my island
Except New York.
I'm not emotionally ready to leave the City. I don't know if I ever will be. I still get choked up and teary when I think about it.
I'm ready to live someplace different. But I'm not ready to leave. It doesn't make much sense, but the two feelings coexist.
New York City is an island. It's an island literally, and now more than ever, it's an island metaphorically. During the Bush years, we New Yorkers have bonded even more closely in our outsider identity. Where we might have fooled ourselves into feeling more mainstream in the 90's, now we harbor no illusions. We are misfit Americans and proudly so.
I know my politics and world view are more mainstream in Canada, and that will be a relief, and a comfort. But also, in some crazy way, it will be a loss.
I'm not emotionally ready to leave the City. I don't know if I ever will be. I still get choked up and teary when I think about it.
I'm ready to live someplace different. But I'm not ready to leave. It doesn't make much sense, but the two feelings coexist.
New York City is an island. It's an island literally, and now more than ever, it's an island metaphorically. During the Bush years, we New Yorkers have bonded even more closely in our outsider identity. Where we might have fooled ourselves into feeling more mainstream in the 90's, now we harbor no illusions. We are misfit Americans and proudly so.
I know my politics and world view are more mainstream in Canada, and that will be a relief, and a comfort. But also, in some crazy way, it will be a loss.
I live in Toronto, and am writing this as the snow falls outside my window (how stereotypically Canadian, I know!). I wish you all the best as you move to my country. I just have one, extremely ironic note: there is nothing that I want to do more than move to New York City. I love that place.
ReplyDeleteAll the best...
I live in Toronto, and am writing this as the snow falls outside my window (how stereotypically Canadian, I know!). I wish you all the best as you move to my country. I just have one, extremely ironic note: there is nothing that I want to do more than move to New York City. I love that place.
ReplyDeleteAll the best...
Thank you so much for your good wishes. When we were there last week, it was snowing as our plane touched down. The first snow of the season - we thought it was very fitting.
ReplyDeleteNew York City is an incredible and unique place. Uniquely good, uniquely bad - altogether amazing. Once it gets under your skin, you are never the same.
If you visit NYC before we leave, I'll volunteer to play tour guide. I'm totally serious.
Thank you so much for your good wishes. When we were there last week, it was snowing as our plane touched down. The first snow of the season - we thought it was very fitting.
ReplyDeleteNew York City is an incredible and unique place. Uniquely good, uniquely bad - altogether amazing. Once it gets under your skin, you are never the same.
If you visit NYC before we leave, I'll volunteer to play tour guide. I'm totally serious.
Do you live in a 3-bedroom townhouse with tons of room and a fireplace near a GO station (preferably on the Red line)?
ReplyDeleteMaybe we can switch apartments!
Do you live in a 3-bedroom townhouse with tons of room and a fireplace near a GO station (preferably on the Red line)?
ReplyDeleteMaybe we can switch apartments!
Now that's a good idea! Beautiful, spacious two-bedroom, lovely tree-lined street, close to 2 subway lines, and... (drumroll...) rent stabilized!!
ReplyDeleteNow that's a good idea! Beautiful, spacious two-bedroom, lovely tree-lined street, close to 2 subway lines, and... (drumroll...) rent stabilized!!
ReplyDeleteWell. hopefully your immigration papers will be approved before Bush seals the border and declares Canada part of the Axis of Evil. It seems that the tool of the RNC..er..I mean fair and balanced Fox News has all but declared war on Canada lately. Six weeks to eight weeks from now our Refugee board will decide on the fate of two american army deserters from Iraq. Frankly, I think they'll probably be deported. Not because we want to deport them (they have majority support), but I don't think that our laws would classify them as refugees. The board won't have any choice but to send them back.
ReplyDeleteBut, if their lawyers do find some loophole and they can stay, I'm sure John Gibson will have a whole special on why we should be invaded/sanctioned/etc, and we might even be the feature of a whole Ann Coulter book.
--Kyle
Well. hopefully your immigration papers will be approved before Bush seals the border and declares Canada part of the Axis of Evil. It seems that the tool of the RNC..er..I mean fair and balanced Fox News has all but declared war on Canada lately. Six weeks to eight weeks from now our Refugee board will decide on the fate of two american army deserters from Iraq. Frankly, I think they'll probably be deported. Not because we want to deport them (they have majority support), but I don't think that our laws would classify them as refugees. The board won't have any choice but to send them back.
ReplyDeleteBut, if their lawyers do find some loophole and they can stay, I'm sure John Gibson will have a whole special on why we should be invaded/sanctioned/etc, and we might even be the feature of a whole Ann Coulter book.
--Kyle
Hey Kyle!
ReplyDeleteI'd think the Bush admin would be happy to see people like us leave. If I was a more important activist, maybe the FBI could pull some strings with the CIC to get things moving!
I've heard about those "deserters" (i.e., people with consciences) and that it's highly unlikely they'll get refugee status. Guess we'll have to wait for the draft for that.
Speaking of fair and balanced, I have a good cartoon about Fox News on The Simpsons. Maybe Redsock has the link.
Hey Kyle!
ReplyDeleteI'd think the Bush admin would be happy to see people like us leave. If I was a more important activist, maybe the FBI could pull some strings with the CIC to get things moving!
I've heard about those "deserters" (i.e., people with consciences) and that it's highly unlikely they'll get refugee status. Guess we'll have to wait for the draft for that.
Speaking of fair and balanced, I have a good cartoon about Fox News on The Simpsons. Maybe Redsock has the link.
Well, there may be some hope for your homeland. I mean, I think the hard-right takeover (your comparison of Bush & co. to Karl Marx was apt) might end up destroying the GOP. The zealots seem intent on purging moderate Republicans from their ranks, and they will likely end up causing a fissure in the party. It happened here when the old Progressive Conservative party self-destructed, and in Britain too apparently.
ReplyDelete--Kyle
Well, there may be some hope for your homeland. I mean, I think the hard-right takeover (your comparison of Bush & co. to Karl Marx was apt) might end up destroying the GOP. The zealots seem intent on purging moderate Republicans from their ranks, and they will likely end up causing a fissure in the party. It happened here when the old Progressive Conservative party self-destructed, and in Britain too apparently.
ReplyDelete--Kyle
It's hard to envision, since the right just gets stronger and stronger here. But hey, as my grandmother used to say, from your mouth to god's ear.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to envision, since the right just gets stronger and stronger here. But hey, as my grandmother used to say, from your mouth to god's ear.
ReplyDelete