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<\/p>\nWhen I was 11 years old, my parents put me on the Amtrak train by myself (at least this is how I remember it?) and sent me off for a weekend in New York, to stay with my aunt Regina (my dad’s sister). Regina was an actress and I admired her tremendously. Idolized her, more like it. It is so so strange for me to think now that Regina was only 22 years old during that weekend. She seemed SO grown-up to me! I think of myself at 22 and am just amazed … I stayed with Regina in her small dark cute Greenwich Village apartment, and she took me on a whirlwind tour. We went to the Metropolitan Museum, we went to the oldest house in New York (one of the photos of me is taken in front of that house) – and, big finish, Regina took me to see Annie<\/i> on Broadway, a musical which had filled me with a burning passion that took YEARS to go out … Sarah Jessica Parker was playing “Annie”, so weird to imagine, and she was absolutely wonderful. The whole thing was wonderful. It actually was kind of painful because up there – on that Broadway stage – were GIRLS MY AGE. Why were they THERE and I was up in a box seat?? I loved Annie<\/i> but it really awakened something in me – something that I would now call ambition.<\/p>\n
But I have very fond memories of Regina taking me around New York. It was a hot weekend, and Regina still laughs about how all the crazy people seemed drawn specifically to me (David would not be surprised … that is STILL going on) … Every single drunk lunatic in a 12-mile radius honed in on me, talked to me, and one filthy rambling lunatic even showed me his penis. Just walked right up to me and whipped it out. I was 11 years old, douchebag. Regina was constantly dragging me away from whatever crazy homeless person was trying to have a deep conversation with her 11 year old niece. “Okay, let’s go THIS way now …”<\/p>\n
My initial impression of New York was one of glamour and excitement … and also that there were crazy people EVERYWHERE.<\/p>\n
My outfit here makes me laugh. I remember we were all, in my 6th grade class, very into those sweat-band things you wear around your wrist. I HOPE I had the presence of mind to take it off for the Broadway show, at least!!<\/p>\n
Regina was 22 years old, and I look back on it and think she did a really great job showing me around, and taking care of me. It’s a great memory for me.<\/p>\n
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When I was 11 years old, my parents put me on the Amtrak train by myself (at least this is how I remember it?) and sent me off for a weekend in New York, to stay with my aunt Regina … Continue reading