYTHING. There is the beauty of knowing the person inside and out – knowing every facet of his or her personality. I know where everything I want in New York is - where to get the best chocolate chip cookie, the coolest and tastiest brunch spots, and can actually tell north versus south regardless of where I am on the island. And sadly, there are things you take for granted or never appreciated from your mate, of which there are a few in my case. I will regret not having walked across the Brooklyn Bridge and ice skated in Central Park.

I believe we all have a place, a person, a thing - a New York City - in our life that serves as a constant and adoring companion. And now I have a new love – a new partner in crime – and so my love affair with this city has finally run its course. It was not an easy goodbye, but I am now about to embark on a new journey in another city, with the only person that could possibly lure me away from my perfect relationship with New York– my husband. But before I kiss this city goodbye, I had to write this letter, this love letter, so that New York would always know how it important it was in my life. Don’t take your New York, your special mate, for granted. Don’t forget to say I love you in a letter. 

Farewell, my love. I will miss you dearly and promise to come back and visit often.