Last week I left my small bubble in Eugene to visit my grandparents and ring out my grandma’s 80th birthday. On Wednesday, I flew with caution into Newark, New Jersey, where my mom picked me up for the celebration weekend. It was nice to see my big, Jewish,New York family again; the whole weekend gave off a pre-covid vibe.
On Thursday, my mom, little sister, and I drove 45 minutes into the city. My sister and I were excepting the glitz and glamour that Gossip Girl and Sex and the City give off as it would pre covid. However, the weather was overcast yet pleasant for an October day. Driving in the city always maybe me appreciate the Los Angeles traffic. The bumper to bumper and speed of the city felt so familiar, but we were transported to what felt like a different universe once past the Lincoln Tunnel. Instructed by Mayor Bill De Blasio, the city was reborn, covid addition; from the mandatory use of masks to restaurants building out their seating to accommodate the new outdoor dining guidelines.
We arrived at my aunt’s apartment on the upper east side and rode the elevator to the to see her newly furnished apartment. It was quite nice and aesthetically pleasing like that TikTok’s I would see titled “Things in my New York Apartment that just Make Sense.” We walked up five blocks to a very trendy Mexican food place. Walking up those five blocks was like a different experience than a regular trip to the city. With all the restaurants set up with tons of outdoor dining, the city’s vibe went from ‘move out of my way to we missed you welcome back’. Everything was safely spread out; however, uptown Manhattan was on fire with people, laughter, and music. Like a block party but social distanced. I can only assume this is because it is about to get very cold in the city, and people wanted to be out at restaurants before having to quarantine from the cold.
Dinner was great, and so was the company. I like to say it’s always dinner and a show with my family. As we drove off back to central New Jersey, where my grandparents lived, I think to myself how much I love New York City and how I could see myself living there one day. And how even though we are amidst a worldwide pandemic, we can still safely see each other and participate in the world’s fun. I feel so grateful that I was fortune enough to travel to see my grandparents at this time as so many today cannot. We must as a community continue to listen to the CDC and wear masks to protect each other and our loved ones. I can only hope that I will return to the city in a non-covid year and take in all it has to offer a twenty-something-year-old.