Signs of Spring
In New York City, which stands proudly in its gray, angular, and hard surfaces, there are a number of little bursts of spring that surprise me every time I come across them. Driving through Manhattan on my way to my grandson, I took the time to appreciate the seasonal decorations on 5th Avenue. There isn’t a ton of space for live flowers, though every planter box, spaces around sidewalk trees, and nook and cranny is stuffed with them, and I appreciate the hell out that.
This store front on 5th Avenue just delighted me. I love how 5th Avenue dresses up for any occasion – it is just so fancy. It feels like a fine lady, in the good ol’ days, who would put on hose and heels, white gloves, red lipstick, and a hat to stroll down 5th Avenue, window shopping, admiring the latest fashions, window dressings and bejeweled displays.
Is this how I want to be? Dressed up and fancy every time I head to NYC? Yes and no. Often when I’m headed to Manhattan, I’m going in as gramma. On those happy days, I’m usually wearing jammies and stretchy non-stainable clothing. The other day when I got home, I had some apple chicken baby food, some cinnamon pear oatmeal and a few teething crackers that my sweet boy takes a bite of, gets all slobbery, takes out of his mouth to examine, and then re-eats it, wiping his little hands on whatever is near, all over my shirt. It is absolutely perfect.
One of the things I’m enjoying the most about my time here, is my ability to shape my own identity. No one here knows who I used to be, how much I weighed, what color my hair used to be. No one knows that I used to hate Christmas, that I once broke my knee in a car accident, and that I’m allergic to chocolate. And the most exciting thing? No one cares, either. It is an anonymous place to live – a place where you can completely vanish, and show up, picture perfect, when and how you want to.
It is equally rainy and sunny this spring – I love it so much. Daffodils, lilacs, tulips and croci are blooming everywhere. Pink trees line the streets of New Jersey, punctuated by the gorgeous white and magenta trees. This weekend, I’m going to revisit the Tulip Festival. Hard to believe it has been a year since I last visited that event. Looking forward to a weekend of flowers.
