laguardia prose

12-16-11: Day 134 in NYC

I hate to leave The Big Apple this time of year--all dressed up in its holiday best. The city's Christmas spirit is apparent on the faces of its newest tourists sauntering past me in the terminal--trailing suitcases like leashed Terriers. No one carries their luggage these days.

Anxiously awaiting my RDU-bound airplane, I'm sipping a WorldBean coffee from Durham, NC. My destination's java precedes me. My mood is chill. I'm very excited to be bound for the Old North State, but it's a somber feeling to think about not seeing my City Year teammates for over two weeks. I'm so glad (and thankful and blessed) to be on a team, where halfway through the year, I'm actually going to miss the people that I spend so much time with in a given week.

I regret not doing more Christmasy things here like window shopping on 5th Avenue. I missed the Macy's parade and I won't get to see the ball drop at New Years either. I hate to miss these festivities, but there's no place like home for the holidays and I wouldn't want to be anywhere but NC this time of year. If I die in Raleigh, at least I will die free!

easy like sunday morning

So I realize I haven't been the most diligent blogger since starting this account over two years ago. Because I often seek the profound in life, I usually hesitate to publish anything that isn't. But profound thoughts can easily come across pretension and I wouldn't want that, so I'm going to try to start thinking less and writing more.

Since moving to New York in August, I've been journaling as often as possible. This post is from an entry I wrote several Sundays ago...

12-4-11: Day 122 in NYC

I love Sunday mornings in NY. Actually I love Sunday mornings anywhere, but especially in NY. Monday through Friday are just too busy to really be enjoyed and when it comes to weekends, I think Sunday is superior because Saturday is often filled with rushing people fulfilling duties neglected during the previous workweek. Plus, Saturdays, for me, usually come with the temptation to sleep until noon, lounge in my pajamas with Cap'n Crunch in hand, and otherwise waste an entire day.

Santa flannel with roomies Esteban, Kunal, and Jake.

This Sunday morning I find myself in my usual spot: Starbucks at 78th and Lexington. The spirit of Christmas is in the air. I'm sipping on a Christmas Blend drip coffee and wearing a red flannel shirt that looks like something Santa Claus might sleep in. I can see him as he lazily rolls out of bed, late in the afternoon of the 25th, to the smell of gingerbread and sausage that Mrs. Claus is merrily preparing in the kitchen. His body aches from a night of work like no one else could know, but he loves his job.

There's a Christmas tree stand by my apartment that opens my nostrils and makes me smile each time I pass. On the way to the train this morning I stopped by and shot the breeze with Alex--one of the guys that runs the stand. He's a young bearded fellow that looks like he works on a Christmas tree farm. He encouraged me to try organic farming after my time in NY is done. Maybe I will.

Rockacenter with Jessica, Denise, Esteban, Dixie, and Tania

The Christmas tree stand is right next to this little taqueria with two-dollar tacos. That block is an olfactory paradise. The taco stand's exotic smells perforate the brisk air with scents of cayenne pepper and cilantro while freshly-made corn tortillas sizzle on a propane-powered skillet. I always make it a point to walk up 3rd Avenue on that side of the street.

So now Sunday morning has faded into Sunday afternoon and I'm reminded of all the things I need to do before another long week. This was a nice respite, though. Hopefully I can be productive today and find some time to enjoy it. I guess that's what I strive for everyday, really--to do something meaningful, but never at the expense of enjoying life.