New York City

I remember the first time I went into the city.  I was ten years old, just clinging to my mother’s hand.  I felt so tiny compared to the sky scrapers, sky scrapers that seemed to go on forever.

I can still smell the hotdogs roasting on each corner. The stands were always crowded with people. Every time we passed by, the smell of roasting peanuts and almonds would blanket through the dusty air.  If I begged enough, my mother would stop and get me a bag of roasted almonds.  They were sweet and sugar coated; absolutely delicious.

The traffic was intense.  The sound of honking horns overwhelmed my ears. The streets were coated with yellow and black taxi cabs that didn’t seem to stop.  People were riding bikes through traffic, newsstands flooded the pavements and streetlights didn’t seem to matter in NYC.  I tried to cross with the crowd, but my mother yanked me back and would not let go of my hand.

When walking down 42nd street towards Broadway, my heart raced. There were so many people!  My body was flooded with nervousness and excitement. I couldn’t wait to see Miss Saigon.  I remembered wanting to fit in so badly that I had memorized every single song in that play, (including the bad ones.) Right before we left on the train I remember my mother putting my hat and gloves on as she kneeled down and looked at me.  

She said to me “Don’t be nervous we’re going to have a great time!

I gave her a curious look.

“You’ll see.,” she said,

“That’s what New York City is all about.” 

Eleven years later and those words have never held truer. Every now and then the city calls to me. Can you believe every time I step off that platform, I have that same feeling?  My heart flutters with excitement and my palms sweat. I am overwhelmed with joy.  I lose myself in the rush and chaos of the city.  Nowadays, traveling to this vibrant environment makes me feel larger than life. How many people get to say they’ve traveled to NYC more than once? 

Every time I get off the train and step off the platform, my eyes widen.  My body still shivers every time I walk from the deep dark subway crevices and into the radiant city lights.  Stepping out into the sunlight, silence surrounds my every being. I stand and watch as people rush past, almost as if time has stood still.  It is the most exhilarating feeling imaginable.  This is NYC on high.