I <3 NY

I grew up in Carver (said Cava), Massachusetts, but got the hell out as soon as I could. It just wasn’t for me. It had nothing to do with an inability to "pahk the cah in Hahvahd Yahd". It was just hard to take seriously. I mean I grew up next to the Town of Plymouth, land of Ye Ole Pilgrims, a place where tourists actually take photos of a rock! On a side note, if you are ever there DO NOT and I repeat DO NOT be one of those jackass tourists that take a photo of Plymouth Rock. It is a rock with a good PR Team, but alas, it is still a frigging rock. NY on the other hand always called to me. (Imagine if the Statue of Liberty played Rock-Paper-Scissors with Plymouth Rock. Who would win? Ummm Lady Liberty – why you ask? Because she would forgo the game and skip Plymouth Rock across the water to Jersey!)

Ever since I can remember I wanted to be a New Yorker! This wish remained a quiet one as in MA talk of NY was taboo whether you are talking baseball or not. By the way, I am not a baseball fan, but I do find it funny that since I left the state all the pro teams (WTF) except the Boston Bruins (the only team I even cared for) have won their respective championship titles.

Often we are asked that introductory question: “where are you from?” I typically shoot off my sarcastic response of “my mother”. The truth is that this plays a large part. I didn’t have choice were I was born; my mother did all the work in that department. Yes, I am “from” Massachusetts, but in my opinion that matters very little for a person like me who makes a move and put down roots somewhere else.

I get a lot a flack that I am not a native New Yorker. Sometimes I get – you can’t be an advocate for NY or the North Country – you’re not one of us. The way I see it is I have just as much stake – I choose to make NY my home. In a nation of 49 other options, I choose NY!!! For the native New Yorker, I am not challenging you to a fight here. What I am saying is just like you have chosen to stay here, I have chosen to take root here. In fact it’s the only place I have moved to after MA. I didn’t wander like a gypsy going from place to place – I chose NY. I am no carpetbagger.

So excuse me if we should cross paths and you ask “where are you from” and my response is New York! Not born and raised – rather – rooted and staying!