[imagine, central park, new york city. october 2008]
. . . . . . . . .

11 years ago today, I arrived in NYC. Three apartments, two roommates (including the really bad cross-dresser who left me with an unpaid $700 phone bill…), countless jobs, four cats, two dogs, nine+ years of marriage and one Little New Yorker, 10+ times singing at Lincoln Center, one day of singing for the pope, three dinners at Daniel, many many Magnolia Cupcakes, too many amazing theatre experiences to mention, and i’m still here.  i’ve wanted to live in this city since I was 14 years old, and it has been literally a dream come true.

even now, as i scout for houses and dream of a place near the ocean on both coasts (and a quaint lavender farm in the south of france…), making plans and lists for the future, i wonder if I could ever really leave The City.  possibly i’d just miss it tooooo much.  i want my kids to know this city; this is Emma Magnolia’s hometown, as amazing as that still sounds to me.  i feel so proud to have made it here.  to have gotten here, and made it home.  to get to walk through central park as part of everyday life, and just be here.  i don’t know where i’ll end up, but i know this: i’m still not finished with this town.  i’m still living my small-town-girl-in-the-big-city dream; we’re still making it work and feeling lots of love here.  and i’m so very very grateful for that.

time to celebrate.  Empire Diner, anyone?