Holy bejeezabob I have had a good weekend in New York. Through the entire three years I lived here, I wished I could come back on a business trip. What it must be like to stay in the best hotels and eat on the company dime! And then finally, finally, the sweet Lord (or maybe just my boss) sent me here this weekend and gave me the trip I have been dreaming of. One night at the Gansevoort, two nights at the Standard. Three $100 dinners. Three friends, a Valentino shirt, an Ermenegildo Zegna tie, and wah-lah, my happy quota has been reached.
Each time I arrive in New York, I spend the first day thinking that I should have never left. The city is so alive! Every corner brings another amazing restaurant. Every block ten more gorgeous model-bots. I come to my last neighborhood, the Meatpacking District, and find a fashion and cultural center that didn't exist at all 10 years ago, yet rivals the best in the world today.
And then Day 2 comes.
Yesterday was my 2nd day in New York. I had breakfast at Pastis, then went for a walk through the gallery district of Chelsea. I walked a path that I used to walk when I had free time as a grad student, and I thought about my life then. I thought about Scott. We spent two years together in the city before we broke up and he moved to London. I sat on some steps on 24th Street and left a voice mail for Scott saying that I was in New York and thinking of him. Today though, as I started work, I got a long text message from Scott telling me that it was too little too late. He has needed someone to be there for him lately and I didn't show up for him and become that person. He was disappointed and hurt. It felt so appropriate to me to get this message while I was in New York. To me, this city symbolizes our failed relationship, and I found it quite ironic for him to end our friendship during the 3-day window where I happened to be in the same city where we ended our relationship.
In the last 6 months that I lived here I also had the best job of my life. I was going to be a millionaire and rule the world! Then I got fired. Great, so then I felt like I had failed my relationship and my career. That was it. My self esteem was shot. I moved within about two weeks.
San Francisco became home again. I moved in with the woman I love (that would be my best friend because I'm a total flamer in case you're a new reader), got a hot boyfriend, and found a wonderful job. I have had time now to really put my New York experience in perspective, and at least I can come here now and appreciate what I used to love about New York.
The best thing about New York is having accidental one-of-a-kind experiences. Tonight I met my friend Carl for dinner. Fortunately his potential 21yo "masculine" "bisexual" trick was completely stringing him along, because that meant he was free for me. After a fantastic meal and a couple grande martinis, Carl said he was going to take me to his favorite bar in the Village. As soon as we opened the door to Marie's Crisis, I loved it. Down three stairs was a small room packed with people who were all facing a man behind a small piano to the right. Everyone was singing along to some show tune. Carl and I found the bar and I stood looking in awe at the people in the bar. You know that look that a 19yo straight guy from a rural town might have when he first enters a strip club and realizes that he can touch a titty for just $1? Pure happiness! That's what these people looked like.
I didn't recognize the first couple songs, but then we got a Sound of Music medley, and Carl and I belted out the Doh-Ray-Me song and then the one about raindrops and kittens. It was so fun!
Then Carl met a Jewess who was from DC but moved to New York to be a corporate lawyer. She was also studying art. That's another thing I love about New York. Artist/lawyer/Jewesses. People here have so much going on! Then Carl said something about his penis, or maybe someone else's penis. I forget. Whatever it was made the Jewess turn around and stand with her friends again. Actually, then I think Carl shouted something about his penis and made 3 queens turn around. I honestly couldn't tell if they were interested in more penis talk or annoyed that he didn't know the words to the current show tune. I realized that they must put a big penis on the same entertainment level as a good show tune. Not my crowd. I told Carl I was ready to leave.
So, well, there was a small representation of the 1000 thoughts that I am having about New York right now. Some are sad. Some are beautiful. And at 3am, some are just sleepy thoughts. But after Day 2 in New York, one thought is always the same. I love San Francisco, and I really look forward to going home.
Nite nite.
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