Williamsburg

The girls and I ventured off to the park yesterday. We had plans to meet with their best friends, two little Korean sisters. JJ Byrne Park is only a few short blocks away, so when the girls asked if they could bring their bikes along, it seemed reasonable to say yes. I'd seen their parents allow this, as long as the girls walked the bicycles, instead of riding them. Once inside the safe perimeters of the park, the girls would be allowed to ride. Perfect logic.

Before their mother left for work, she suggested I take the stroller. The youngest was recovering from a small fever from the day before and it made sense to have a stroller on hand in case of fatigue. I also packed a large bag full of snacks, water bottles, and towels. (The park comes equipped with an incredible sprinkler device made just for kids.)

Now with two bicycles, one large bag, one purse, one stroller, and two hands to hold, I was ready to go! (For those of you with children and/or nanny experience, you can already see what a terrible mistake I've just made... And now that the girls are tickled pink with the promise of their beloved bicycle-cargo, I worry that a change of plans might cause our first falling-out. The first falling-out with a child is always the hardest...)

While attempting to disguise the hesitation in my voice, I said, "How about leaving the bikes behind today? You'll be too busy playing with your friends to ride bikes."

Good grief! You'd like to think I just announced the end of the world! So, that was that. Going without bikes would be out of the question, as was leaving the stroller behind. However, I managed to get by at the end of the day, and I couldn't help but burn with pride. My innovative techniques were a success! I used one shoulder to drape the front wheel of the smaller bike and the handle bars of the stroller sufficiently hung the bags. One hand steered the stroller with the youngest safely snuggled in and the other hand held on to the other child as we crossed the streets. Now, I know what most of you may be thinking... 'Been there, done that!' Right? But just this once, I felt the need to toot my own horn. My first overload in the city went better than I could have hoped it would! And after all was said and done, my second day on duty ended with a big boost to the ego, as well as the heart. The girls seemed quite happy with me and they couldn't wait to tell Mom and Dad how "awesome" I was. This one simple word and their sweet smiles made the whole struggle worth while.

Needless to say, I was thoroughly pooped-out by the time our day came to an end, which may explain the disappointment and frustration that came over me later on in the evening. You see, I had plans to embark on my first solo-exploration of Brooklyn. The employers kindly bought an old roadbike for me to use and I thought I'd break it in and go for a cruise. I set out for Williamsburg, a "neighborhood" in Brooklyn. (The neighborhoods within these boroughs are big enough to be their own small town!) I found the streets easy to handle and every encounter I made along the way was friendly. I paid $81.00 for my 1-month metro pass (despite my thinking they were free!) and then I hopped on the subway. I dared to people-watch as folks went about their typical commutes home from work. Everyone had a style. Even those I assume were going for the bag-lady look wore name brands. Some spent an exceptional amount of time on their hair while others seemed to be more concerned with accessories. Either way, everyone had a conscious "look" they were aiming for and most were succeeding, in my humble opinion. Everyone had books to pass the time, which made them look more like locals. After making eye-contact with a young girl in a feathered trilby hat and tall boots, I realized my wandering eyes made me the obvious tourist.

An old friend of mine from San Antonio wanted to show me his new home and grab a bite to eat at a trendy Moroccan-themed joint called Black Betty. The drinks were too expensive for me to even consider, the service was limited, and the food was bland! I've had much better falafels in San Antonio... But just before I could remind myself that it was too early to pass judgment on NY, my friend introduced me to a couple from his building. The young lovers took it upon themselves to tell me just how out of my league I was. At first sight, I was sized up. Just after my first words were spoken, they exchanged glances. It was obvious they thought I was hysterical. Unfortunately, their laughter did not include me. It remained between them. For a moment, I thought the girl might want to make friends as she began telling me about her favorite hotspots. But as she went into detail, mouthing off the lingo she knew I didn't know and spitting out prices she knew I couldn't afford, I realized I was nothing more than entertainment. So, I indulged her!

"Sounds great!" I said, "Thanks for the tips, but there's no way I could afford the cover to get in those places, let alone the drinks... I make $150 bucks a week as a live-in nanny."

I watched as she raised her brows and dropped her jaw in shock.

"But you're job-hunting, right?" she asked.

"No, I've fallen head over heals in love with this family. I think I'll stay put for the remainder of my time in New York."

"Well if you thought you'd be able to afford a life on that kind of income, you're mistaken. I can hook you up with a temp agency if you like. A friend of mine works with them and she says they never work with struggling families. They're all loaded, so I'm sure you'd be better off! Here sweetie, let me get you the number. Do you have a cell phone?"

"Oh, no thanks. I'm sure I'll be fine. I can always pack a paper-bag lunch if I go out for the day, instead of hitting the restaurants. And of course I won't be taking taxi cabs anywhere. I'm ok on the subway. I've also heard there are tons of free things to do in the city every summer. But thanks anyway!"

I gave the spoiled brat a wink, just to make sure she knew I was being condescending. Then again, I doubt she caught on.

On my ride home, I looked around the city and compared it to the only other two cities I've lived in during my adult years; San Antonio, of course, and albeit a short stay, Denver. I began to wonder if NYC would ever compare to Denver, and I even realized just how much I appreciate the low-standards in SA. So I immediately checked my email once getting back home, hoping someone from the Pacific NW had answered my Craigslist ad.

"NOMADIC NANNY SEEKING TEMP LIVE-IN POSITION STARTING SEPTEMBER" - The details inside the ad were honest and I included links to my nanny-page, as well as this blog.

My inbox was empty...

But this morning, I woke to find my dreams of visiting the Redwoods could very well come true!

Hi Megan, Don't know if anyone has snapped you up yet or
not but, if you are still in the market and want to see the west coast, we have
a great place in Surrey with a sweetheart of a little girl... We'd welcome a
chat w/ you to see if the want/need thing works out but, we fluked upon your
site and, I am sure it must be serendipity. I have given you my office
number so, give a call when you have a chance and we can take it from there.
Cheers!

Of course I should wait to post this blog until I've spoken with the family in Surrey, Canada, but I'm too excited! I thought my chances of finding host-families for this nomadic notion of mine would be slim-to-none. But there's hope after all!

I'm knocking on wood...

This simple girl needs a simple world. Just one problem... How the hell am I going to deal with getting attatched to a new family every two to four months, just to leave them at the end? Will these little ladies still think me "awesome" when I say goodbye? It almost feels treacherous to even think about leaving now, and I'm only on day five. I've got two more months of bonding ahead of me, at least!

Contemplation overload! My brain... is shutting... down.