7.17.2006


So, this last weekend I went to New York City for the first time in my life. It is by far the biggest, craziest, most incredible place I've ever been. I've grown up in beautiful places on the west coast... but they have been small and 'environmentally beautiful,' so to speak. NYC is beautiful in an entirely different way. The amount of diversity and culture that you can cross as soon as you walk out the door is fascinating. Every culture in the world must be represented there, and in mass numbers. From business men to artists, labor workers to crazy ass bag ladies screaming to no one about everyone, musicians, tourists.... absolutely incredible.

I was dually impressed and troubled by the ability of the people there to live in such close proximity with each other, while not divulging their own personal world. It was fascinating to ride the subway and watch a sharply dressed young professional sit next to a dirty musician (like me) and not even blink an eye. People are so intertwined and yet so disassociated with each other... pretty crazy.



Despite the fact that I was a small town Wyoming boy walking the streets much like Crocodile Dundee, I felt like I was one of them... one of the city people. I liked it so much that I'm even entertaining the idea of moving there.

The thing that troubled me about NYC is the fact that a person could live there, among millions of people, and still be alone. You would think that being so close to so many other humans would only multiply the amount of interaction, but I found it to be the opposite. It's ironic and sad that when people want be alone, all they really have to do is go where everyone else is. Of course, I'm making generalizations... I know there are plenty of people in NYC that reach out to others; who are outgoing and fearless when it comes to interpersonal communications. But still, a person could go years before ever running into one.

Enough negativity tho. All in all, I have never been more intrigued than I was this last weekend. Truly an incredible place.

Ike