Today was supposed to be my last day in Manhattan.
Right now I'm supposed to be sitting in seat 18A aboard Northwest Airlines flight 1847, holding a one-way ticket from New York City to Minneapolis. I should be fastening my seatbelt, ignoring the flight attendant giving the air mask speech, and looking out the window at the tarmac, contemplating what I'm going to read during the flight.
This morning, seat 18A is empty.
The truth is that I'm just not done with this city yet. I'm not ready to leave. I've decided to extend the lease on my Manhattan apartment, I'm avidly hunting for a new job, I've started this thing with a great guy, and it feels like New York still has so much in store.
Before I got the e-mail reminder yesterday, I had completely forgotten about the one-way flight back to Minneapolis.
"Wow," I thought, "these are supposed to be my last hours in Manhattan." It immediately made my stomach churn. How could I leave now?
In interesting turns this city is awfully amazing, and then amazingly awful, and then back again.
For right now, all of that is worth it for me.
I'm just not ready to go. Simple as that.
For right now, Manhattan is the place that I want to call home.
--Josh H.
Manhattan is a tough beyootch and once you land here, she doesn't let her chilluns away easy. She'll plunk love when you've given up, a job when you're ready to move to back to Wisconsin and work at the Gap, an apartment when you've given yourself one more week here. And then she'll take it away from time to time.
I'm glad seat 18A is empty. We love you here.
Posted by: Skip Major | August 01, 2006 at 11:43 AM
bite the bullet... you got what it takes !!
Posted by: A.J. | August 01, 2006 at 01:42 PM
Anywhere can feel like the top of the world when you're falling in love. ;-) Stay. And get the other Josh back here.
Posted by: Tony R | August 01, 2006 at 02:08 PM
You'll be right! Remember no regrets!
Posted by: TJ | August 01, 2006 at 05:44 PM
Yeah!!!
I think you'll be glad you did it.
Posted by: chrisnyc | August 01, 2006 at 05:46 PM
So the dynamic duo is going to be split up for a while, huh?
Well, Josh H., good luck on the stay!
Posted by: Hubbard | August 01, 2006 at 05:47 PM
GOOD FOR YOU!
My first 2 or 3 visits to NYC, I hated it. Now, after several more visits, I wish I could live there.
Sounds like it's where your soul wants you to be right now.
Posted by: Gumby | August 01, 2006 at 10:05 PM
DAMMIT!
OK, fine. Stay in Manhattan and be "happy."
Posted by: Will | August 01, 2006 at 11:51 PM
Yay! More time for me to accidentally bump in to you in the Heights! I swear, it's such a small neighborhood, yet I still haven't seen you around. If I didn't know better, I'd think you might be avoiding me.
Posted by: Peter | August 01, 2006 at 11:54 PM
Genius!
Posted by: timothy | August 02, 2006 at 12:51 AM
yeah...whhen is Josh K gonna come back?
rawr!
Posted by: none | August 02, 2006 at 02:27 AM
You've obviously made the right decision for YOU, and that's the most important thing. I think that if you were to leave w/ so much unfinished business, you'd regret it forever. I'm so happy that you've met a new guy and that things are going well for you there in NYC! But I'm sure you miss your Joshy K like crazy!
Posted by: Roy | August 02, 2006 at 10:16 AM
superb. never leave.
Posted by: Dexter | August 02, 2006 at 10:42 AM
Hi. I like you. Glad you're happy with life.
Oh what the heck.. this subdued thing doesn't really work. WOoohoOOOOOO!!!!!
Posted by: Marina Grace | August 02, 2006 at 03:14 PM
it's said if you love something, let it go.
i think that's bullshit.
good decision.
Posted by: brett | August 02, 2006 at 03:50 PM
Link to another evil queen that hates everyone.
http://dinobass.blogspot.com/
Your pic is there.
Good luck with NYC.
Posted by: You need to know | August 02, 2006 at 10:05 PM
Good move. I desperately want to move to NYC - the idea that BOTH of you have/were left/leaving is insane! Reading your blog has only fueled me desire to live there.
x
C
Posted by: Chad | August 06, 2006 at 02:46 PM