HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: I live in Boston. I adore it, and for some reason, it's the city where I’d always imagined I’d live. BUT. The traffic is terrible. Drivers are crazed and lawless. (Turn signals are for wimps.) When it comes to traffic lights, they say in Boston: Yellow means go fast. Red means go even faster. And green means stop, because the other guy is going through the red light.
There's a thing called “coffee regular” which is milk and sugar, and I always think: regular for who? That’s not MY regular. So much of this country’s history began in Boston, and it’s always inspiring to me. But sometimes it seems forgotten.
Plus, there’s often absolutely nowhere to park. Sometimes I just take an Uber, because I know that parking will be impossible.
And the highway signs are incomprehensible, For instance, I-95 and Route 128 are the same thing. Sometimes. Do not get me started. And rotaries. You are honestly taking your life in your hands every time.
Where do you live? And what’s the good news and the bad news? (Giveaways below! Keep reading for details.)
But first, the wonderful Emily Schultz has some thoughts.
About New York.
(And see below for all about her new book--well, I cannot resist. LOOK at that amazing cover. It reminds me of...well, you tell me.)
But I grew up in a small town of about 10,000 near Detroit. There were no bookstores and the one movie theatre had been converted to a strip club long before. At age eight, my oldest brother and I walked from one end of town to the other, which even on short legs took only half an hour. I wanted out.
I loved Detroit, it’s where my family was from, but it was a wounded city in recovery when I growing up. In the other direction there was Toronto, which Peter Ustinov once labeled as “New York run by the Swiss.”
When we visited there, we stayed in my great aunt’s 11th-floor apartment. In the middle of the night my dad awoke to find me staring out my aunt’s window at the sweep of lights, the whole city golden and glittering even at 3 a.m., a world beyond. By eighth grade, I vowed to live in New York, Paris, or (since it’s good to have a third choice) Toronto. I vaulted from the novels of Louise Fitzhugh to F. Scott Fitzgerald in short time. And from there, all the other New York writers—and films.
It was clear that New York was a city of music, outspokenness, tenacity and charm. It was The Apartment, Rear Window (because fake NYC is sometimes better than real NYC), The Clock, The Sweet Smell of Success, All About Eve, French Connection, Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, After Hours, Do the Right Thing, All That Jazz, Crossing Delancey, My Dinner with Andre, Metropolitan, The Squid and the Whale.
It was clear that New York was a city of music, outspokenness, tenacity and charm. It was The Apartment, Rear Window (because fake NYC is sometimes better than real NYC), The Clock, The Sweet Smell of Success, All About Eve, French Connection, Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, After Hours, Do the Right Thing, All That Jazz, Crossing Delancey, My Dinner with Andre, Metropolitan, The Squid and the Whale.
When I was a kid, Tom Hanks was dancing on the FAO Schwarz keyboard in Big, and even the Muppets were taking Manhattan. Later, it was Al Pacino robbing a bank to support his trans wife in Dog Day Afternoon.
Yet it took me a long time to get here. I lived in several cities, Toronto the longest. One night, my partner Brian and I planned a trip to New York, with the intent of moving here.
“We’ll buy tickets first thing tomorrow,” we said, right before going to bed.
The next day was September 11, 2001. A friend phoned me and told me to turn on my TV. The first tower had already fallen.
My first visit to the city was in the mid-Aughts when Brian had performance there. My best friend Betty went into labor that weekend, and my other best friend Dawn borrowed my car the night before and parked it where it got towed. We meant to leave early, but come hell or high water, I was going to New York that day. I recovered the car, dropped off a card, and we hit the highway with a flawed route from Mapquest.
It stormed on us throughout the Appalachians: the eight hours we’d expected turned into eleven. But NYC was clear. We rolled up to our bed and breakfast in downtown Brooklyn at 10 p.m., grabbed cheap deli, and put the car in a lot where they sent it high up on a lift. (Later, the lot attendant yelled at me for leaving it all the next day. They’d thought I abandoned my car.) But at that moment, I collapsed on the bed and listened to the city squeal and honk and roar in the street below. We were there in the heart of it — near the Apollo Diner on Livingston Street.
