Recently I got an email from one of you asking if I feel like New York is home now. The
answer is "Yes!" I’ve had lots of trials and tribulations, as you all know, but I’m still here.
And I love it, thanks for asking! (Email me anytime at lulu@fredflare.com. I’d love to
hear from you!)
The city feels smaller and somehow less intimidating after spending more time here. I’ve
taken in the big New York sights – the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Macy’s
Thanksgiving Day Parade, Rockefeller Center, Coney Island and more – but have also
enjoyed those not on the regular tour, such as Staten Island’s Pug Parade and Picnic.
I’ve been a culture vulture along Fifth Avenue’s Museum Mile. My favorite by far is the
Metropolitan Museum of Art, especially in the summer on the outdoor terrace. I’ve spent
hours strolling in Central Park and exploring tons of new neighborhoods. I’ve seen a few
Broadway shows and more celebrities on the street than I ever imagined possible. I’ve
walked across the Williamsburg and Brooklyn Bridge too many times to count.
Which brings me to my little home in Brooklyn. I’ve actually moved to a new apartment.
That last one was a disaster! You heard the PG-version… I’m happy to have lived there,
though, because it makes for a great New York Story. A little grit does you good here in
NYC. And, truly, if I hadn’t had the problems and pests in my old place I might never have
started this column, or met my roommate, Billy the cat.
So, yes, I’ve become a crazy cat lady! This is fine with me because Billy is the craziest little
kitten around so we make a great pair. He’s always on all sorts of funny capers! One week
I’d come home every day to find that he had pulled out a new mystery from my Nancy Drew
library. I think he was trying to keep up with our Nancy Drew Review! Maybe he’ll join Keith
and me one of these days. He hates Nancy’s dog, Togo, but who can blame him?
One thing that Billy loves is going outside in my fred flare tote bag. He pops his head out and enjoys his surroundings as we run errands. He also loves water. He’s obsessed! It’s his
favorite thing in the world. He’ll jump in the shower with you and wonder why you have a
problem with that. He’s a great roommate and, even when he stays up super late, is still the
perfect little black alarm clock every morning. He has been one of the best things about NYC!
Watching Billy grow from this little kitten that needs tons of supervision into a more relaxed
(yet happily kooky) cat is kinda like me living here. Some of the initial stresses and worries
of being new to New York have subsided and, after a while, you can just take a deep breath
and enjoy it! In "Breakfast at Tiffany’s," one of my favorite New York movies – actually my
fave movie of all time! – Holly Gollightly says, " If I could find a real live place like Tiffany’s
I’d buy some furniture and give the cat a name." Since there is a free bus to Ikea and the
cat already has a name, I guess New York is the place for me.
