I am getting good at navigating subways. I have walked a ton, joined a gym, opened a back account (WaMu - makes me feel close to Seattle), frequented a morning coffee place around the corner (Ciao for Now), and met up with pals. I also spend time reading TimeOut magazine and circling all to the things I want to do. It's overwhelming. I am determined to make the most of this week, prior to starting work, to do all of those touristy, cultural things the locals are too busy (or too over-stimulated) to do. The literary events alone! Heavenly. Last night, I walked down to SoHo and went to a reading at Poet's House : Sharon Olds in conversation with Maxine Kumin. Free event, low key, folding chairs in the library. Galway Kinnell was in the (small) audience. These three poets are some of my favorites, some of the early discoveries in my own poetry timeline. Maxine was best friends with Anne Sexton (my "first" poet, discovered her work when I was 18 and it changed my life). She told a sweet story: In the late 1950s you could add a second phone line to your house for not much money. She and Anne did that so they could talk all day w/o holding up the main line. They work-shopped each others poems pretty intensely. Most days, they just kept the line connected and set the phone down and went about their work-- when one wanted to reach the other, they'd just pick up the phone and whistle into it.
Today, I am heading to Brooklyn to meet up with Claire and Quill -- we are going to go to Coney Island. Other things to do this week: walk over the Brooklyn Bridge, go to Ellis Island, take tour of Lower East Side (and Tenement Museum), see "New York Rises" exhibit at Museum of the City of New York, make my regular pilgrimage to St. John the Divine's Poet's Corner. And more, and more.
To all my Seattle friends: I love you and miss you. I wish I could be in 2 places at once. But I feel good and strong and excited for this change and I am carrying you close to me. Thank you for all of you support as I took this leap. Big love, Erin.
3 comments:
Dear Erin:
Thank you so much for these terrific postings! We miss you so much here in the Pacific Northwest but are grateful that you are happy back east. I can't wait to see you in January (3-5). Love Lisa
ERIN! So glad to hear from you and read your lovely posts and see your pics.
CONGRATS on the job! Man, its like the universe designed this move for you, complete with perfect apt, job and vacation. Real happy for you.
Kelly's hubby is very handsome and they both looked gorgeous dancing. Please send her a hello and congrats from me.
I'm real jealous of your poetry experience - I had the same Anne Sexton eye-opening experience when I was 18.
I want to come visit this year for sure!
xoxo
Sweet Erin! You have hit the ground running so seamlessly--I am super impressed. When I moved here I think I spent the first month trying to upgrade my wardrobe with no money, and get free discarded furniture off the street... LAME, in other words! I CANNOT wait to hang out with you. Do you know about Mud cafe? It's a 'lil slice o'Seattle in your neighborhood (on E 9th Street) between 2nd and 3rd. xoxox, Kathleen
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