Our second night was Brian’s performance at Pete’s Candy Store. In Greenpoint, I discovered we could park anywhere for free overnight. This was a lawless town where anyone could triumph. We walked around a more barren neighborhood than it is now, and sat talking on a bench in McCarren Park, wondering if we could move here and start a family. It would be only three years before we did that—by chance finding a sublet in the neighborhood that turned into a long term lease. Thirteen years later, we’re still in the same place.
His reading went well, and on our next night we ventured out to the bar Southpaw, in Park Slope to hear the Black Lips. Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth was in the audience. It felt as New York as New York could get. I was enthralled with the scene, in spite of the volume.
Hours after we returned to the hotel, I woke in agony. Swatting at Brian, I pointed to my ear, but it was dark. I wasn’t saying anything and he thought someone had broken into the room. I managed to rasp, “I can’t hear!” Belatedly, my eardrum had burst from the loudness of the show — a hot liquid stabbing pain. The next day Manhattan was metallic and sharp, both muted and amplified with my imbalanced senses. I bought Tylenol from the Duane -Reade at Union Square and felt fancy and urbane.
Yet it took me a long time to get here. I lived in several cities, Toronto the longest. One night, my partner Brian and I planned a trip to New York, with the intent of moving here.
“We’ll buy tickets first thing tomorrow,” we said, right before going to bed.
The next day was September 11, 2001. A friend phoned me and told me to turn on my TV. The first tower had already fallen.
My first visit to the city was in the mid-Aughts when Brian had performance there. My best friend Betty went into labor that weekend, and my other best friend Dawn borrowed my car the night before and parked it where it got towed. We meant to leave early, but come hell or high water, I was going to New York that day. I recovered the car, dropped off a card, and we hit the highway with a flawed route from Mapquest.
It stormed on us throughout the Appalachians: the eight hours we’d expected turned into eleven. But NYC was clear. We rolled up to our bed and breakfast in downtown Brooklyn at 10 p.m., grabbed cheap deli, and put the car in a lot where they sent it high up on a lift. (Later, the lot attendant yelled at me for leaving it all the next day. They’d thought I abandoned my car.) But at that moment, I collapsed on the bed and listened to the city squeal and honk and roar in the street below. We were there in the heart of it — near the Apollo Diner on Livingston Street.
Our second night was Brian’s performance at Pete’s Candy Store. In Greenpoint, I discovered we could park anywhere for free overnight. This was a lawless town where anyone could triumph. We walked around a more barren neighborhood than it is now, and sat talking on a bench in McCarren Park, wondering if we could move here and start a family. It would be only three years before we did that—by chance finding a sublet in the neighborhood that turned into a long term lease. Thirteen years later, we’re still in the same place.
His reading went well, and on our next night we ventured out to the bar Southpaw, in Park Slope to hear the Black Lips. Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth was in the audience. It felt as New York as New York could get. I was enthralled with the scene, in spite of the volume.
Hours after we returned to the hotel, I woke in agony. Swatting at Brian, I pointed to my ear, but it was dark. I wasn’t saying anything and he thought someone had broken into the room. I managed to rasp, “I can’t hear!” Belatedly, my eardrum had burst from the loudness of the show — a hot liquid stabbing pain. The next day Manhattan was metallic and sharp, both muted and amplified with my imbalanced senses. I bought Tylenol from the Duane -Reade at Union Square and felt fancy and urbane.
We walked around the Village then went to Central Park and kissed on one of the big rocks. Angling my point-and-shoot Canon, I took a selfie, then turned and saw a used condom that I was sitting on. We drove back through the night, crossing the border at 4 a.m. The customs official asked us our relationship, and we glared at each other and neither of us spoke right away. Then we burst out laughing.
In spite of everything, I fell in love with New York in a deep way.
In spite of everything, I fell in love with New York in a deep way.
On another trip, we stayed at the Chelsea Hotel, where Philip Roth apparently eyeballed me in the lobby, though I didn’t realize it then. I began coming here more and more often. Then it started to work its way into my writing. And then one morning, I opened the curtains in our Toronto studio, exposing a snowstormy sky.
