Honest Thoughts

"Don't let my matter-of-factness fool you...it all sucks, no matter how you handle it. Pretty much every day I want to simultaneously throw something, cry, run up to him and beg him to date me again, hit him in the face, cry some more, pray, drink, smoke, cry, beg, and then maybe pray some more if it's a good day. BUT, the more honest you are, both about your emotions and the Truth you know to be valid, the better off you are."

-Dear Friend on the Hill

*Dear friend on the Hill gave me permission to quote her earlier today. I smile at her blunt honesty and vulnerability.

Meet My Crew Monday: Meet Birthday Girl Erin!

ERIN An occasional swimmer who resides at the pool. Always decked out in a bright speedo one piece, she frequents the high dive but is also no stranger to the kiddie pool. Erin, like Anne, hasn't decided what toy she would like to play with. Would she rather a navy blue kick board or a hot pink noodle? She's still deciding, which is ok. Thankfully the guy that gives out the intertubes and kick boards is patient. Have I mentioned Erin's splash? This girl makes a splash where ever she goes providing just the cool spritz her fellow swimmers may need. I see her returning from the nurses station with band aid on her knee (under water handstand contest accident) and a snow cone in her hand, right now. I think she'll head to the diving board next!

Happy Birthday Erin!!!

It's just a piece of my heart

Bryant Park is a beautiful, totally Manhattan, next door neighbor to the New York Public Library, young professional, bustling park. Hows that for a run on sentence.

Southwest Airlines is an airline loaded with spunk and genuine interest in their customer. Plus they just started flying into New York's La Guardia Airport. Yeehaw!

Combine these 2 things at the Southwest Corner of Bryant Park and you have the Southwest Porch!

Thanks for telling me Jamie! Can't wait to try it out.

Meet My Crew Monday: Meet Melanie

MELANIE An avid swimmer and life guard for more than two years. Melanie is often found in an earthy toned two piece with a Corona in her hand. She found her way to the pool at an early age and won awards for Best Pike Off the Diving Board as well as the Partners Washing Machine Relay.  After a Breast Stroke related wrist injury she decided to try her hand at life guarding. For 9 months she co-life guarded with a strapping young Mountain Brook man and was later romanced into taking the plunge with him. What a splash!

It's a love hate relationship, really.

With New York City, that is. 

But Today.

Today I remembered why I'm in love with this city.

Crispy blue sky. 

A morning walk to church. 

The fragrance of summer breeze. 

Overpriced iced coffee from a very New Yorky bagel place.  

Chatter of a neighborhood basketball game. 

Large sunglasses.

Still feeling a tingle of sunburn from yesterday's trip to the beach.

Avenues of brownstones still sleeping. 

A long phone call-less walk up Broadway to meet an old friend for brunch. 

Mimosas.

A tinge of nostalgia. 

Lingering dirt paths sewn through Riverside Park. 

Perfect for strolling and gazing up the Hudson.

I realize even with my overly romantic and wordy depiction of this city on a day like today, I do no justice to the spark in the air.

And I say all this not in a boastful, unaware, I-live-in-New-York-City, kind of a way. 

No. Don't take it like that. If only I could tell you in person that-

It's easy to forget why in the world I'm here. What I'm doing. What kind of crazy purpose I'm serving. It's easy to get beat up by the aggression and bluntness of this city. The hustle. The bustle. The intensity.

But it's days like this that help me remember. I do love it here. After all, I guess the Lord must be in New York City.

Thank goodness. 

*Harry Nilsson, I guess the Lord must be in New York City. This is the soundtrack of my city. Thanks mom.