Heartspots #1: New York City

Along with my "stories behind the photos" idea, I also came up with "Heartspots"

You'll notice, it's like Hotspots, but all of the places I plan on writing about a near and dear to my heart.

Hence, Heartspots.

(You know what you signed up for when you clicked on my blog. Cheese, Laughs and Love.)

From time to time, I'll post thoughts and reflections on some of my favorite places.

Again, I have been so lucky in life when it comes to travel. I've had the opportunity to really use my passport, go on adventures, see a small portion of the world. I've been 'at home' on 3 continents, I've made friends around the world. And thanks to Facebook, I've been able to keep them.

There are some places I've been that I literally never need to go to again. Once was enough (Prague). There are other places where I would love to set up shop and never leave again.

So, with that, I bring you Heartspots #1: NYC

Unless you know nothing about me (thanks for reading by the way), no one should be surprised that NYC was the first place I'd give a shoutout to.

It is literally my favorite place in the world. Whenever I breath in the city air (the good scents and the bad) I feel so completely alive.

No other place I've ever been to gives me that freedom and feeling.

I was 18 years old when I first made my way to the Big Apple. It was in July of 2001. I had big dreams of one day visiting New York, but had no plans of ever making it across the country. If you knew me as a child, you'd understand. I was the kid who stuck close to home. I was quiet, not very bold and a bit of a momma's girl. I liked home. I liked where I was at.

Frankly, I didn't know any better.

It wasn't until my Auntie told me about a UMW Social Justice conference for young women in the city that was not only an amazing opportunity, but free.

I applied and got accepted and I was on my way a few weeks later.

I spent a few days alone in the city before my conference started. My parents and I sometimes laugh at how they put me on a plane to a city I had never been to and had no friends in, with no cellphone, and just sort of trusted the Universe would take care of me.

I still remember calling them from a payphone to let them know I made it safety (and that I had just run smack dab into Tom Selleck*** Good story alert---why you may ask is meeting TS so much more then random? For answers: read on at the end of this post.)

I roamed that city on my own. I had never really been independent. I never had to be. I learned how to use the subway (I only got yelled at once) I bought my own Broadway tickets (now a struggling B'way addict) I saw everything my little girl eyes had dreamed of. I even crossed paths my then idol, Katie Couric. It was my own version of 'When Michelle met Manhattan'

I give my semester in Ireland a lot of credit for giving me the travel bug and making me see how small the world can be, but this trip to NYC made me feel like an adult for the first time. It gave me this quiet confidence that I could, and would, be okay as I prepared to leave home for college. It gave me a satisfaction, calmed a lot of fear I had at entering this new stage in my life. I look back at this trip and think, well, number 1. What the hell were my parents thinking?

(I know, I know, pre-September 2001 was a different world.)

And number 2. Thank you parents for letting me go.

There are a few moments in my life that I would consider adding a BC to.

There is BC WSU, BC 9/11, BC Ireland

And of course, there is BC NYC.

It's funny, I've been to NYC many, many times since then and it is still this place that I idolize and crave.

I guess you could say, NYC is my crack.

I've had friends ask me why I haven't just made the move. I don't think I could. I need a place that reminds me life is meant to be lived. A place that I can run to.

And plus, I live off of an educator's salary. And a severe fear of not being able to pay my bills.

Besides, too much crack is never a good thing. But just a dose here and there-----Perfection.

(Note: I have never tried Crack, nor do I use or condone the use of illegal drugs.)

***So, the fact that I met Tom Selleck is actually quite funny. All of my life, my mother had told my brother and I we had different fathers (crazy sense of humor that Mom of ours) For my brother, it was Harrison Ford. For me, Tom Selleck.

I should have just gone up to him and been like...."Hi Daddy!"

That would have been a fun game.