In Lay Terms

Random Ramblings From a Church Nerd

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Start Spreading the News...


I'm leaving Thursday.
I want to be a part of it.
New York! New York!

I have an obsession with New York City. I've only visited a couple of times, and on both occasions, I was a major tourist. Now I have a semi-legitimate reason to go. I get to attend a screening of CAMP OUT at Newfest, the New York City GLBT Film Festival. I've enjoyed all the opportunities to promote the film, so this will be no exception, except that I'm in a city that I adore.

I think my obsession with New York started when I started watching Sex and the City on DVD. That television show made New York look like the best place to live. It was more than the city, you wanted these women's lifestyles (or at least, I did). They were beautiful. They had money. They ate at great restaurants. They dated good looking men. What could be bad? Of course, it's not based in reality. I know I couldn't afford to live in New York...or could I?

I further fed my obsession with something more accurate. My other half and I watched the PBS documentary on New York last spring. It was 15 hours of New York history from the discovery by Dutch traders to the destruction of the World Trade Center. I was riveted by the whole thing.

And now I'm going to experience it again. I'm not going to be as much of a tourist as before. I'm going to the screening, of course (on Friday). However, I'm also going to visit a new shelter for gay youth. Apparently in New York, there are NO beds for homeless youth (many of whom are gay). I'm also going to try to visit The Riverside Church, which also runs a faith-based GLBT youth group. My last visit is going to be to Union Theological Seminary, to talk about graduate school. So, maybe I'm thinking more about living in New York, at least for a time.

I'm getting to stay with a very nice pastor who lives in the city. I'm friends with his son and daughter-in-law. It's a rather inexpensive trip to a very expensive city.

I'm excited to get the "feel" of the city again. Maybe this trip will dampen my obsession for the city...but I hope not!

3 Comments:

Blogger Chad K said...

Wow, have a great trip Ross. I hope you love the seminary life there as well...and there is so much to explore! Paz

1:30 PM  
Blogger Vic Mansfield said...

Ross, the only time I have been to NY was so many years ago, you probably weren't even born yet. I have always loved it from afar. But I live in one of the most beautiful parts of the world where a great hike in the woods is only a few minutes away. Big city, small town? Neither is better or worse, just different, and we have to make some choices.

As I move through the journey of coming out, it makes thoughts of the big city life more appealing. But, I just ain't sure . . . .

If you go to Union, can I come visit? At least I could help you study your systematic theology or something.

Cheers, Joe.

8:03 AM  
Anonymous New York Photographs said...

Nice blog =)

4:13 AM  

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