Welcome to New York
It’s been three weeks since I moved to New York City. The days have gone by in a blur of unpacking, reunions, subway stations, crowded streets, and sweet goodbyes. And as I take a moment to reflect on it all, of all the emotions that swirl in my heart and head, only one rises to the top: Gratitude.
I am so grateful for where I am. This city is vibrant and wild and overwhelming and wonderful. I pass by people who live lives so different from mine even though we share a street. I’m used to suburbia—when you get home from work, you pull your car into your garage and maybe only see your neighbor once every blue moon. The times you talk to them are even less. Here, you see your neighbors everyday, you greet them at the corner store. I say hello to those I pass by, and they say hello back. It is a wonderful place where people see people, where community and humanity run through the veins of these living blocks.
I am so grateful for my friends here. They have welcomed me with open arms, set up furniture for me, carried (very heavy) suitcases up five flights of stairs in the humid heat, guided me to coffee shops and grocery stores, invited me into their apartments, and so much more. Because of them, I feel like I left one home to simply go to another. They truly are the reason I chose to uproot my life and move all the way across the country—for four years in college they were my family. And now, as we enter into our scary and uncertain mid-twenties, they will be again. And there’s no one else I’d rather take this journey with.
I am so grateful for my family. My mom and dad, who had never been to New York before, getting on a plane with too many suitcases, and believing in me enough to let me spread my wings and try to soar amidst the buffeting and unforgiving winds of this Greatest City in the World. My whole life, they have always done everything possible to help me strive towards my goals, to help me reach for the stars. I know I will never be able to thank them enough, yet I hope they know how much I see their love and sacrifice. I couldn’t do this without them, and I can feel their support even from 2,451 miles away.
I am so grateful to God, who has faithfully paved this way for me. There have been many times over the last two years when I have doubted I would ever get here, where I was unsure what path He wanted me to take in my life. But all along, as I walked step by step, I can see He was slowly yet surely, gently and graciously, leading me here. He has already provided me with so much—including a wonderful friend who has shown me a wonderful church where I can worship and learn and be reminded of God’s goodness, and a job that will allow me to both pay my rent and have time to audition. One month ago I was in Latvia, a place where I feel the Lord’s presence more closely than anywhere else. A place that I know deeply and love dearly. Now, I am here in New York City, where I know much less. And yet, I feel the Lord just as closely, guiding me here as he always has.
Things that Made Me Smile these three Weeks:
Seeing The Lion King with my parents—being able to take my mom and dad to their first Broadway show was such a humbling experience. Watching them experience the magic that theatre is and gives to people was an absolute highlight of them being here.
Seeing Cabaret with Rae–The show of a lifetime. Such a poignant, important, and magnetic piece of theatre that sucks you into a fantastical world of color and excitement before dropping you into the middle of some of humanity's darkest depravities. Also Eddie Redmaine—Wow. There are simply no words.
Seeing Suffs with Rae—Rae, my dear Broadway buddy. Suffs, a powerful story about perseverance, hardship, struggle, and the power of marching on when the whole world tells you to sit down and be quiet. The story of Alice Paul and the Women's Suffrage Movement in America, it was such a humbling reminder of the women who have come before, who we have to thank for all of the freedoms and rights we have today. But also a humbling reminder of how far we have to go, how it is every new generation's duty to pick up the torch, march on, and carry it further than the women before us could ever dream. The time is now—the young are at the gates. Ratify the ERA.
A block party on my street—It was 12:30am. I got off the 1 train after seeing a show downtown. I turned down my street, which was usually sleepy at this time of night, to hear music and laughter and see people milling about. They were talking and smiling and greeted me as I passed. I smiled the whole five flights up to my apartment.
Seeing The Notebook with Rae—Truly an unforgettable, deeply moving, and profoundly beautiful musical. Every person in that theater was crying throughout the entire thing, and it was such a sweet reminder of the power of theatre and music to move us to recognize our deep humanity. What a beautiful moment of empathy I had the honor of participating in.
Seeing Haystack—Joseph Thor does it again. Not only was it incredible to see a show written by one of my dear friends, but getting to watch old classmates perform as well as seeing so many familiar faces at the show was what my heart needed. What a sweet little OCU reunion all the way out in Brooklyn.
Going to the MET Cloisters with Caroline—one of the best things about living in New York is the museums. The Cloisters is one of the most interactive and beautiful museums I’ve ever been to! It felt like walking into a medieval castle, and it was so lovely to marvel at the gardens and art with someone who loves and appreciates them as much as I do.
Girlies night—y’all know who you are. It was soul-fulfilling to have dinner with some old friends again.
