I’m in New York – Brooklyn and Manhattan – for what is ostensibly a MFA related art-world trip.

But really, I’m here for the friends.  Staying with Dan and Ellie, friends from LA, now NYC.  Both are artists, in different ways, and I’m so glad they’ve been willing to host me, because times with them are always some of the best. 

Next week, I’m staying with another friend, Marsha, and I’m looking forward to that too.

Also, I can’t wait to see all the other friends who are still based here in this fine city, and spend some time wearing down the tread on my shoes, and being thankful I brought my warm coat, because it’s damn cold out there.

Still, I’d probably rather be here in New York than anywhere, as it continues to amaze me, and I love it vastly, for some reason that I can’t determine.  I hope that coming back to live here is in my future.

As layered and crazy and dirty and loud and chaotic and vulnerable and intense as it is in New York, it all works.  People, subways, buses, cars, kittens, rats, bicycles, and everything else just functions and moves and keeps waking up everyday and repeating.  There’s something nice about it all.

And the fact that the sun is shining even when it’s 38 degrees outside, gives me a cause to smile, even though it makes my lips chapped.