Romanticising America
Lusting after New York
“Here we are Marv. New York City, the land of opportunity.”
Harry, Home Alone 2.
Last December, my husband threw a huge surprise on me and announced that he was whisking me away to New York for three days.
New York has long been on my bucket list, especially during the month of December, where it becomes a Christmas haven. Trees draped in decorations, festive music playing and chestnuts roasting on every street corner. The legendary Rockettes live on Broadway, Christmas parades, and ice skaters gliding effortlessly through Central Park.
I was filled with excitement, nerves and anxiety at leaving behind the kids. (We both agreed that it was a long and busy trip for three young children, and now we have been? I’m not sure that they would have enjoyed it as much as us. We plan to return with them when they are teens.)
You can read my practical guide to visiting New York here, which includes our jam packed itinerary (and we still didn’t even come close to seeing everything).
But what is it about America, and in particular New York, that drew me to its streets?
I came to the conclusion the other day, that I in fact romanticised New York greatly. Not that it didn’t live up to my expectations, because it certainly did. More that, now we are home and I plug into my beloved Friends episodes on Netflix, I forget the smell of weed hanging out on every street. I forget the scary taxi ride where he took all our money. I forget the constant queuing and busyness. The shouting and the noise. I forget the commercialised 9/11 site that is a cemetery people walk over.
And as the leaves outside turn from green to fiery red, I find myself daydreaming about New York. Living a life like Kathleen Kelly, Monica Geller or Carrie Bradshaw. All fictitious characters and yet we searched the streets for their homes.
New York felt familiar. Like we had been there before. We recognised street names and navigated part of the way around Central Park, looking for the famous bridge and band stand. We saw Radio City and I was reminded of Annie going to “the movies”. It felt homely whilst being a million miles away from what our home actually looks and feels like.
Taken from the Staten Island Ferry - its free to ride.
This is how I envisage much of America.
My brother is currently on a short road trip from Nashville to Atlanta. I can picture the food he is eating, the sound of people’s accents and types of houses they are passing. His photos will prove me right, but his stories may tell a different story. I still remember the disappointment when he told me the Hollywood sign was underwhelming, when he stayed in LA back in 2013.
I have never been, New York being my only experience of the Americas, and yet I feel like I know it.
But probably don’t.
I don’t see the crime, the homelessness and the massive divide between rich and poor. I don’t know what it is like to work there or take my children to school. It is all sandy beaches, beautiful people, enormous trees, snow drifts at Christmas and long straight roads going nowhere.
Just like New York will always be the city of dreams, not overpriced bottles of water. (I’ll never forget the look Steve gave me as I handed over five dollars for a small bottle of water at Central Station.)
And yet it feels like my comfort blanket. When I am tired and my brain is overworked, as soon as the kids are in bed I put on Friends. The other week when I wasn’t well, I worked from the sofa with You’ve Got Mail on in the background. When I was in labour with my third child, I lay on the sofa at three in the morning and watched Sex and the City movie. We have to watch Home Alone every Christmas. (Kids and husband love the slapstick comedy while I love the sight of America at Christmas time.)
And so there you go. I have romanticised a country I have never properly explored and hope that one day I will get to see as much of it as possible with my family. I hope the stories we will tell from our adventure will meet expectations but even if they don’t, I have a film collection to nestle back into.
Couldn't have written this better myself. I haven't been to America but I have been "obsessed" since I was a teen! I used to get brochures and work my way through each state. At 1 point, in my dreams, I was going to take time out and visit each state and write a book. Obviously life took over and I'm not in a financial position to do so. I watched Thelma & Louise and wanted to go on a road trip! Home Alone/Home Alone 2 - perfect Christmas viewing and how I visualise Christmas in America. The negatives never come into play when dreaming!
I totally understand your thoughts with this one Beth. And I have similar thoughts as I too romanticise America, particularly New York after watching the same shows all my life! I went to New York in 2014 and I did love it, it was fab, but as you've pointed out there is a darker side. My dad actually went a few weeks ago and he said he couldn't believe how expensive everything had become and how you could smell weed on every corner. I've been to LA too and I would agree that the Hollywood sign is underwhelming, as is Hollywood itself in my opinion. America looks fantastic on the screen but I'm not sure it always hits the mark when you visit. That being said, there are still places I want to visit over there for sure!