New York State of Mind

Just got back from a 4 day trip to NYC with P. Five consecutive nights, four consecutive days, 24 hours per day -- the longest amount of time we've ever spent together. It was absolutely wonderful. Everything about the trip -- except my shoes -- was wonderful. The weather was nice, we did so much stuff! : MoMA, kebabs in Grand Central Station, lounging on the Top of the Rockefeller, hot dogs in Battery Park, Staten Island Ferry for the Statue of Liberty, Staten Island, Wall street, Dakota Building, Central Park, Upper West Side, Greek Restaurant, Lincoln Performing Arts center for coffee, The 39 Steps on Broadway, Union Square, delicious pizza on 14th street, finally finding a greek cup I've been looking for for years, IFC for The Art of the Steal, street food on an alley in Greenwich village, chocolate cake and cupcakes at Magnolia Bakery, burgers and fries at Dumont in Brooklyn, bed, sleep, an 8 hour car ride back to the city with P singing songs and me giggling or sleeping, a brief goodbye and (poof!) here I am.

They say when you travel with someone you get to see another side of this person, the "new" side I saw of P (which wasn't really new, but only more pronounced) was his bottomless patience. When we got to Manhattan and the GPS conked out on us because of the sky scrappers he stayed cool, calm and collected despite all the chaos going on around us. When we finally made it to Brooklyn and we missed turn after turn, he just said "so what's the next street?" in a sweet voice and kept singing.

We didn't get lost for the most part, but on the first night, I was somewhat delirious from hunger and we were not in the right neighborhood for food, but he never got pushy or irritated despite the fact that we walked three (big) blocks in the wrong direction (and despite the fact that the resto I was looking for was closed by that time). He was as happy as a clam the whole time and so was I. It was incredibly easy to be happy around him. We made funny noises and held hands as we walked briskly around town. Both our feet killing us.

Overall, I think i've learned a lot more about P's rhythm in life. Although he's a go-getter when it comes to his work, he's really more a savourer when it comes to life. He inspired calm in me the whole time. It was quite wonderful and now I feel really centered, calm, undramatic. As we parted he said "see you soon" and I thought "it's okay, i'll see you when I see you (and I love you)". I know I shouldn't be projecting into the future too much, but now I really believe that if a long distance relationship is in the cards for us, we'll get through it.

I will put up pictures as soon as I can. I took my camera, so it takes a bit of time to get the film developed. He liked NY, which I'm happy about, considering I've been in love with that city ever since I can remember -- though I think now I'm more of a Brooklyn kind of gal. Oh to renovate a beautiful brownstone.. oh to dream..