“Let’s go,” I said. So we did.
What is a place that has always called to you? How did it live up to or defy your expectations?
HANK: Great question, Emily! And what am riveting post--such an adventure.
“Let’s go,” I said. So we did.
What is a place that has always called to you? How did it live up to or defy your expectations?
HANK: Great question, Emily! And what am riveting post--such an adventure.
Where do you live, and what are the pros and cons? Reds and readers, weigh in!
(And don't forget to join us on the Reds And Readers Facebook private group you have to join us to join the fun! ANd pssst...today we are giving away a package of Jungle Red LOOT to one lucky commenter who answers a special Facebook question. Come to the page to enter.) CLick here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/6835060499909032
(And if you aren't on Facebook, let us know in the comments! We will never leave you out of the fun.)
Emily Schultz
Emily Schultz is the author of Sleeping With Friends and the forthcoming Brooklyn Kills Me, both from Thomas & Mercer. She is the co-founder of Joyland Magazine. Her last novel, Little Threats, was published by GP Putnam's Sons and was named an Apple Books Best of 2020 pick. Her novel, The Blondes, released in the U.S. with St. Martin’s Press and Picador, in France with Editions Asphalte, and in Canada with Doubleday. It was named a Best Book of 2015 by NPR and Kirkus. The Blondes was produced as a scripted podcast starring Madeline Zima (Twin Peaks), and created by Schultz and Brian J Davis. Translated into French, German, and Spanish it had over one million listeners worldwide.
Her writing has appeared in Elle, Slate, Evergreen Review, Vice, Today's Parent, Hazlitt, The Hopkins Review, and Prairie Schooner. She lives in Brooklyn where she is a producer with the indie media company Heroic Collective.
About Sleeping with Friends:
"Funny, sarcastic, and unavoidably tragic…Schultz’s handling of means, motive, and opportunity cements her, once again, as a dependable and bitingly clever writer.” BOOKLIST
"Schultz presents a haunting, grimly humorous psychological mystery... A fast-paced amateur-sleuth mystery full of flawed characters and their sinister secrets. Recommended for fans of Tarryn Fisher, Lisa Scottoline, and Colleen Hoover." —LIBRARY JOURNAL
· TOP 100 KINDLE
· #1 in Women Sleuths
· #1 in Psychological Fiction
From the author of The Blondes comes a twisted, darkly humorous story about a woman’s attempted murder, her lost memories, and the old friends who try to put her back together―or finish her off for good.
When Mia Sinclair-Kroner wakes from a coma, all she can remember are the movies she’s known and loved. Her college friends quickly assemble for a weekend party, in an effort to help her remember. But with old friends come old wounds, and it soon becomes clear that Mia’s accident might not have been an accident at all.
Was it Agnes, driven by her unspoken resentments? Or Zoey, who covets everything Mia has? Have the years apart only fanned the extinguished flame between Ethan and Mia, compelling him to violence? Or did Victor, who moved away, return with an agenda? Or was it Martin, the wealthy husband, who put a country estate between Mia and her past?
As old tensions and new suspicions rise, these friends must wade through their film knowledge, shared history, and everything that’s kept them apart in order to figure out which one of them is trying to end things once and for all.
Emily Schultz
Emily Schultz is the author of Sleeping With Friends and the forthcoming Brooklyn Kills Me, both from Thomas & Mercer. She is the co-founder of Joyland Magazine. Her last novel, Little Threats, was published by GP Putnam's Sons and was named an Apple Books Best of 2020 pick. Her novel, The Blondes, released in the U.S. with St. Martin’s Press and Picador, in France with Editions Asphalte, and in Canada with Doubleday. It was named a Best Book of 2015 by NPR and Kirkus. The Blondes was produced as a scripted podcast starring Madeline Zima (Twin Peaks), and created by Schultz and Brian J Davis. Translated into French, German, and Spanish it had over one million listeners worldwide.
Her writing has appeared in Elle, Slate, Evergreen Review, Vice, Today's Parent, Hazlitt, The Hopkins Review, and Prairie Schooner. She lives in Brooklyn where she is a producer with the indie media company Heroic Collective.
