The Night I Finally Fell For Brooklyn

I was impatient. I was worried this moment would never come. I wondered if I had made a mistake, if I would be miserable for eight long weeks. (Though... I do realize how overdramatic I tend to be.) But tonight was the night I was waiting for! On this lovely Friday night in Brooklyn, I managed to feel at home. I fell in love with eleven or twelve people, at least. I had a movie moment. I smiled for hours and my cheeks began to hurt as a result. I let loose.

However, let me take you back two days, to Wednesday. I was having dinner with my new employer-turned-friend #2 (the father) ... (I'll call him "D" to represent his first-name initial, as well as the obvious - Dad) and the two little darlings. (I stole "darlings" from their mother's blog, where she refers to them as Darling 1 and Darling 2.) The Misses was bearing through her first trip away from home (though she was never very far) and wouldn't be joining us for pizza at joint around the corner. "D" and I caught up on small talk while the girls shoveled pasta down their mouths. (The way these girls eat, you'd think they were starved for weeks.)

"So the girls were great today.... yadda yadda yadda..."

"Thanks a lot for helping out so much while (The Misses) is away... yadda yadda yadda..."

"Oh no worries! They make work seem like a walk in the park... yadda yadda yadda..."

"Megan! Megan! Watch me slurp the worm!"

"Hey, would you be interested in going to Feist's concert tonight in Prospect Park? I think I could get you on the guest list."

Wait... Go back... Are you kidding me?! "YES! I would love that!"

But as small talk continues, my doubts begin to calm my nerves, as I realize the offer sounds too good to be true. For those of you that have never heard of Feist (i.e. Grandma, Mom, etc.) - to be on this woman's guest list would be like being on Carly Simon's guest list. Not that they sound alike, but the influence on underground/alternative listeners is comparable. This woman is amazing! So, as you can imagine, I didn't want to hold my breath. Nevertheless, "D" makes a quick phone call, spells out my name, and then tells me it's all taken care of. I dropped the jaw again and said, "Wow, thanks!"

...Perhaps I even let a small squeal sneak out...

Once we got back to the house, I grabbed my bike, said my good-nights to "D" and the girls, and flew like the wind towards Prospect Park. I arrived early and stood in line at "Will-Call". I decided it would be best to choose my words wisely once getting to the front. I practiced a very humble, sweet way to ask for my freebie, for my once-in-a-lifetime guest pass. Once I reached the front where volunteers sat behind fold-out tables, I was well rehearsed.

"Hi, um... I think I might maybe be on the Arts and Crafts guest list...? It would be under McLeod... um, strange spelling... M-C-L-E-O-D... Sounds like Mc-LEE-OD."

I watched nervously as she thumbed through a shoebox full of envelopes, which I assumed were all filled with tickets.

"Um, sorry... I actually shouldn't have a ticket... um, I think my name would have been added to the list within an hour... um, the guest list?"

"Who's guest list?"

"Arts and Crafts...?"

"Who is Arts and Crafts?"

"Oh, sorry, it's Feist's record label. I was told to ask for the label list."

"Well there isn't a list for Arts and Crafts, and there isn't even a list for Feist. I'm sorry, you'll have to call your connections. NEXT!"

Now, I could go on and on, telling you about how pathetic I looked over the next 45 minutes as I stood near these fold-out tables, waiting for a phone call from "D", but I'm sure you can imagine. After nearly an hour of hoping so hard that I nearly drenched my cell phone with sweat from the palms of my hands, I decided it was time to give up. "D" meant well... As did his connections... In fact, I'll be receiving a gift-package from the Arts and Crafts record label, including all recent CD releases, because the lady behind the curtain felt so bad for her mix-up. (Too many middle-men.) No problem. I simply went on about my previous plans. I took a friend's advice to attend a BYOB-type function called "Lecture Series". Good times were had and I met nice people.

But man... I was THIS close to having my first great night in New York! I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

HOWEVER! I joined an old friend from San Antonio tonight at a free event (also in Prospect Park). The super-hip, super-sexy, experimental, electronica band, Brazilian Girls put on an excellent show. But that's not what made my heart grow fond of my new home. It was actually everything that happened as I sat on my blanket, in the grass, sipping on cold beer, before the show began.

