The Foorce

Sometimes there’s so much to say that words will only mess it all up. But you know I’ll give it a go anyway.

I wish I could tell you that there was little heartache involved with our decision to move across the country (my husband certainly would!). Today Adam looked at me from the pullout sofa in our tiny, temporary Brooklyn apartment and said, “how many minutes until we go back to our home?” I paused, and said “well, we’ll be in our home in a few more sleeps, after we get to Texas.” He said,”No, I mean how many minutes until we go in our old home?” I said, very carefully to my most tempestuous child, “We aren’t going back, we’re going to living in Texas now.” He replied, “Until we go back to New York.” “We are not going back to New York.” The words struck me then. My God, we were leaving New York, probably for good, in just a matter of hours.

When we were first moving here, James’s first grade teacher (who shall remain nameless to save her from embarrassment) informed us that NYC schools would eat James alive. Today, on James’s last day as a NYC student, I was struck by how he didn’t seem to be even half-chewed. 

With the exception of James, who was born upstate, my children were born here, and they’re all little New Yorkers through and through. All of them can fall asleep anywhere, through anything – subways and fire trucks clattering by, large crowds in Midtown, amusement park rides and noises at Coney Island. Adam has even famously fallen asleep mid-ride while the other children screamed around him. Margaret and James know how to hail a cab, and the kids all know that everything, whether it be groceries, diapers, toys or laundry service, comes in a box after a few clicks online. Usually within 24 hours. Fruit can be found on most street corners. So can hot dogs, umbrellas, water, Duane Reades and of course, Starbucks (good for both coffee and bathrooms).

And though we’ve only been here for 6 years, I feel very much like a New Yorker too. My husband and I have been fairly transient in our last decade together and before that as well, moving often for jobs or various degrees. Between us, we moved every year or two until we got here, so 6 years seems like an extra long time. Certainly it was long enough for NYC to seep into every part of my being, shape my children’s lives, and enough time to meet incredible people, try incredible foods, places and events, and create traditions that revolve around this wonderful, one-of-a-kind city.

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I will miss those special friends, teachers, places, events, traditions.

Even the subway was a source of entertainment.

And a great place to recharge.

There were highs,

and lows.

But as our family grows (and grows), the space will be nice.

Our little backyard has been useful,

but it’s hard to argue that this one won’t be a step up.

And all of the planning and packing has been hard.

So, New York, I love you and will miss you terribly, but now it’s on to new adventures, people and real live grocery stores.

Most of all, it’s time to be a family again, and who can argue with that?