About Sleeping with Friends:
"Funny, sarcastic, and unavoidably tragic…Schultz’s handling of means, motive, and opportunity cements her, once again, as a dependable and bitingly clever writer.” BOOKLIST
"Schultz presents a haunting, grimly humorous psychological mystery... A fast-paced amateur-sleuth mystery full of flawed characters and their sinister secrets. Recommended for fans of Tarryn Fisher, Lisa Scottoline, and Colleen Hoover." —LIBRARY JOURNAL
· TOP 100 KINDLE
· #1 in Women Sleuths
· #1 in Psychological Fiction
From the author of The Blondes comes a twisted, darkly humorous story about a woman’s attempted murder, her lost memories, and the old friends who try to put her back together―or finish her off for good.
When Mia Sinclair-Kroner wakes from a coma, all she can remember are the movies she’s known and loved. Her college friends quickly assemble for a weekend party, in an effort to help her remember. But with old friends come old wounds, and it soon becomes clear that Mia’s accident might not have been an accident at all.
Was it Agnes, driven by her unspoken resentments? Or Zoey, who covets everything Mia has? Have the years apart only fanned the extinguished flame between Ethan and Mia, compelling him to violence? Or did Victor, who moved away, return with an agenda? Or was it Martin, the wealthy husband, who put a country estate between Mia and her past?
As old tensions and new suspicions rise, these friends must wade through their film knowledge, shared history, and everything that’s kept them apart in order to figure out which one of them is trying to end things once and for all.
Emily, I love visiting New York City [especially for the theater], but I'm not sure it would be my ideal place to live . . . too many people, too busy, too hectic.
ReplyDelete"Sleeping with Friends" sounds quite intriguing; I'm looking forward to reading it.
We live in a small town . . . definitely not hectic or crowded, but sometimes you have to travel [sadly, it's a bit of a trip to get to a bookstore] but there's plenty of parking along with the peace and quiet [and the deer] . . . .
That actually sounds very similar to the rural town where I grew up...definitely had to avoid some deer in my time! Some of the novel is set in rural Connecticut so hopefully a bit of it will hit for you! ; )
DeleteI adore New YOrk! But I too, grew up in a rural town..
DeleteI live in a city just outside of Phoenix Arizona. It is good for year round outdoor activities especially for older people like me. But, I hate the summers when we regularly have temperatures over 110 degrees Fahrenheit. I also miss living where there are truly 4 seasons. I even miss snow. Why do I stay? My husband, even though like me he grew up in Colorado, can't take the cold any more. We can't even agree on what to do with the thermostat during the winter. He likes it at 73, I think 70 is plenty warm enough. Maybe some day we will find a compromise.
DeleteThe new book sounds intriguing, Emily. Congratulations on its release and on finally moving to the city where you wanted to be.
ReplyDeleteI live in a quiet historic town north of Boston on the New Hampshire border, and I could never live in a noisy crowded city again. We have good restaurants, a fabulous indy bookstore, and even an art cinema. I go into Boston occasionally and to New York rarely. Just not a city girl!
Thanks so much, Edith! Sounds like a great place to be!
DeleteEdith, you live in such a great place!
DeleteEMILY: I laughed at Ustinov's description of my hometown of Toronto.
ReplyDeleteI moved to Ottawa, Ontario in January 2014. Ottawa reached 1 million people last year so it is a "large" city but still has the benefits of a smaller place than Toronto. And as the capital city of Canada, Ottawa has an abundance of national museums and galleries and historical sites. I also love the abundance of green spaces. Although I live in the heart of the historic ByWard Market (downtown), I can get to one of several multi-use trails all year round in 10 minutes.
On the down side, Ottawa is still nowhere near as ethnically diverse as Toronto. When I go to Meetups or social events, I can still be the only visible minority person there. I miss being able to explore Toronto's unique ethnic neighbourhoods, eclectic restaurants and indie shops.
