First month . . . and counting.

This time a month ago we were in the throes of final packing, sweating through our tee shirts and dodging daily Gainesville thunderstorms. 

I’d just been offered – and accepted – the New York City job of my dreams from Barnard College. Larry had made the decision to move at the same time after bidding farewell to his Florida radio listeners for the final time – he was getting daily invitations to meet friends and listeners for coffee, lunch or drinks (no one seemed as concerned I was leaving). Missy was roaming the house, confused as furniture was removed, boxes were accumulating in the living room and her crate was shipped to the next door neighbor’s garage.

It is hard to believe it’s only been a month since we left Gainesville for the biggest adventure of our lives. So what are the six most interesting observations from this first month?

1. First, we can leave the apartment and within four blocks find:

•  Fresh oysters (shucked on the spot at Citarella’s – tonight’s dinner, yes I got 18 - six of each) that included Bluepoint from Long Island, Wellfleet from Massachusetts and Malpeque from Prince Edward Island (the Bluepoint were the best);
•  Chocolate-chocolate chip, and oatmeal raisin cookies from Levain Bakery, one of the best bakeries in the city;
• A farmer’s market where we can find tomatoes, squash, corn and strawberries that were literally picked the day before; six different types of micro-greens; honey and jams from the Berkshires; fresh duck from the Hudson Valley; and sorghum from Schoharie County, NY;
•   The  Beacon Theatre that this fall will host Cyndi Lauper, Steely Dan, Don Henley, John Lennon tribute show, Joe Walsh and Alabama (still debating how many of these we can afford);
• Three (!) wine shops; and
• Corner vegetable/fruit stands where I can snag five bananas for $1 or a red pepper for 50 cents.

2. We had dinner last weekend with Monica and Jon – our only NYC “couple” friends - at ‘Cesca, a great, local Italian restaurant – and we're planning to visit them this fall in Connecticut and get tickets together to see the aforementioned Cyndi Lauper.

3. Earlier this week, I saw a snapshot of today’s America:

On my morning subway ride to Barnard I saw the perfect trifecta of commuters on the 1-train (I wanted to take a photo with my iPhone, but I’m not that brave yet so you’ll have to see it through my eyes). Seated to the left was a mid-30-something man on his iPad, crouched over the tablet with his elbows on his knees, likely scrolling through the schedule of his upcoming day; in the middle, a young Asian woman – eyes closed, earbuds in, probably listening to her favorite playlist on the trip north; and on the right, an older woman, thinly built with attractive short, grey hair, reading the New York Times’ Section A.

4. Interesting shopping at Fairway's: 

• Butter that’s wrapped in four tablespoon segments instead of eight; 
• Fruits packaged in ½ pints;
• Standing in line on a Sunday afternoon waiting to get deli meat while a young, professional man orders seven different prepared foods (poached salmon, pork tenderloin, beef stroganoff, etc.) – likely his meals for the week; and 
• Searching high and low for such items as oven fried chicken coating mix and white wine vinegar; and finding my way through full-contact karate as I try to find a place in the check-out line.

5. Super impressed with my colleagues at Barnard: 

Welcoming, so interested in my thoughts and opinions on how to handle the construction communications, funny and creative, and amazed at our crazy decision to move to NYC at this point in our lives.

6. How absolutely wonderful it is to walk a mere seven minutes to the Hudson River – and take in all the interesting people: 

• The Lesbian and Gay Big Apple Corps playing today on Pier 1; 
• The tiny woman trying to handle a huge German Shepherd who is barking incessantly even though he was muzzled (not a good idea); 
• All the folks – young and old – renting the free kayaks (want to try that at some point);
• All the people who stop to meet Missy and admire how pretty she is; and 
• The woman jogging while pushing a baby stroller with her phone in one hand and a cigarette in the other.

Is it magical? Yes. Does it seem real? Sometime, yes. Sometimes, no. Do we miss our friends? Yes, but we’re focused on making new memories. Are we crazy? Perhaps, but it’s been our dream. Stay tuned.