An Unwind at Day’s End

I was excited for this. My first  Sex in the City type blog post. A drink in hand, in this case a mimosa made with orange and pineapple juice and a classic movie…in this case The Avengers I was ready to pen or in this case type the things I learned today. Ask the questions I sketched down. Vent the things needed. So as promised, here it is.

I’m always amazed at how quickly I’m adjusting to grown up life in the big city. But there are certain things that always give me pause. The garbage cities that litter underpasses and dot the landscape in a great trail of human tragedy, the impoverished that daily question me for the remnants of my lunch or pocket change, the age of this city and the long since faded legacy and shadow that loom over the landscape of this place I now call home. I’m amazed by city life.

On the other hand, I am struck by the beauty of some aspects. Old buildings, tasteful murals, the upbeat lively nature of a city anxious to grow and step out of its shadow. I am enamored with this city. With the life I’m building here and plan to continue to build here. The tourism board should really pick this up.

But in embracing the city, I realize that it has further encouraged my misanthropy. Now, there are plenty of good reasons to keep to yourself. There are terrible people out there that would easily take advantage of a chatty young lady. Sly con men that can make a girl do just about anything. So I stay quiet. I answer almost no one’s random questions, refuse nearly any flyer and walk at a steady pace. On my bus ride to and from work I build a wall between myself and the world between my shoulder bag and my mp3 player. I drown out the noise of the day, the would be rapper in the back. The noisy child with the inattentive parent. The young lady yelling at her boyfriend du jour. The old man who fell asleep as soon as he sat down. I build a wall against all of it The constant chatter of the day encourages the already massive introvert that I am.

I’m learning the city. I’m finding her ways interesting. Learning quickly how to adapt them to my own. I’m still learning. I have a lot of growing still to do. And I don’t think there are things I’ll ever outgrow. Habits, traits, patterns. But I’ll make it. I’m excited to see how I grow in this city and how I’ll change this city, and I will one day.

So until the next post, stay well. 🙂