Sadly, Ottawa still has a reputation as "the city where fun forgot"! Our new mayor is hiring a
nighttime czar to help liven up the mostly non-existent nightlife. On the plus side, Ottawa does have a much greater roster of year-round festivals: Winterlude, Poutinefest (2 of them), Ribfest (2 of them) etc.
P.S. When I first moved to Ottawa, I loved having a 3-minute walk to work (as opposed to the 2.5 hour commute by subway/bus/walking in Toronto). I don't drive & neither do most of the people who live in my Rideau-Vanier ward. Only 30% of the population have cars. I mostly walk but the rare times I take public transit is pretty bad. Ottawa built a lemon of a LRT (light rapid transit) system that launched in 2019. Constant breakdowns, trains can't handle the snow & freezing rain that is common in an Ottawa winter. SIGH.
DeleteOttawa's a great city! My small town "near Detroit" is actually on the Canadian side, so I've done readings in Ottawa. The Manx Pub and Mother Tongue Bookstore. There's a lot to do in Ottawa, though I bet it's cold there today!
DeleteYeah, the Manx Pub on Elgin is a great spot. I have never heard of the bookstore, maybe it closed before I moved here.
DeleteAs for the weather, I just came back from a snowy walk. It is 17F with no wind, which is warm for mid-January. That lobe of polar vortex affecting the Canadian Prairies & most of the central US is coming here tonight. Frankly, we need a prolonged cold spell for the ice on the Rideau Canal Skateway to thicken up. Our Winterlude festival starts February 3-4.
I cannot wait to visit Ottowa!
DeleteGrace, a two and a half hour commute each way??
DeleteDEBS: The 2.5 hour commute was a round-trip within the city of Toronto by public transit. I did that for 13 years before reaching a breaking point. The job offer & move to Ottawa in 2014 meant better work-life balance and no long commute.
DeleteBUT, even crazier, I did do a 5-hour commute to work for 9 months Left home in Burlington ON at 4:30 am to get to Environment Canada's north Toronto office by 7 am (taking a regional GO train, Toronto subway and then bus). Return trip, home by 6:30 pm.
Congratulations on the new release, Emily!
ReplyDeleteI have never been to New York. Some day. I'm a lifelong country girl and still live on 10 acres which was part of my grandfather's 150 acre dairy farm, fourth generation on this piece of land. I always wanted to move out West, but my husband hates it out there and I love him more than I love New Mexico or the Colorado Rockies, so here I stay.
Ha, as long as you get to go on vacations to the West!
DeleteOh, dear--you can probably use that conflict in one of your terrific books! And aw, that's very sweet.
DeleteI grew up outside New York City. I dreamed of living on a farm in the country. I took a job teaching at a boarding school in the Adirondacks and met and married my husband. I longed to move to Vermont but his dream was always wilder and colder than Vermont. So we stayed here. After forty years, when I go to Vermont for medical care it seems oddly flat and featureless and on my rare visits to any city I feel claustrophobic in all the concrete and traffic. On my last trip through Manhattan I remember looking at potted trees for sale on a sidewalk and thinking sadly, "You poor things!"
ReplyDeleteOh, dear. I forgot again. That was me, Selden.
DeleteYou just made me laugh wit the "poor things." xx
DeleteLoved this, Emily. Well done! In some ways it is my story too, I've even eaten at the Apollo Diner. - I grew up not far from the Canadian border ( yes, I can sing O, Canada - we could watch Canadian tv) but the Big City always called. What surprised me most -and I've written about it - is how much it is a collection of small-town-like neighborhoods. Now I must go see what else you have said about it. Congrats on the new book
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely--cities are like collections of small towns bumping up against one another! Love that image! My neighborhood in Brooklyn is actually very similar to the one where I lived in Toronto: Polish background, slightly industrial, with many artists and musicians as well as families.
DeleteAnd my family lives in Brooklyn, Emily! I wonder if you are neighbors. They Iive on Plaza Street West.
DeleteTeeny, tiny world - Emily, I'm pretty sure I can name your neighborhood and Hank, Plaza Street West was our first Brooklyn address. My husband, refusing to consider the move, saw that street, with trees and park and kids on bikes, and offered for an apartment the same day! It worked out ok....:-)
DeleteOH! That is AMAZING!
