Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and StatenFrom the Battery to the top of Manhattan
Asian, Middle-Eastern and Latin
Black, White, New York you make it happen
I wonder how long 'til people say - Oh Cari? She's from Denver. I hope it takes some time, I like the idea of being a New Yorker (although I'm well aware of being a poser, even in that).
Being a New Yorker means you get away with fast talking, rushing through things, saying what you really mean, jumping to conclusions, and occasionally just being bitchy. Oh Cari? She's a New Yorker. (By way of forgiveness and explanation.) Being a New Yorker means you've lived, at some point in the (increasingly distant) past, a fabulous and high-falutin' life. It means you know some things, have seen some things. Occasionally it means you say "I've got a guy" and some people believe, just a little bit, that you can put a hit on that jerk at work, if you really wanted to. Being a New Yorker means that you've made it - the details are not important, just the zip code.
I relinquished my New York zip code this week. Finally pulled the plug and sold my sweet little jewel-box of a Hell's Kitchen apartment. I do so hope you'll continue to be loved, #N2K. I still say you would've made a great boy band with that name.
Being a Hell's Kitchen girl was maybe even a tad
more delicious than being a generic New Yorker. Love when people ask where my apartment is, for cross-streets even, when they know the city well enough to nod and smile and mention a nearby restaurant or the Intrepid or the Red Cross building. Or, if they are New Yorkers who've been away too long, to put them at ease and assure them that it's long-ago well gentrified enough to not be the Hell's Kitchen that they remember.
Leaving San Francisco was a whole different thing. Life was upside down and a fresh start was on the horizon. New York was brash and bold and loud enough to distract me from the fallout of my parents' death. Amy & I would only compare New York to San Francisco for a few months, until we realized our former home was so solidly outdone by our new one that we shifted our focus to falling in love with restaurants, whole city blocks, and green markets in our 'hood. We were, however, on the constant look-out for people who'd been transplanted like us. There's still nothing like finding a West Coaster in the midst of the 9 million for forming fast friendships.
Which is why I'll never be a true New Yorker. While I love the pace and the noise and even the grit (as long as the grit doesn't smell like pee...) - the people that I loved the most while there were all West Coast transplants. We were all posing, and all falling in love with New York as only a transplant can. We were all just enough of a notch behind New York's bitchy, fast paced, go go go speed to see each other, to recognize each other, and to use our precious little extra time to balance the city out. Just a bit. Just enough.Am definitely sad this week about selling my tiny slice of the Big Apple. That 471 square feet gave me license to at least try to be as brash and bold as New York is. I never lived up to Broadway's bright lights or to Fashion Week's high heels but I did fall and fall hard for my little piece of her.
This breakup is going to be tough to get over... the Beasties, as usual, will help me get through it:
Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten
From the Battery to the top of Manhattan
Asian, Middle-Eastern and Latin
Black, White, New York you make it happen
Brownstones, water towers, trees, skyscrapers
Writers, prize fighters and Wall Street traders
We come together on the subway cars
Diversity unified, whoever you are
We're doing fine on the One and Nine line
On the L we're doin' swell
On the number Ten bus we fight and fuss
'Cause we're thorough in the boroughs and that's a must
I remember when the Duece was all porno flicks
Running home after school to play PIX * 1
At lunch I'd go to Blimpies down on Montague Street
And hit the Fulton Street Mall for the sneakers on my feet
Dear New York I hope you're doing well
I know a lot's happen and you've been through hell
So, we give thanks for providing a home
Through your gates at Ellis Island we passed in droves
Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten
From the Battery to the top of Manhattan
Asian, Middle-Eastern and Latin
Black, White, New York you make it happen
The L.I.E. the B.Q.E
Hippies at the band shell with the L.S.D.
Get my BVD's from VIM
You know I'm reppin' Manhattan the best I can
Stopped off at Bleeker Bob's got thrown out
Sneakin' in at 4:00 am after going out
You didn't rob me in the park at Dianna Ross
But everybody started looting when the light went off
From the South South Bronx on out to Queens Bridge
From Hollis Queens right down to Bay Ridge
From Castle Hill to the Lower East Side
From 1010 WINS to Live At Five
Dear New York this is a love letter
To you and how you brought us together
We can't say enough about all you do
'Cause in the city were ourselves and electric too
Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten
From the Battery to the top of Manhattan
Asian, Middle-Eastern and Latin
Black, White, New York you make it happen
Shout out the South Bronx where my mom hails from
Right next to High Bridge across from Harlem
To the Grand Concourse where my mom and dad met
Before they moved on down to the Upper West
I see you're still strong after all that's gone on
Life long we dedicate this song
Just a little something to show some respect
To the city that blends and mends and tests
Since 911 we're still livin'
And lovin' life we've been given
Ain't nothing gonna take that away from us
Were lookin' pretty and gritty 'cause in the city we trust
Dear New York I know a lot has changed
2 towers down but you're still in the game
Home to many rejecting know one
Accepting peoples of all places, wherever they're from
Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten
From the Battery to the top of Manhattan
Asian, Middle-Eastern and Latin
Black, White, New York you make it happen
