The feeling was palpable yesterday.
New York City is beginning to look like its old self.
Midtown was humming.
Sidewalks were bustling.
Restaurants were hopping.
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| Grand Central Station |
It wasn't 100% back to normal.......
but midtown was busier than I've seen it in a long while.
It was evident that some office workers had returned,
and even a number of tourists were spotted.
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| Grand Central Station |
I couldn't help but take pause,
and reflect on how far we've come in the 18 months
since we were locked down in our Covid bubbles.......
drinking quarantinis at our virtual happy hours.......
and zooming anyone and everyone with our pants off.
 |
| United Nations behind Tudor City sign |
As the pandemic dragged on,
we took umbrage at "maskholes,"
and scoffed at "Covidiots."
Flattening our bellies,
which were well hidden under sweatpants,
took a back seat to flattening the curve.
 |
Finally, almost a full year later,
we slowly started to emerge out of our Covid cocoons.
The promise of vaccines permeated every conversation,
and the most-asked question of 2021 had to be
"Did you get Pfizer or Moderna?"
 |
| Chrysler Building |
And now, a year and a half later,
New York City has come a long way in its recovery.
September saw the re-opening of indoor dining
at many restaurants.
Broadway turned its theater lights back on.
Live concerts once again played in Madison Square Garden.
Kids went back to classrooms.
Many workers returned to their offices, at least part-time.
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| Empire State Building peeking out on left |
And the library lions stopped wearing their masks.
 |
| NY Public Library |
Yes, there's no denying that the city
has regained some of its vibrancy.
 |
At the same time that we've made progress,
in other ways, it doesn't seem like we've come that far at all.
Infection rates are still sky-high.......
in some cases, the highest they've been
since this whole thing started.
And sadly, the US currently has
an average of 1900 deaths per day.
 |
But, yesterday was a day to reflect on the positives.
It was invigorating to feel the city's pulse beating again.
 |
| Reflection of NY Public Library |
New York may not have reached its maximum heart rate just yet,
but it's not a resting pulse anymore,
that's for sure.
Linking With:
Our World Tuesday
Our World Tuesday
You took a lot of nice photos in the city and it sounds like you had a great day. I'm happy that things are starting to go back to normal in the city. I look forward to my visit to the city on Friday. I hope you enjoy the start to fall Amy.
ReplyDeleteHello Amy: It is clear from your impassioned words that you have a great love for New York so I am happy that you see signs of its revival. As you say, we are not quite there yet, but we are well on the way, all of us.....well, many of us, anyway. Lovely series of pictures of a city on the rebound. May it continue. At least you no longer have Donald Trump to cast a long, dark, ominous shadow, and a new mayor to get things done. All the best. David
ReplyDeleteOh so good photos darling
ReplyDeleteThe photos are awesome. Glad things are returning back to some normal. xoxo Kris
ReplyDeleteWow, it's crazy to think where we were even just this time last year, let alone 18 mos ago. I sure don't want to go back, and I hate to wish my life away, but I'm still looking forward to looking back even more than 12-18 months. It's been exhausting on the psyche in so many ways. Great photos and reflections, Amy.
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful photos!
ReplyDeleteI always love your photos!
ReplyDeleteGlorious photos, Amy. It's been a long time since I've visited but just looking at these the memories of feeling so small in a city so tall flood over me. It has been a mentally exhausting time, wondering when/where we are safe or not and knowing that even when we think we are, things aren't so simple as they seem. What a ride it has been -- and continues to be. But seeing things return to some degree of normalcy is indeed encouraging.
ReplyDeleteOh Amy, so well written! Loved the photos.
ReplyDeleteBrenda
I'm glad to hear that life is returning to the city.
ReplyDeleteWe have been flying over the last few months, but just to visit our little grandchildren.
We are trying out a new dog sitter so many a visit to NYC will happen.
I should have visited while it wasn't so busy.... maybe I still should!
ReplyDeleteLovely sights from NY.
ReplyDeleteGosh! yes -- so much happened over the last year and a half.
I hope things only get 'better' from here. :)
Well written post Amy. We have certainly come a long way, Is NY still banning people from shopping and restaurants indoors? It has been a crazy world. I have had both Pfizer vaccines.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos!I'm just a hop away from NYC, but haven't been in almost two years. That's a big change the trips we used to take a couple of times a month and the daily trips my husband used to make for work. Big changes indeed.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos of NYC, Amy. I hope that someday soon we will all get back to a more normal life. In the meantime I will continue to wear my mask and I am getting my booster on the 13th. xo Laura
ReplyDeleteBeautiful blog
ReplyDeleteIt brings such joy to the heart to see the city hustling and bustling again.
ReplyDeleteMy husband has started to go back to work in the city a couple of times a week.
I love hearing your enthusiasm here! Even though I've never been to NYC I always feel that she belongs to me too and I was thrilled to watch news coverage of the Met ball and Broadway's opening nights at five (?) theaters. This morning I saw Jerry Seinfield on the Today show talking about his love of the city. I know there are still great worries about what the next months will bring there and everywhere but I doubt if people there have the crazy attitude I find in Nashville where people like to pretend that Covid doesn't exist, despite Vanderbilt Hospital's beds often being full. I went yesterday for my Pfizer booster and a flu shot at Walgreen's and there were sick people in there wanting Covid testing and they were not wearing masks. The few who wore masks had them mainly just covering their chins so if you can catch Covid through your chin I guess they'll be okay!
ReplyDeleteSo great to see the city coming alive again! Great photos!
ReplyDeleteShelley
I have only been to NYC once and I am eager to go again.
ReplyDeleteah, I thought of the city no longer needing 'resuscitation'. I hope we are over the hump. We go out here, but only where masks, barriers, and safe practices are in place. Saw our first play in 19 months. Your photos are vibrant and gorgeous. A crisp and positive relook at the city--(it's so clean), lol. Hugs, Sandi
ReplyDelete