A Love Affair

I love New York.  New York City that is. Ever since my 12 year old self looked up at those looming skyscrapers right outside Grand Central Station on that damp, fall day...I've had an infinite love and connection to the place we call the Big Apple.

At the age of 18, I moved to New York to attend college and really haven't left since... I have lived there for 7 years now and even though I'm not a true New Yorker (they say it takes 10 years) I am sure I can say I'm it's #1 Fan, right below my Grandmother. Don't even begin to ask why I'm obsessed with it so much. I'm sure my reasons will surface at some point, but to rattle them all off would be forced and besides...I'm quite lazy.

I love New York but..I've always had an unresting urge to travel the world. Luckily I have been traveling the world since I've been 16 and haven't stopped...thanks to education, personal vacations and my career paths. When I was a Junior in High School I had the opportunity to do an exchange program where Students from France came to the U.S. and in exchange we went to Paris. I would say we got the sweeter end of the deal. Since then I have been back to Paris and it was still as charming as ever. I even can consider living there for a extended period of time. I know, I know...it's cheating on New York, but I would eventually return to my great city and besides Paris is like New York but quainter and cleaner. It also has miniature version of the Statue of Liberty. Did you know that? Yea so it even has a little bit of New York in it! =) See I'm rambling. Anyway Paris...it opened the flood gates of my desire to see the world and to check off my check list of places to see. (i.e. Walk the Great Wall of China, Go to Australia, Visit every Disney Park in the World, see the Northern Lights etc.)

In college I was introduced to the wonderful program of Semester at Sea from my best friend of 13 years Erika Morrissette. I was able to visit 9 different countries in the matter of two months, all the while taking classes, writing papers and creating lifelong friendships. You can read about my adventures, including my visit to the Pyramids and a troubled incident that happened to me in Turkey on my blog Sitting on the Dock of the Bay.  And even despite that unfortunate event I still wanted to keep traveling and get laid?...layed?....laded? in Hawaii, see the beauty of Alaska and snorkel in the Coral Reef.

Note: These are all things I HAVEN'T done!...................................yet.

After graduating I was granted the privilege to travel across the pond to England where I could showcase my work to a London network. It was my first time in foggy town and it was everything but. I love New York but...London is so cute. I can't help it. Yes so I look the wrong way when I'm crossing the street but who cares! What about the gorgeous river that flows within the city?...or the majestic Buckingham Palace?...or that huge Ferris Wheel? I've never been on it but it looks fun. See...New York doesn't have any amusement park rides...o wait... yes it does. It has a Merry-Go-Round in Dumbo, Brooklyn and in Central Park...oh yea they have a whole amusement park there. Not to mention Coney Island. BAM! gotch ya!

When I returned to New York from London...I was left with a voice message offering me a singing position on board a Cruiseline. Well HELLO! I took the job and within days I was shipped off to South Florida for rehearsals. Well I had never been to Miami before and now I say Miami with a "No Big Deal" kinda of attitude, but it's MIAMI! With this cruise position, in the past few years, I have been able to travel to places like, but not limited to, the Bahamas, Mexico, Aruba, Amsterdam, Russia, Belgium, Norway, Colombia, Ireland and Haiti. None of the cities in these countries compared to New York, but I could have a wonderful getaway in Belgium once a year. It was just lovely.

In between the two cruise contracts I had, I was able to see more of my own country. I toured the U.S. in a children's show called Nate the Great. You can read about that troubled and demanding journey on my blog VAN-ity Fair. With the show, I was able to see American cities I'd never seen before like Chicago, Minneapolis, and Appleton. Oh you don't know Appleton? Never heard of it? It's in Wisconsin. There's nothing there. Chicago won me over though. The subway system was above ground for one, which helped with the claustrophobic feeling you get in New York. The Pier is just a gorgeous, jolly good time...the Pizza is to die for...there's a free zoo and can we mention The Oprah Show resided there. These are contenders that can convince me to live here as well. The theater scene, the night life and can we talk about Lake Michigan? But still I love New York...

I love it but not enough to stay. As I write this I have begun another journey. My first and second cruise contract was with Royal Caribbean. But due to competition I am now working for Belinda King Productions onboard Holland America. Well rehearsals are in London. That's right! I'm back!! Going to these places once, let alone twice and for a longer time... its what feeling blessed feels like. I'm blessed. I flew into London tonight. It's late and I'm quite tired trying to fight the jet lag. I'm nervous. Tomorrow I start a new part of my young life. I meet new people, experience and learn new things. But that's what we should all be doing. We should be pushing ourselves outside of our comfort zones...even if it isn't the easiest or most fun thing to do...something good WILL come it. Whether it be personal growth, new friendships or maybe even a difficult lesson...something of worth will come from going outside your comfort zone. So here I am...like a fish out of water...I have left New York. I am in London for the next  month or so and then I'm off to explore the world again.

My last two contracts I didn't keep a blog because for some odd reason I didn't think they would hold much interest in myself or readers. I couldn't have been more wrong. Each contract was full of richness. Actually...I think everyday is full of something deep and worth writing about. I made a mistake. Since I can't fix it or recreate the moments I had...let's live some more moments and write about those. So come with me on this new leg. I'm going to some amazing places and you don't want to miss out if they make me second guess my true love.


~ Michael-Anthony


P.S. I like JFK better than Heathrow. (1 point for New York)