New York, New York

My long-planned return to New York has come and gone and was such a whirlwind it already feels as if it never happened! I can’t believe just earlier this week I was across the Atlantic, back in my room on the Upper West Side, living days of runs in Central Park, shopping in Zabar’s, riding the subway, and Update Graphics. New York will always be a fun place to visit, but my return has reaffirmed that I do not miss a thing about living there. I was already missing Galway on my flight there and was anxious to get back by the end of the week. My short stint in the States made me fully realize how much I’ll miss living in Ireland and how sad I’ll be to leave come December. Well, it’ll force me to wholly appreciate my time left here and not to take a day for granted.

The September weather in New York City was perfect: sunny, humid-free days in the mid-70s. I spent my days catching up with old friends and loading up on green-back goods! Camie flew up from Charlotte on Friday for the weekend and to accompany me to Justyna and Jeremy’s wedding. It never feels like any time has lapsed between us, no matter how many months since we’ve last been together. She’s just one of those friends. Our lives continue to parallel each other, as they have since we first met, just over three years ago. Most recently we were both badly burned by the “men” in our lives, the residue of which we’ll both carry on as valuable lessons learned. This particular one: men lie. And wedding bands slip right off. And men lie.

Moving on to happier topics, it was great seeing my family (including my new baby cousin Bram!), the ol’ Update gang, and all my other NYC chums. It was great being in New York as a visitor as opposed to a resident. Justyna and Jeremy’s wedding was a blast and I was so happy to see the bride having such a good time after all the months of stress she put herself through over the day. Hers marks the first of my peers’ weddings so it was a bit of a milestone for me. In true New York fashion, they had both a priest (for the bride) and a rabbi (for the groom) to ordain the agnostic couple’s vows before their 200 closest friends and family. I found myself teary eyed in spite of myself. And despite all my recent talk about being content if the marriage path is not what’s in store for me, I realized that I still want it to be more than I want to want it.

After the chilly evening ceremony, we headed to the poolside bar to get properly lubed up before the reception. It went something like champagne, red wine, champagne, white wine, sugary colorful shots, and more sugary colorful shots. But that was over the course of the entire evening, not just the cocktail hour. So no need for twelve steps just yet. After we were good and buzzing, we all moved indoors for the dinner/dancing bit. The authentic Long Island DJ introduced the wedding party and the dancing kicked off before the salads were served. “Doesn’t dancing usually follow dinner?” I inquired of the jiving bride, to which my response was, “Dancing all the time!” Welcome to The Island!

Between trips to the photo booth and the dance floor, I don’t think I was seated long enough to consumer a proper meal, but managed to get plenty of liquids in. When we were among the last to leave (not before one of the Canadian cousin who was receiving medical treatment amidst a swarm of concerned, admiring parties by the front door) the last thing I remember before reaching my aunt’s was asking for a plastic bag. It remained unsullied, I am happy to report.

All in all it was a great wedding and I am confident the couple will make each other very happy. Just make sure he keeps that ring on. Only kidding, that’s the jadedness talking. But in all seriousness, Jeremy’s a great catch. For a guy. Kidding again.

Although I could not have asked for a better trip, I will conclude this entry with a list of things I do not miss about living in New York City:
1. New Yorkers
2. Being cursed out first thing in the morning on my jog through the park
3. Rat-sized dogs in designer sweaters carried in LV purses to restaurants, Sephora, and my Forever21 changing room (without any apologies of course)
4. Honk-happy taxi drivers
5. Talent-free pubs (aka “toolsheds”)
6. Metrosexual (or just gay?) men
7. The countless number of pretentious, self-important assholes walking down the street talking on their hands-free Bluetooth/headsets. Yup, they still just look like crazies talking to themselves.
8. Blackberries
9. Slimy Carribbean and/or Latino men
10. The alarmingly high percentage of underweight, well-dressed, generally gorgeous women traipsing the streets all over Manhattan
11. The City’s constant, ubiquitous pressure to consume
12. Being a New York City renter and all the hoops and bullshit, not to mention expense, the landlords and management companies put you through. All to live in a dilapidating shoebox.
13. Hasidic Jews. They just creep me out.
14. The winters
15. The absurd overpricing of EVERYTHING

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