Another Rant About Brooklyn.

My trip to New York this past Tuesday has left me wallowing between wanting and needing to be back in Brooklyn. Walking to the venue I realized that all the hustle and bustle of the city is exactly what I want and need right now. The city is so inspiring -- the people, the outfits, the stores, the food, the attitudes. I miss all the constant inspirations. While I do and always will love Ithaca, the always quiet and slow moving atmosphere just is not where I am at my life. I miss the opportunity to walk over a bridge and be in all the movement then walk back over the bridge or take the 2 train back to Brooklyn where I could easily rest, yet still have my creativity jumping around in my head.

I recently read an post on Free People's blog about how home is a feeling that comes to you when are somewhere, but it is not the physical aspect at all. And as soon as I finished reading it, I thought of Brooklyn. This may sound cheesy and, well, it is, but I have never connected myself to any place before. I was born in Utah then raised between Rhode Island and New Jersey and I just think of Ithaca as where I go to school. So moving was always something I just went with, but I chose to live in Brooklyn. I remember the minute I heard of the NYC program I knew I had to live in Brooklyn. I didn't even bother researching places in Manhattan. It was Brooklyn or it was nothing.

And, obviously, it was Brooklyn.

I will never forget the first night I was there. A friend and I aimlessly explored my new neighborhood and ate at a restaurant I would later find out that you shouldn't actually eat there (oops!) And I remember that was the first time I saw the view of Manhattan from the Promenade. All the different buildings and lights hovered over the river, the three bridges sat perfectly still while I tried guessing which ones they were, and the silence of it all. I will never forget this and the feeling it drove inside of me causing me to say, "This is my home!" over and over and over again.

From that night on that feeling slept and awoke with me every day. Even though I was absolutely alone in Brooklyn, I did not care, I had my Brooklyn. I had what I needed and what I wanted and I was learning about it by myself without anyone's help or guidance (however, it sometimes would have been greatly appreciated).

When I think of Brooklyn, I get a huge smile on my face and my heart drops to the ground as if it was a boy I was thinking of. But it is better than a boy, it is a place.

I truly hope everyone feels this way about some place.