So, I've just come from a writing salon & workshop in NYC and CT with author/mentor Jennifer Lauck. More on the workshop soon...after I've time to process the experience, but the salon was the first night, and it was in New York City and I know I should be cool and love it, but I just don't. Not one bit. Stepping out of the train station, the noise alone was enough to knock me over(wonder where Riley gets it)?
I had several hours to kill between train and writing salon and I lugged my heavy bags around and couldn't find anywhere to go to the bathroom! I went to a little cafe and sat eating my $10.00 salad, crammed elbow to elbow with a woman at the next table. Public bathrooms were almost impossible to score. I found a library and even there I had to wrestle a key off the librarian in the children's section and I couldn't set my bags down on the floor of their squalid john. Its smell could put a port-a-potty to shame.
I went for a walk and watched the city children play in their filthy little cages posing as playgrounds. Dirt, dirt, dirty. No room to run. No air to breathe.
I met up with writer Jenny Rough and we went for a short stroll in Central Park. It was nice, but nice as in....my back yard is nice. Just as nice as this. And it's mine. All mine! People, pigeons, all of yous'...get away from me! Ack!
No, I don't love NY but...the guy behind the counter at the crowded cafe..so sweet. The woman I clunked elbows with eating my salad....so helpful. The family who offered up their lovely apartment to host the salon, unbelieveably gracious! Shelly who organized...so talented, helpful and kind. The published authors who gave their time to talk to us fledglings, so candid and witty and honest and unpretentious. The new writers I met were delightful!
No offense New Yorkers, I may not like your city...
but I heart you.
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10 comments:
Such raw honesty. I wonder how many people have thought that same thing but they say they love the city anyway, because the song says it should be so. It was so great to meet you this weekend. Looking forward to keep up with your blog.
Michelle, I know I'm not a New Yorker, but I heart you too!
New York can be rough and togh for sure. But your experience with such awesome people sounds wonderful! I hope you enjoyed your time away..and hope to hear some of your writing, soon.
I heart Michelle O'Neil AND the horse she rode in on!
Michelle - glad that at least the workshop and interaction with your friends made for a good weekend. I think I'd probably love to visit New York, but like you, would never be tempted to move there! I'd miss the green, the fresh air and the pace of the Pacific NW!
If you don't like our city, how can you say you like us? Our city is us.
With you on this, Michelle. Loved my adventure to NY last week. Couldn't stand the thought of living in that concrete jungle.
So glad to hear things went well. Can't wait to hear more.
What's the line? "It's a great place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there." Same goes for me....
Actually, I believe that it's a great place to live (having done so myself for 32 years), but a hard place to visit. When you live there, you have your cozy home base to relax in, and can venture out into the action at your leisure. When you visit, you are in a cramped impersonal hotel room, feeling the constant pressure to go out and do everything while you're in town.
Peace is wherever your home is
-e-,
Point taken! I am sure you are right.
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