Dear New York,

We've had a love/hate relationship over the past 3 years haven't we? When I first got here, you were so exciting and new...but you were overwhelming and too new and I just wanted "normal" sometimes. And NYC you are anything but normal.
I went to school and did the "single" (kinda, not really, but I pretend) thing and then Dan-o and I got married. But I hated my job, which I mostly took out on you. Because well, you tend to collect a large number of people, which means a large number of truly amazing people but also a large number of absolute crazies. And they drove me crazy personally, every single day. It made me cry a lot, and made Dan wonder who in the world he'd married.

Then I got a new job and felt like I was a normal person again. I didn't hate you so much because you didn't thrust your smelly armpits in my face every single day when I visited unhappy families. And I got used to the running around and having to spend too much time doing errands that should only take a little bit of time. The running around kept me a little healthier and made me more efficient in my errand running (and forced me to buy less!). It was a blessing really.
But now, we talk about leaving you. Someday in the future that's closing in fast and taking forever all at the same time. And I try to imagine myself in the suburbs that I've yearned for, the car, the grocery stores with aisles big enough for two carts let alone one, the malls full of stores in one convenient location full of air conditioning, washer and dryer in my apartment, a dishwasher, CLOSETS!!

And I hate it sometimes. It seems so ordinary after being here.
I haven't taken advantage of you enough. You offer so much, too much really. But that's what makes you amazing. That's why everyone wants to be here, because you pack us all in and love us in each of our own special ways because you have something for everyone. You take us all and you force us to fall in love with you and how special you make us feel.

So I love you and I hate you. I love you for loving me and giving me an amazing experience, but I hate you for loving me and spoiling me for any other city.

It's all so dull without you and too bright with you.

loves/hate,

Maddie