New York City

A city of survival by solidarity

I’m not from New York, however, the state of New York was only a short drive from my Canadian hometown.

When I was 10, I dreamed of New York. My dance school did a Broadway rendition of its namesake by Frank Sinatra. From that moment I was smitten.

Several years later I lost my car in a multi-level parkade in a Buffalo, NY shopping center. It took me three hours to find it through the kindness of strangers who helped me.

In my 20’s I dreamed of moving to New York, just a nice little brownstone across from Central Park. Why not? I would eat ice cream and hot dogs from street vendors and jog around this urban retreat every day! One can always dream.

When I was 30, I cried at the 9/11 memorial. I felt an absolute overwhelming emotion for the devastating loss. The sheer greatness and magnitude of the fountains will forever be etched in my love for New York.

The city coped by standing in solidarity. Never wavering.

Fast forward 19 years and COVID-19 brings the world to its knees. New York tops the United States death toll.

Left to its own devices, the city is now holding steady keeping Coronavirus numbers down.

Sadly I may not be visiting my coveted New York anytime soon. It is, however, the citizens of this iconic city, like the rest of the world, who are handling yet another devastation with grace, solidarity, and strength.

I truly do love New York.