So here I be, talking about my trip to New York City, from a few days ago.
What part of NYC exactly, well, Queens and Long Island (no Manhattan).
A trip not intended for sight-seeing, to say the least, but mainly to see family.
I figure, before I go into what happened there, indeed the shitty trip it was,
I talk about my history with NYC, starting with the fact, I used to live there,
when I was 'small', and yeah, I had attended kindergarten there (in Queens).
But then I had to move (to Canada), leaving behind a number of relatives,
tho I did get to visit them every year (the bond would deteriorate over time).
But yeah, got many relatives (aunts, uncles, cousins) there, from both sides
(mom's and dad's) living down there, and yeah, living 'better lives' than me.
II. RECENT HISTORY
Now it's to be noted, from 1992 to 2010, I had the 'privilege' in being able to
go to NYC (on average) EVERY YEAR (sometimes even, twice a year),
by means of my parents, so we could all 'catch up' with family (gatherings).
We even had a 'mainstay', this being my grandparent's house, in Queens,
until my grandfather died (in '08), and my grandmother had a stroke (in '10),
and yeah, the house got sold, and my family (mom's side) would split in half,
over the estate (money), and yeah, now 'we don't see/talk to them anymore',
this of which includes, 4 aunts, 4 uncles, and 7 cousins, ex-communicated.
I do have family from my dad's side, mostly his cousins and 1 sister, but
we (main core family) don't have 'the bond' as compared with the other side.
III. PURPOSE
So the purpose of this trip was that we had been invited by one of my uncles
(father's cousin) to his 50th Birthday Celebration, as with all others related.
I don't know what he does for a living, but yeah, he is a very wealthy man,
not really close with him, myself, "I see him, shake his hand, and move on".
Other purposes of this trip was to see 'remaining members' of the split-up
side of my mom's family, this being 2 aunts, 1 uncle, and 2 (small) cousins.
We would also make small visits to various spots, in Queens, from our past,
one being a small grocery store named 'Key Food', and for me personally,
a (30-block) shopping district known as (and located on) 'Jamaica Avenue'.
Sadly, we (my parents) had 3 days here, before having to rush back home.
IV. SYRACUSE
So yeah, all our trips to NYC were by means of car, a 9 hour ride (on avg.).
And normally, in the past, we would take the long ride (all the way through),
but because my mom is now in 'bad health', yeah, we can't do that anymore.
So we left early Thursday (10AM), with plans to stop midway, in "Syracuse".
This was bullshit (to me), since, by the time we gotten there (to the motel),
it was still early (3:30PM), and we coulda made it to NYC, before darkness.
I even heard it from my parents themselves, how they reached much earlier
than they had expected, and how they felt, they coulda kept with the ride,
but because they had pre-booked the motel "we had no choice but to stay".
So yeah, we wasted valuable (NYC) time in shitty, redneckville "Syracuse".
V. UNCLE "R" & AUNT "D"
After we left Syracuse (9AM), we eventually made it to NYC, by like 3PM
(though we did make it by 1, but because NYC traffic is so hectic and all),
and got to Uncle D and Aunt D's house (where we would stay for a night),
located in Long Island, and indeed, my 1st visit there (3rd for my parents).
So yeah, this was an uncle (mom's brother), who I was never close with,
like, back when the whole family 'was' united (as one), we never 'talked',
but now that the family had split, only until last 3 years, we spoken more.
So there was alot of "awkwardness", lol, the brief moments we talked here.
So yeah, he was divorced for a bit, before re-marrying to this (I must say)
SUPER HOT indian chick, this being my (uh, new) Aunt D, very distracting.
VI. COUSIN "J"
So my Uncle D has 1 daughter, Cousin R, had known her since about 2000,
we were never 'buddies', so going to NYC to catch up with her, not the case.
But back during my last trip to NYC, 4 years ago, (I believe) my 2nd time
meeting Aunt D, I got to meet her daughter (Cousin J) for the 1st time, and
tho she was a bit 'young' at the time, we really bonded, like cousins should.
Tho that was 4 years ago (can't expect her remember that brief encounter),
but still, I was very much looking forward to meeting her again, and hoping,
we would bond somewhat, but nope, she had a life to herself (and iPhone).
Very much disappointed by this, tho I made social attempts, to which failed,
whatever, she didn't wanna have anything to do with me, so that was that.
VII. JAMAICA AVENUE
So after we spent time at Uncle R & Aunt D's, we went our separate ways,
and my parent's dropped me, at my call, at Jamaica Avenue (in Queens).
Needles to say, this was an area I had been very familiar with, in the past,
when I spent summers in NYC, and yeah, when nobody 'had time for me',
I would take long walks (solo), from the house, out to Jamaica Avenue.
So this was where I wanted to revisit, while my parents went to their spots,
but yeah, didn't really have a fun time, seeing as I was given only 2 hours
(unlike the past, and the 6-8 hour ventures, including many RED BULLS).
Oh and yeah, the last time I had visited here, I bought a $90 studded hat,
but this time around, ended up getting just a pair of $15 socks, so whatever.
VIII. UNCLE "C"
So yeah, after the Jamaica Avenue (and wherever my parents went) ordeal,
we all had to go get ready for my Uncle C's big 50th birthday celebration,
being held at, yes, an exquisite *banquet hall* in 'New Rochelle' (between
Manhattan and Connecticut), our last main stop, before heading back home.
I had on GUESS everything (shirt, tie, jeans), PRADA ($400) sunglasses,
wardrobe never an issue, but yeah, I was rather 'bummed' to say the least.
Most of my aunts, uncles and cousins (MOST to whom live in the GTA, btw)
were there, and they seem happy to see me, and I was happy for a short bit,
but as the night progressed, I would soon hit 'rock bottom', into depresson,
mainly because, in no time, I would be rushed back to 'home, shit home'.
IX. UNCLE "B"
I have to say, this mighta been the most 'depressed' I'd made myself to be,
for as long as I recall, in past family gatherings, and many picked up on it.
I snubbed all my girl cousins, over the fact, (I felt) they snubbed me on FB.
One of my aunts tried to take a pic of me (just me) while at the dinner table,
and she sensed it right there, that I wasn't 'OK' (like I was set to "funeral").
While everyone was up and having a blast, I kept down, with my iPhone :P
It eventually reached the point, my Uncle B (from NY, I rarely do see) spoke
with me in the hall, and yeah, thats when explained to him my whole ordeal,
how NYC meant ALOT to me in the past and how its now 'in ruins' (for me),
and the fact, I barely got much time here, so why bother getting *attached*.
X. LEAVING NYC
So that was that, my parents would leave 'early', as with every gathering,
while all my relatives would look and smile at me, in knowing, obviously,
I wish "I" could stayed more, but since my parents aren't 'party people', and
not very liked, that's their trademark, leaving early "with me on their leash".
This time, I chose not to say bye to anybody, to avoid "the usual ending".
There's to be a follow-up party tho, the following weekend, in Canada btw,
which I must go to, so yeah, gonna be interesting how I 'function' at that.
So yeah, I fitted this mini-trip to NYC, as the kick-off to my 3 week vacation,
and yeah, what a *dud* it turned out to be, thus starting off my 'vacation'
on a real negative note, so here I stand, waiting on some sorta *rebound*.