I made small-talk with a small group of early-30-something fun-lovers sitting behind me, but as I waited for the old friend from home to show, I grew weary and wondered if I might be sitting on that blanket alone all night. I had time to finish a full beer before the first opening band went on, and went up for another. A tall bearded man, passing out wristbands in exchange for a one-time ID check, gave me a warm smile. For a moment, I felt visible, which in NYC, is nice, no matter who it is that notices you. I went back to my blanket with the fresh beer in hand and made myself comfortable with a book. I was hoping to kill time, but the sun was beginning to disappear and I had to put the book away after a few pages. My eyes looked around at the people filling the park. Suddenly, eye-contact! The man with the wristbands was looking right at me. I kept up with the eye-contact, as I thought he must be looking at something just over my shoulder. I was impressed with his ability to maintain distant eye-contact, with a complete stranger, for as long as it went on. (Seemed to be a long time!) I quickly reopened my book and hid behind its pages. But he knew I couldn't be reading... and I knew he knew I couldn't be reading... and I knew he knew I was just being... shy? Yep. Me - shy? I guess that's the effect this city has had on me so far. Anyway, I put the book down and looked up again. He was busy slapping wristbands on consumers and the moment was gone. I suppose I was relieved... but flattered, nonetheless. A handsome stranger noticed little 'ol me and I couldn't help but smile to myself as a result.

As I watched children run around the grass, waving glow-sticks and squirting each other with water bottles, I decided to send The Misses a text message. I invited them out to the show. I was actually missing their company, despite the fact that the girls are my "job" and the folks, my employers. But I don't relate these people with work. So, they said they'd come and I got excited. I stretched out my blanket to make room for more and watched the crowd for familiar faces. The old friend showed up, and shortly after, my nanny-family popped out of the crowd and we all settled in for the second opener. Little Darling entertained the group of fun-lovers behind me while Big Darling and I ate red beans and rice. The Misses, "D", my old friend from home, and I shot the proverbial shit with beers to chase the work-week away.

This alone, was perfect. I was happy with my surroundings, with a social situation outside of the nanny-home (albeit only slightly outside the nanny-home...) and I felt elated to be there.

The nanny-family only stayed a short while due to Little Darling's restlessness, and the old friend had to run home, but I joined the folks behind me for a game of Apples to Apples (best card game for large groups - highly recommended). Then, another stranger, like myself, joined the group, and another, and another. At the end of the game, we had twelve people - some strangers, some friends - who all came together to share gut-wrenching laughter before turning attention to the main attraction.

The show was coming to an end and I was getting tired. I packed up my things, shook several hands, and said my goodbyes. It was time for bed! But I was happy...

As I headed straight to the front of a long line (a very long line) for the port-a-potties, just to reach my bike on the other side, I decided to "pull a funny". Instead of passing the young man at the front of the line and continuing on to the fence where my bike was locked up, I stopped and turned my back to him. I stood there, hiding the insistent smile on my face, for what seemed like too long (15 seconds). Then, he politely tapped my shoulder and asked, "Um, are you serious?" I turned around, released a laugh, and said, "No." I then went on to my bike and began to deactivate it's highly effective security system (1 U-Lock: $38 and 1 long chain: $14).

This is where I got my movie moment...

Sort of...

"Um, excuse me?"

I looked up to find the young man I played the joke on was standing there with his hands in his pockets. He had obviously just lost his place at the front of the line and I thought, 'Uh oh... I must've really ticked him off!'

"That was really cute. I like your sense of humor, and I just thought I'd come and let you know..."

Awwwwwwwwww!!!!!!

He walked away in a rush.

I thought I'd be anonymous and invisible in this city for quite some time, but I somehow got noticed twice in one night by two fairly handsome, young men, as well as getting noticed by those eleven amazing people who played Apples to Apples! Now - I realize it may be taboo to actually admit how much you enjoy being noticed - or maybe not, on second thought - but it felt damn good. Maybe it sounds silly, but I needed that. I needed good old fashioned social interaction of the warm-hearted and personal kind.

On the short bike ride home, I felt like I was flying.