new york

New York. For the first time in my life. And he said he could see me living there. He said I was perfect.

We didn't see the Statue of Liberty or Times Square or even China Town. But we did see Central Park before and after snow, East Village, and a whole lot of the Upper East side of Manhattan. We rode the subway (I even did it alone once), rode the tram to Roosevelt Island, went to the Met, and found our very own cafe for coffee, cheesecake, and pizza. And lots of hot chocolate.

The first day it was just cold. We walked through Central Park and stopped at a restaurant. We drank hot chocolate in glasses with straws in leather chairs in front of a fire. And as we walked back out into the park, it started snowing. And snowing and snowing.

I've never been so cold in all my life. Even with long johns and double socks. It was a blizzard I guess, but I liked that most people were inside due to the weather, so you have more of the town to yourself. I went coat and glove shopping before we left, thank god. I bought a bright orange coat (there's not much coat selection in New Orleans), fuschia leather gloves and terribly long scarf, and got to wear the adorable hat I picked up at Christmas. I thought I was prepared for snow because of the little flurry we had on Christmas Day (what a miracle), but this was real snow. The streets and sidewalks were covered with it. We were covered with it. The snow in my hair melted and refroze. His beard was covered with frozen drops. How lovely. I made snow balls and threw them. And stomped knee high into snow banks. It was so lovely.

Our hotel room was tiny (cozy) and high so you could see the city out of the two windows. It's so beautiful at night. I always like cities better at night. Just blurry lights and shapes in the sky. New York is huge though, you can see it everywhere you look. The people were unexpectedly charming. I mean really nice. Not at all like they show on television. We were in our cafe holding hands and being silly. I had noticed the couple at the next table look at us, and on their way
out the woman stopped and came back to our table. "Excuse me, but I have to ask if you are married, my husband and I have a bet." No, we're not. Her husband won.

"See, I told you people don't act in love like that after they're married." She was disappointed. She really wanted us to be both married and in love. She still thought it was possible. I think I still do too. I think it may just be a matter of making sure you marry the right person and making sure you hold them close.