New York State of Mind

I haven't been to New York in a couple of years. The last time I went was in October of 2002 for a friend's wedding. I had just stopped working as a Middle School teacher in East Los Angeles, and was looking for another job when I found super cheap tickets to New York City. I remember, it was a very tough season in my life. I was unemployed, poor, and really discouraged, but being in New York City gave me a nice pause from that reality.

I love the architecture, museums, parks, shopping, and, of course, the people of New York. It's an urban fantasy island of its own kind with all its strange people and strange accents. For me, New York City takes away the preoccupation and myopia of my life in Los Angeles, and it gives me the mental and emotional clarity that I sometimes need. I'm not sure if it's the changing of the seasons, my artsy fartsy side, hormones, or Billy Joel's song that's causing this surge of wanderlust, but I think I'll be booking a flight, so I can be in that in New York State of mind.