Last night I went back to the old hood for the first time since moving to Jersey. Jason moved us while I was in rehearsals (something I will have to accept Jason reminding me every time we climb the stairs ;)) so I never got a chance to say good bye to the place where I spent a huge part of my life. I was ready for it to be a nostalgic experience and bring out my deep rooted Astoria love. I was going back to my old apartment where my friend Carolann now lives with her husband and little son. I was SO happy to give the apartment to a friend because I have amazing memories there and lets face it, I wanted the opportunity to go back if I wanted to visit. I basically spent the entirety of my 20's there, got married and lived there with my gay husband Jim, my wife Beth, and my real husband Jason. I didn't really marry all of them, it just felt that way. :)
When I stepped off the train at Queens Plaza, a station where I spent many many minutes, hours, even days waiting for a train to never come, I felt these emotions start to well up as I stepped on a used paper cup and took a whiff of that very special Queens Plaza smell. I would try to describe it but I wouldn't want to disrespect anyone who might be reading this. Let's just say it put the A$& in Astoria. Anyways, I seriously did get a little sad until a man who was unzipping his fly got WAY to close to me and told me I had the best hair he'd ever seen and that I was totally "workin it". As much as I appreciate any compliment to my hair, I immediately had a flash back to when Beth and I were 22year old girls walking down the street in Astoria and we got surrounded by crazies such as this and I started yelling at all of them to keep their junk in their pants. I think I may have used more "Queens" language at the time.
Anyways, point being I realized that yes, I will ALWAYS heart Astoria, and Ithaca, and Dunkirk, but I am really happy to live in my new wonderful neighborhood too! I have realized that every phase, move, and change in my life has been met with a lovely sense of forward movement to a new place physically but also a new place in life. I absolutely love where I live now, but in the meantime here are pictures to prove we had a great run at 31-59 41st Street, Astoria.
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| One of our first of many gatherings. Pre Jim DiMarino fancy paint job. But you can see the fancy Jim DiMarino Xmas decor! |
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Or first Oscars party. Notice the red carpet and "old school" TV. Hey we were happy we graduated from the 13inch TV/VCR combo at the time. Yes I said VCR.
I was also VERY excited to have upgraded from my twin bed so I stuffed all the castlemates into my new queen size bed to prove its magnificence. |
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| Chillin on one of our many futons. We look stupid young in this pic and it scares me a little. |
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Jim always in the kitchen cooking up something divine!
"Friends." I want to be Rachel.
Now who could forget the cherry blossom TREES that adorned the apartment one spring.
Yes, I said,
TREES!!! | | |
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| Don't know if we will be able to have the ginormous trees in our new place now.... But I will always have this reindeer so I'm set.:) |
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| There was always a photoshoot to be had |
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| Another Oscars party...we upgraded and got a sign |
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| I would get jealous that I had to share my husband with his husband... |
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| Until I had one of my own!!! (Notice the struggle getting him to look at the camera when he is glued to the game?) |
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| Wedding planning... aka bridesmaids confused by the bow bouquet and Miles takes charge |
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| Our old table I had forever that I bought at a yard sale for $25 dollars. Many a dinner and conversation was held here. I sold it when we bought our new set before the wedding for $50. I think they thought they got a deal, but meanwhile I laughed all the way to the bank. |
I also had a lovely evening chatting with my bestest of girls Jenny C and we always have such a great time talking our faces off. We ate at
Sweet Afton and ended up at good ol Dunkin Donuts with the Queens crazies. They all kept their privates to themselves and sipped their lattes like gentlemen so that was a plus! It was great to see her so happy and share stories with her.She is one of my oldest and dearest friends.
