Home, Sweet Home

Finally, after finishing up fall semester, I am back home in the city. Whenever I come home after being gone for a long time, I always notice minute details of city life that I never paid much attention to before.

One of the first things I notice is that I am just about the only individual without an enormous camera around my neck who isn't frantically running down the elevator or pushing through a crowd like I'm trying to be the winner of "Survivor: Penn Station".

As these people fly by me, I think A.) if they hit something/someone at that speed, they are going to be seriously injured, and B.) what in the world is so important that they are in such a rush? While I understand that some people have legitimate excuses, most people just run around like chickens without heads for no sound reason. Four years ago, I was one of these speed demons. In fact, I revert into a speed demon all over again if I'm home long enough. But the longer I am away, the more I realize how pointlessly stressful this is. Sometimes- especially now during the holidays- we all just need to remind ourselves to breathe and slow down. Although, I'm not going to lie. I laugh profusely on the inside when people rudely push through 10 others while running down to catch the train only to wait anxiously on the platform for 20 minutes due to train delays...Karma.


Another thing that just boggles my mind is Starbucks. I went in there the other day and ordered my usual- a green tea. I get two reactions when I request this.

Reaction #1: The cashier will look at me like he/she is confused and say, "A green tea latte?" No. "A green shaken iced tea?" No. All I want is a cup of hot water and a green tea bag. "Would you like honey with that? Room for milk? One tea bag or two?" ....When did ordering tea become so difficult, anyway? The cashiers look stunned, like I just verbally assaulted them with a simple order.

Reaction #2: The cashier looks at me with pure relief after I ask for my tea. Almost as if to say, "Thank you, Starbucks heaven, for giving me an order that I can make in less than 5 minutes and doesn't involve froth." Note to all: They'll never mess up your drink order if you keep it real simple.

But seriously, to all of the Type A Starbucks cashiers in the world: I apologize in advance for not being a Double-Chocolate-Chip-Frappuccino-Light-Blended-Cream kinda gal.


Anyway, I digress. Even amidst all of these incredibly random and useless thoughts about hectic city life & the holiday season equating to total craziness, there is something so magical about the holidays in New York City. For one thing, there's nothing better than coming home to your Asian mother prancing around the living room singing "Jingle Bells." It is also the one time during the year when everyone in my ginormous family is together under the same roof. Even the department store windows are beautiful, silently reminding people to step away from the madness and embrace the best of the season and of one another. I sometimes hop on the train and wander aimlessly in this city that I have called home for 21 years- people ice skating with friends and family; excited, starry-eyed tourists in Times Square; husbands picking out engagement rings for Christmas Eve proposals, the smell of cinnamon and pine at every corner. And instantly, I am reminded of why the holidays matter to begin with:

As Grover once said on Sesame Street, "The holidays are a time to be with friends and family. And most of all, to eat peanut butter balls" - Couldn't have put it better myself.


Love Life &
Happy Holidays!,

Melissa