DeleteI live on Long Island, New York in a historic village on the south shore. These days we are all nervously watching for flooding and erosion from the ocean. It’s a beautiful place to live. It’s not all the Hampton’s and glitz. Lots of wonderful parks and open space and lovely downtowns and farms. Way too much traffic and the cost of living is crazy. It’s hard for young people which is why so many leave.
ReplyDeleteOh, so many stories!
DeleteOh boy can I relate to this, Emily! I recently went to NYC determined to see whether at this point in my life I could move (back) there. (I grew up in LA but went to college in NY and lived on the upper west side with my husband for about 5 years, and *loved* it - my kids and grands are in Brooklyn...) It's such a seductive place. I know all the neighborhoods you're describing. Going to get your book this very minute. (PS I think growing up in Detroit has to prepare you for anywhere).
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Hallie! I love L.A. too! Both cities are seductive.
DeleteLA, yes, LA is so much more strange to me..a completely different culture!
DeleteI love LA, which seems a bit weird, Anglophile that I am.
DeleteIt's the epitome of aspirations, to live in New York, isn't it? Or Paris, or fill in the blank. I love NYC. For about five days. Then I need to seek peace and quiet again, in a place where life is at a slower pace.
ReplyDeleteI have lived in two cities, although in several neighborhoods, 40 miles apart here in Southwest Ohio. Twice I was with men who wanted to live "out West", and I didn't. One went, and has stayed the rest of his life. The other stayed here for me, and we're about to celebrate our 42nd anniversary. We can visit there any time we want, but I love this valley for everyday life.
Congratulations! Sounds like a wonderful book. I have lived in well, New York, Boston, D.C. and ... Des Moines. Now I live it Kittery, Maine. What can I say? It's snowing.
ReplyDeleteSNowing here, too! And more than they predicted!
DeleteGood Morning Emily. I can't wait to get my hands on Sleeping with Friends, it sounds promising. I am currently and probably forever living in Tampa FL. However my home is Seattle Washington. Growing up before the PNW was a thing, I longed for living in San Francisco. Everything seemed better, the fog, the hills, the food... all seemed exotic. I did live outside the city for about 3 years in the 'burbs. I realized Seattle also had fog, hills and really good food (unless mom was the cook). Now Tampa? meh. It still struggles with the nick name Cigar City. The one thing I can say is --aside from the occasional hurricane, the weather is tempting. At 8:06 AM as I am writing the outside temp is 68 degrees. My home is not heated and right now the inside temp is 73 degrees. So those of you who are frozen at the moment, c'mon down. It is barbecue weather.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteCORALEE: BBQ weather in mid-January? And an unheated home just boggles my mind. I am happy we are just getting 5 cm/2 in of snow today, and that the frigid polar vortex air has NOT reached Ottawa yet. High of -10C/14F + windchill starting tomorrow!
DeleteIt is barbecue weather here twelve months a year too. It is 10:30 am and it sunny with a current temperature of 65, probably will reach 72 today.
DeleteI live in the southern end of the Bay Area, seventy miles south of San Francisco. We turn on our heat a handful of times each year. Twenty minutes to the ocean, ninety minutes from wine country and two hours from skiing.
We do not have the cold, windy and foggy weather of San Francisco in this micro climate. I live in the Santa Clara Valley with a 360 view of the mountains.
Oh! You're all taunting me, ha ha. It's cold and snowy in NYC today--and I was nervous my book launch party tonight would be in peril. But thankfully it's on. Now if I only I had some barbecue to give away there! ; )
DeleteHA! "Aside from the occasional hurricane..." xxx. ANd HAPPY LAUNCH, Emily!
DeleteThanks, Hank! And thank you for hosting me here as well!
DeleteCountry person here – not quite a hermit. The closest small town (800 people) is 15 mins in a car away – Library, Book Club & liquor store, no groceries, no gas. The larger town (35,000) is 30 mins. Groceries, Doctors, hospital, regular amenities, movies, little amount of theater, etc.
