I Love New York

Well, dear reader, this self-proclaimed farm girl finally made it to the Big Apple after fifty-three years. I must be honest, I did not believe I would like anything about the city. It's too big, too crowded, too noisy, and too filled with danger for my liking, says the girl who has watched every episode of every season of Law and Order. I fully anticipated being mugged, dragged into a dark alley, and some big, burly criminal with tattoos and a thick New York accent to demand my wallet or he would cut me like fish. I am pleased to share that none of that happened—quite the opposite. I have discovered that I LOVE New York City. I enjoyed every aspect of it, from the people to the food to the architecture to the history to the pulsing vibe of excitement that runs through it. I loved it all. 

What most impressed me was the people. I have heard from a variety of sources that New Yorkers are rude. I did not find this to be true at all. A young man on the subway saw my deer-in-the-headlights look at not being able to find a seat, and he graciously asked me if I would like to take his spot on the handrail. I thought that was extraordinarily considerate. People on the street said "excuse me" and "pardon me" when they needed to pass or bumped into you. People held doors, said please and thank you, and were generally gracious. If you need help with directions, people are gracious and will help if asked, or even volunteer advice. When misinformation is given, or mistakes are made, New Yorkers are happy to share their knowledge, not in a condescending or snarky way, just in a there's a lot of cool stuff to see in this great big place, and you should know the real deal kind of way. I was impressed. Not one interaction with anyone from New York was negative. 

Also, the sheer size of everything there is impressive, and you can find anything you can imagine in NYC. We went into the Steinway store to gaze at the beautifully crafted pianos, and the man at the front desk kindly told us to enjoy ourselves. I'm sure he knew there was no way we were in the market for a $500,000 piano, but he graciously allowed us to bask in their beauty and craftsmanship. Oh, and the Macy's store! Six floors of department store heaven. The Bean and I could have spent serious time in Macy's just looking at the beautiful displays. Also, we found the storefront of one of our fragrance suppliers, bought some new samples, introduced ourselves, handed out a few stickers, and now can put a name and face to the family that owns the store. I like knowing who I am supporting when I buy ingredients for our soaps. I'm happy to know that Angela and her grandmother are supplying us with the best quality fragrances on the market. They offer over 300,000 fragrances! It's a perfumer's paradise. Everything in New York City is big. 

The highlights of my trip were visiting the New York Public Library and seeing THE authentic Winnie-the-Pooh stuffed animals on display. I am such an emotional boob, I actually cried when I saw them. Winnie-the-Pooh has been my favorite since childhood. To see the original character that inspired it all was surreal. The A.A. Milne book is filled with some of my favorite quotes. To this day, the last line of The House at Pooh Corner, "...where a little boy and his bear will always be playing," moves me to tears.  

I was able to check off an item from my bucket list. Dear reader, we went to The Strand Bookstore! It was everything I thought it would be and more. I could have roamed the aisles for hours. However, the absolute best was going to the third-floor rare books room. I so wish I could bottle the smell of that room and turn it into a soap. It was the perfect blend of antique paper, the finest leather worn to supple softness by respectful and adoring hands, and ink that one knows is no longer used in mainstream printing. I looked at The Bean and Jenna and told them that in my piece of heaven, there would be a room just like this. Everything about it was divine. Sigh. 

Also, when we emerged from the subway into Bryant Park, we walked right into an authentic New York farmers' market! It was a beautiful market. We shopped the booths, made a few purchases, and supported small businesses. I was happy to purchase a drawing of Central Park from a street vendor. I don't like touristy junk, but an original piece of artwork depicting the city is a purchase worth making and a nice way to remember a wonderful experience.  

To end our day in the city, Jenna, Jordan, and I went to see Stranger Things: The First Shadow. Again, it was not a show on my list of things to see, but my favorite human bean loves all things Stranger Things and when one cares for someone, one makes concessions for their happiness out of kindness and consideration. I was very pleasantly surprised. The special effects alone were worth seeing. However, the play itself was very well written, answered many questions related to the Netflix show, and could also stand alone if one had never seen the series. The show was fast-paced, immersive, and funny. I was shocked at how funny it was, especially the character of young Joyce. It was a three-hour show that, admittedly, I was dreading, but the play was so well done that time flew. If you have a chance to see it, I highly recommend it.  

Lastly, after our show, we caught a train to New Jersey. Although the gentleman on the train obviously was saving seats for a bit of peace and quiet, he graciously (I know I've used this word a lot, but it applies) offered us a seat so we could sit together when no one else would make accommodations. Not only did he offer us seats beside each other, but he and his friend also made small talk with us throughout the forty-minute trip. We discovered he is an actor in the Broadway show Chicago, and his friend works on the crew doing lighting. The smile of sheer joy on Jordan's face when she discovered she was sitting next to an actor from her favorite musical was priceless. This man's trip home was not what he anticipated. I'm sure the last thing he wanted to do was sit and chat with a woman and her daughter from a small town in Pennsylvania, but he happily shared his life experiences with us, answered our questions, and feigned interest in our soap business. He did not experience the peaceful ride home he anticipated, but he was gracious (again with the word) and showed great character by engaging with two strangers enamored with all things NYC.   

I feel as though this trip to the city was dipping my toe into all the city has to offer. I think with some conscientious planning and strategy, a lot could be fit into a day or weekend. Time and effort are required to really plan one's day and see as much as possible without running oneself ragged. I greatly look forward to planning future trips and exploring new things in NYC. My gateway trip to the Big Apple was more than I ever anticipated. I am as shocked as anyone who knows me to think I could see myself living in the city for six months, not much longer. I would miss the stars, the open space, and my beloved farm. It's a nice daydream to have, though. Now, I am not afraid to plan a trip to New York to shop for fragrances, take a perfumer's class, or wander the city in search of unique, cool bookstores. I never would have believed it, dear reader, but I love New York.  

On this lovely spring day, stay safe, be smart, keep an open mind, you never know what you'll discover. Make the effort to do things with the people you care about, even if it's not your thing; it's good for character building and shows maturity. Be gracious; it leaves a positive lasting impression. Stay flexible; even if things don't go your way, being resilient is the sign of a good human being. Oh, and keep washing your hands; the city is filled with germs.