Long time, no type

I usually don't make official New Year's resolutions. Despite my penchant for to-do lists, I've always tried to live, love, and laugh with gusto every day - as opposed to being gung-ho for only the first two inspired weeks of each year.

Still, I promised myself that I'd make a few changes in 2010, as I began my last semester of college. I resolved to take more pictures and to write on my blog more often. (Will I ever be 21 in New York again? Nope. Better make sure I remember these moments, then.)

It's February 7th: I have no new photos on my Canon, and this is my first blog post of the new year. Womp, womp, womp.

But maybe - since I don't normally do this whole resolution shpiel - I can amend the rules? I loathe messing up; being late, spilling things, and disappointing people are all on the things-that-make-my-stomach-lurch list, and slacking on my resolutions is no exception. In the interest of avoiding stomach ulcers, and in the hopes of capturing the magic of my last 4 months as a co-ed, I'm calling for a do-over. Did I swing and miss? You bet. But I'm granting myself another metaphorical at-bat.

After all, January was pretty jam-packed with awesomeness. I love all of my classes, and I may actually complete my senior thesis (or, BLT, aka a Big Long Thing) on time and with some panache. I've celebrated good friends' birthdays, and I've gone on some ridiculously tasty food adventures in my neighborhood: Mercadito and Podunk are my current obsessions, albeit their guacamole and scones (respectively) are total opposites. I led the BC's campaign to help the people of Haiti, as if I needed another reminder of how incredible the Jewish community is. I've learned and laughed and loved a lot already.

Now I just have to remember to capture it all, to say cheese and to write witty banter, so that I can remember all of my silly young hi-jinks someday.

I happen to like this town

I went for a walk today...it was lovely.

I laughed at the girls in Ray Bans waiting in line for blocks and blocks just to get into some sample sale; I smiled at the old Latino men scraping ice to make snow cones on street corners. I window-shopped; I had major puppy envy; I picked out at least 10 places where my imaginary boyfriend and I will be going to brunch next weekend. I found a swimming pool, too, an unexpected oasis in the midst of the Lower East Side. And I giggled at the little boys who had tied their towels around their shoulders like superheroes as they ran down the sidewalk in their flip flops and floaties, the cheerful defenders of a beautifully hazy afternoon in the city.

I love summer. I always have. But today I realized that, as with basically all things in life, it's better in New York.

Learn to use a semicolon

I was waiting for some friends outside of a restaurant tonight, people-watching and window-shopping, when this little old couple passed by: an elderly man with thick glasses was pushing a very frail old woman in a wheelchair down the sidewalk. As soon as I saw them, I said a prayer. I do that - I thank G-d for my health, for the weather, for luck and friendship and hindsight and everything in between. I am, as they say in Sister Act II, down with G-O-D (yeah, you know me; watch this if you are so culturally illiterate as to not know what I'm talking about: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wNmlrdCBkE).

So, there I was, smiling sadly at the elderly people as they went by and thanking G-d for my youth and energy and well-being...when the woman in the wheelchair began to hum. She smiled up at her husband, and serenaded him as they continued down the sidewalk together.

I quickly amended my prayer: thank you, G-d, for bringing these two people together and for blessing them with each other. Thank you for music, G-d. Thank you for peace. Thank you for breezy summer nights.

And thank you, G-d, for helping me learn to open my eyes, my mind, and my heart, so that I can know it when my guy comes along. Because, G-d, I've danced for nearly 20 years now, and I am totally going to have arthritic knees - I'm going to need someone to push me in my wheelchair as we go up Second Avenue together someday.

I was searching for a quote today at work and stumbled across this one, also known as my new to-do list:

1. the path is not straight.
2. mistakes need not be fatal.
3. people are more important than achievements or possessions.
4. be gentle with your parents.
5. never stop doing what you care most about.
6. learn to use a semicolon.
7. you will find love."
-Marion Winik

Hot child in the city

This is the third or fourth night this week that I've heard people sing "Happy Birthday" in the garden across the street...they laugh and listen to music, and tonight they popped champagne. They're celebrating and happy and very East Village chic, and it all seems so glorious that it takes lots of willpower to not throw on a sundress (instead of the schlubby sweats that I've been wearing all week as I work on my final papers) and crash their shindig ASAP.

I was absolutely positive that my 21st birthday was going to involve several jazz clubs, dancing, tons of friends, and cocktails galore. I wanted that sacred moment where you flash your totally legitimate photo ID at the bartender with pride.

Now, I'm reconsidering: my close friends and an ice cream cake in the garden seems so lovely. Flowers and laughter in the moonlight is very Midsummer Night's Dream a la 2009, and it seems so much more me than a night of bar-hopping, however traditional that may be.

There'll still be cocktails galore, though. Some things never change.