As hard as it may be to believe, my days in NY did qualify for making it to “Gypsy’s Bang” (please see my caveats in the first blog entry, in January): they were neither the typical touristy days, nor the typical “Sex-&-The-City” glam days. And overall it was an eye-opening, spirit enduring experience at multiple levels.
In terms of the city, a entirely different New York was revealed to me: so different from the New York I had experienced in my previous visits where I had been pampered as a daughter or as a girlfriend, in one way or another. If Inwood was already something unlike my known NYC, it was just a sample. I not only discovered neighborhoods unknown even for many New Yorkers, but also the almost unbearable underground world (aka, the subway). Do not get me wrong; I was an avid commuter in Toronto’s subway, and I have used it in any city I have been visiting or living –as long as I am not mortgaging my life in pro of adventure or convenience: from Buenos Aires, to Madrid and Athens. But, I have never seen the sadness and grayness I experienced in my long and frequent rides, at all times of the day, in all possible directions within this island, and into and out of it!
In terms of life, I also discovered a number of new, unexpected facts – perplexing and painful, though in hindsight probably positive for me. But, I will leave this for another opportunity…. Maybe a totally different blog, or later on, on this one! Please do not even think that this is to keep you hooked. It is just that I need to earn that ‘hindsight’ and be ready to share with you.
However, on the flipside, I discovered many things about myself too, and most importantly I realized in flesh and spirit who are those who stand by me and love me unconditionally.
“Solutions gotta find a way
Yes I know, nothing ever dies
Everything that’s true will survive
It’s just changing form, day to day
Everything was true it’s bound to see.”
[From the song “Everything” by Radio Citizen feat. Bajka]
3 comments:
Sometimes the most painful lessons are the ones which teach us the most. I'm more than willing to wait as long as it takes for you to write about it. In the meantime I think the most interesting and rewarding journeys are the ones that take us to our inner self.
I had just answered your comment in the previous post when I decided to re-read this one... OK, so I call on Walt Whitman to come to my defense:
'Do I contradict myself? Very well, then I contradict myself, I am large, I contain multitudes.'
:) :) :)
Thrilled to see 'multitudes' following me! Even more thrilled to know that they are educated, thought-provoking and challenging. I hope that the'multitudes' in this caravan continue challenging and commenting on this gypsy's experiences and insights. Thank you!!
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