It happened this afternoon

Jason and I met with our future landlord today to sign the lease for our own Upper East Side, one-bedroom apartment.

I'm experiencing such a great deal in these ensuing minutes and hours: joy, relief, anticipation, peace.

We met at the new address during Jason's lunch break, both of us swimming in our own juices as a result of the oppressive heat. I had made a point of dressing slightly less casually than I tend to on these hot days in order that a continued impression of youthful professionalism be maintained. That said, corduroys and a cotton poplin do not afford the most forgiving corporal climate when trudging down blistering hot sidewalks during the peak of midday sunshine. My mid- and lower back were a veritable waterslide beneath the pale green stripes of my shirt.
Jason didn't seem to be in any better position as he was wearing patent leather shoes, navy slacks, and his own incubator-cum-button-up.
Although happy to see one another at this unusual point in any given work day, we were by no means at our sociable peaks what with the effects of the weather giving us both the feeling of being squeezed from head to toe by giant, greasy hands.

Luckily, Issa, the landlord, was ready and waiting for our arrival and let us in the moment we rang the buzzer, sparing us any unnecessary dallying out of doors. We entered his serious, cherry-accented office and within the course of less than five minutes we had reviewed the terms of the annual agreement, discussed a few last minute details, and signed our names on the dotted lines.

The apartment was officially ours.

We thanked Issa, shook hands, and headed back out into the heat, immediately making our way to the 96th street station in order that Jason return to work by the end of his lunch break. I, on the other hand, intended upon escorting him back to sixth avenue, where he would go north to the offices of William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, and I would turn south toward the main branch of the New York Public Library.

We exited the train at 51st street and began the trek to sixth through what could only be described as scorching Hell. As planned, once we came to sixth avenue the two of us said our goodbyes, shared a brief parting kiss, and went off in the directions of our personal destinations.

Still sweating to the point of utter disgust, I couldn't help but smile to myself at the accomplishments I realized I had made in the not-quite six months since arriving in this incredible city.

-A passable, mostly-lucrative job allowing me the ability to support myself.
-Numerous addresses in colorful parts of a variety of neighborhoods.
-Several writing projects of which I have grown increasingly proud and hopeful.
-New friends and acquaintances with whom I can see myself sharing long, beautiful relationships.
-Jason, a man of ambition, compassion, and humility.
-And a greater, more fortified sense of personal strength and capacity than I have ever known to this point in my life.

Yes, all around I feel I've done well.
And what's more, I feel I am allowed to say that of and to myself. I've worked extremely hard and I know that that will only continue, but at least I can look back on this choice and know, with utter profundity, that I am where I belong, I am who I should be, and both of those things are constant only in their potential to change.

Thank you, New York, you've chewed, clawed, spit, and fought...


...And I'm still hanging on.