In A New York Minute

It was only a few days ago that I visited New York City for the first time.

Believe me, if funds allowed I’d be far more well-travelled at my age than I am. As it is I don’t go far from home very often. We vacation in the same New England state that we live in. My honeymoon to Bermuda was 25+ years ago, and we made the obligatory trip to Disney in Florida, as well as being lucky enough to take a cruise to Mexico and visit the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas. With little travel experience to my credit, I look forward to any opportunity to go someplace, even if just for a short while.

So when the chance to visit New York City came up, I jumped at it. Short as it would be, I’d have the adventure, see for myself the sights, the people and the iconic places we all know. Anyone who can, and never has, really needs to go into New York City for a few hours. If only once.

Things in “the city” are bigger, bolder, faster and more expensive. The lights are always on. People are everywhere, rushing here and there, speaking languages from all over the world. Music blares and horns blast. There are sirens, lots of sirens, yet nobody reacts or seems to notice.

More than this, there’s an energy to this place that, novice traveler though I am, I don’t think exists in too many other spots on this Earth. The air is charged with excitement… as if anything at all is possible. You need to bring your A game, your very best. To succeed there you’d better be at the absolute top of your game, ready for anything, smart and savvy.

Owning that town must be an amazing feeling.

NYC has its own brand, one that everyone recognizes at once. It continues to be the measure by which many things are judged. Like that Frank Sinatra song says, “If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere.” Whoever wrote those lyrics really knew “the city.” Not much has changed in the years since.

As for me, I can’t wait to go back, to see more of the sights. Experience more. Luckily I have a highly capable tour guide in my middle child, the little girl who used to cry at daycare, now is brash enough to walk those streets like she owns them and exchange a few tart words with a no-nonsense New Yorker who could have squashed her like a bug.

Now that I’m home I’m also reminded of that old saying about travel. It’s then only experience where you come home richer than when you went. I’m looking at Boston, and my own little part of New England, with different eyes.

New York City eyes.