I am surprised at how quickly I felt at home here in New York. I expected to take a little longer to feel comfortable. To get my rhythm. To find my feet. But almost immediately things feel very natural. Even things that should not feel natural fall into place. 

There are serious compartmentalizations that have to happen in NY. There are certain concessions you have to make if you’re going to stay. At times you have to suspend beliefs, fears, repulsions, common sense, and even your humanity.  At other times you have to cling to each and every one of those to survive. 

There’s a constant undercurrent of wariness here that will probably never go away. I guess 9/11 will do that to a city. There’s an awareness of the possibility of mass casualties at all times. And especially now, when there are horrors and humanitarian crimes being perpetrated a half a world away, you cannot help but feel surrounded by targets for that hate bleeding into this city. You are aware when passing a mosque or a Jewish women’s college. You think twice before going to your favorite Palestinian or Jewish restaurant. You feel the quiet tension, the permeating sadness, the grief, the anger, and the fear. 

And yet, life here goes on. Life goes on. And isn’t that part of our responsibility? To continue to demonstrate our humanity. To continue to choose love and life and freedom. To live our given life to the fullest and help those around us the best that we can. To cherish every note of music we hear. Relish every bite of perfect bread. Savor every embrace and kiss. Bow our heads in humility and gratitude and pray with every fiber that somehow, someway the ever-looming rough beast slouching towards catastrophe can be assuaged.