recap

I've decided that New York at night is my favorite time of anything. For some reason the streets belong to me then, in Oxford or in Jackson morning was my time, early before anyone was awake when I felt the whole world belonged to me and anything was possible. But in New York it's the nights that I can call mine. The crowds are gone, the vendors are closed and the subways seem lonely and alien, but the building are lit and every now and then you catch glimpses of stars mirroring the street lamps that line the sidewalks. And the buzz and the heat of midday in the city has settled to a quiet cool and hum that defines the night and the people who walk it. And this is my favorite.

So in case any of you have just been aching to know or are even curious as to what the weekend consisted of, here is the quick and somewhat concise plot line. Saturday in the park: Only Mississippians, a state full of characters whose first line out of their mouth after an introduction is "And now who are your people?" could successfully architect a get together of everyone that originated from the hospitality state for a picnic in Central Park that consists of food, music, friends, and sweet tea. I saw so many people I'd hoped to run into S, N, and E to name a few and ran into some more that I didn't know were up here K, and T. Spent the day lazily laying on a picnic blanket with M, and her friends, and then S after M left. Observing the fact that only Mississippians would want to linger at the party even after the tents had been folded, stored, and the sweet tea gone. But lying on that blanket hearing y'all, yes ma'am, and Hotty Toddy surround me how could I have wanted to leave? But leave I did, gently strolling through the park with S as we discussed everything from boys to Broadway and cutting the conversation short I boarded the train to meet up with K, etc. for dinner and hanging out time.

Then Sunday and reading in Union square and church and dinner with M. A lazy day full of wind and music and pages read hurriedly rushing to find out the ending only wishing I hadn't so I'd still be in the middle.

Then today with a much-needed and desired lie in, I started my day correctly until getting a bit confused as to how to get to my cafeteria, but a few repeated streets and one Duane Read map later I found the building, the food, the view, and the other NYU diners sitting singly in the middle floor of Kimmel. After enjoying a cafeteria meal that tasted unlike a cafeteria meal I again boarded the subway only this time heading towards the Met, only to discover it was closed on Mondays. But no fear, if New York is nothing else, it's beautiful and there's a plethora of places to explore. Today's chosen spot was Central Park and after (creepy I know!) watching the babies with their nannies, the skaters and bikers, the tourists and athletes, I headed back to midtown to pick up M for dinner and the show. We ate dinner at Brazil, Brazil amidst the colors and sounds of New York sifting through our supper window as a street fair carried on outside and headed towards Broadway for a little bit of musical genius performed in American Idiot in the guise of John Gallagher Jr. (yes I said John Gallagher Jr., if you know who is, you're doing a double take I know). The musical was in so many words, epic. To take a bunch of rock songs that seem to apply more to pubescent teens and correspond them to issues and ideals that are universal is genius. To see a musical, a play, written about our generation, a generation dealing with hypocrisy, rage, love, life, duty, and freedom and see it take songs that I, we, grew up to and use them to correspond with all of these themes and more is encouraging. To know that maybe, even a little, we are understood, is more rewarding than any money that play may cash in on. And from the standing ovation that it received I feel that other people may agree with me. My only hope is that others will see it and enjoy it and understand it, and that one day I may be able to write something that inspiring, and that meaningful, and have people see it and understand.

So to all those lovelies still wishing on stars and building lights, good luck and good night.

-Mandy