Carrie Bradshaw had a love for the city that not many people could understand, but I have always felt that love is what attracted me to the show (Sex In the City). However Carrie's love is only island size, my love spans multiple boroughs.
I've lived in New York my whole life. I've always felt there was no where else to live. I mean live. A few years ago I attempted to relocate to a Florida city. In what I can only describe as maternal haste, I was seduced by the idea of year long good weather, beaches, outdoor play, clean streets, and affordable rent that included a pool. Needless to say it wasn't very long before I returned home. The first minute I stepped foot in a New York City street again, it was like a rebirth. I was one of those people smiling in the street. I couldn't stop being that person that New Yorker's think "Why is she smiling? Is she crazy?". Since that time, three years ago, I've felt a yearning to write about my feelings about my first love: New York. I kept questioning how would I express a feeling so deep, so wide, and so long? An emotion that never disappeared, but was further reestablished? How could such sentiment be expressed in a form that was shorter than the good book , strong enough to receive reader empathy, and rich enough to break the emotional bank?
Recently I heard something that made me say "YES! THERE IT IS! MY NEW YORK STATE OF MIND!". And that it was: an Empire State of Mind. A new joint by Jay Z featuring Alicia Keys, two of NYC's many successful offspring. Empire state of mind, or as I refer to it the new "New York,New York", is a version that Frankie can be proud of. Jay gives props to all the boroughs and Alicia's voice in the chorus really make you proud of the city.
Many times I've walked these streets and rode these subways knowing that no matter what happened it's here that I can get over any thing, begin a new, or find any opportunity that I wish for. How many times have I passed people and wondered if we'd ever crossed paths before or will we ever pass again?
*Although I don't think I'll be jumping on stage at the next Jay Z concert i.e. Lil Mama, I do understand her unrestrained emotion to hearing the song. I mean with references from Harlem to 8th Street to Bedstuy to out of state bus trips, I can find the good, the bad, and the ugly in it all. When you can find those three feelings and still feel the love and the reciprocation of that endearment; it can only be true love. As Alicia's words ring:
"New York/Concrete Jungle where dreams are made of/There's nothing you can't do/Now you're in New York/The streets will make you feel brand new/The lights will inspire you/Let's hear it for New York"
I pay homage through the eyes and voices of many, but still I pay homage. So many forget about there first love but mine will be mine.. til death do us part.
*Check out a clip from the 2009 VMA's for a clearer understanding.
I couldn't agree with you more. Although i appreciate the silence that is "the south", there's nothing like coming home late and being able to walk to the corner to get something to eat. Or riding the train at 1 in the morning and it's full of people; different people from all walks of life. There's nothing like this city that we all call home.
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