ReplyDeleteHere – space, fields, trees, water, lake, ocean, quiet, birdsong, nothing to do and always something…peace.
All our kids have moved to cities. I don’t know how they can stand the noise and confinement.
We both need a haircut – it has been 3 months. Yup, really ugly state. Don’t really need any groceries except cream for the coffee. Will probably put off going to town for a while yet…
Wow--how long have you lived far from a town? I can feel the peace...
DeleteAs a visitor and pedestrian in Boston, I felt that the drivers weren't just reckless, they were actively homicidal! Learned to cross the street in large groups.
ReplyDeleteTOTALLY agree. Amazing, ridiculous, out of control.
DeleteI live in between, two hours from Boston, two hours from New York City. My mother grew up in NYC, and was the epitome of the saying, "You can take the girl out of the city, but you can't take the city out of the girl." Her sharp memories of growing up poor in NY during the depression and sharing stories about this or that incident, always held me spellbound.
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother still lived in Manhattan when I was little and we spent part of every vacation there with her. My memories of that time are full of colorful relatives coming in, the noisy chatter and boisterous laughter of at least four or five of my great aunts who came every Wednesday to play cards at grandma's. Sitting on the Manhattan telephone directory so I could reach the table.
I remember special days in a playground high on the banks overlooking the Hudson, Radio City Music Hall Christmas shows, The Auto Show at Madison Square Garden, The Museum of Natural History, and walking across the George Washington Bridge standing with one foot in NY and one in NJ.
The largest city I ever lived in was Tel Aviv. I live in a suburb now and it really is perfect for me. It's in between.
What great memories, Judy!
DeleteAww, the telephone directory . ANd I remember the clatter of mahjong tiles!
DeleteGreat memories, Judy!
DeleteOMG, sorry. Emily, your book sounds intriguing! You are a new-to-me author and I am off to look for your books!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Judy! Sounds like you've achieved the best of both worlds. I drive across the George Washington Bridge lots, but have never walked it. During the pandemic, I jogged across several of the bridges here, but I'm realizing I may need to put this on my list!
DeleteI grew up in a small town in Ohio, right on Lake Erie. My mother still lives there - it's walkable, to the library, church, grocery store, and she walks the pier every morning. There's nothing to do! I've spent the rest of my life living outside large cities where I could go to bookstores, theater, and reach an airport easily to travel. Retired and moved home to Ohio five months ago, but Columbus has all of that. I love Manhattan in spurts, so I can go to Broadway, but I'm happy just having a large city easily accessible.
ReplyDeleteLesa, where'd you grow up? Huron? Vermilion? Farther east? I'm a few miles back from the lake in Berlin Heights (very small town!).
DeleteAnd I went to college in Oxford Ohio...
DeleteCongratulations Emily on Sleeping with Friends !
ReplyDeleteI took the opposite path of yours. I grew up on the east side of the island of Montreal. Love brought me to live in the countryside , five miles from the nearest little town. Fifty years later , I consider myself lucky to live here. I am surrounded by nature and I can meet most of my needs nearby.
As long as I can drive, it will suit me. It absolutely takes a car to live outside a city. I hope to keep my ability to drive for as long as possible.
Hank : I’m not on Facebook , nor in the US
Danielle
Danielle, my sister lived in Gentilly for a number of years, and then in Chateau Richer north of Quebec City!
DeleteI love Montreal. It's such an amazing city for creativity. I just wish I had retained more of my high school French!
DeleteOh, Montreal--so gorgeous ! ANd yes, we should all go and practice French!
DeleteOui! And if there are any French readers here, my earlier novel The Blondes was translated by a Montreal publisher, Alto Editions, so you can always read Les Blondes!
DeleteI think a lot of cities have the same issues as Boston. But what a beautiful city full of history. Of course, I am biased, I was born and lived my first 6 years in Arlington. I am not a city girl though. I like open spaces, trees, farmland.
ReplyDeleteA little of both is good!
DeleteCongratulations on your new release! Love the premise.
ReplyDeleteI currently live in the Cincinnati suburbs, but it's not our final destination. After thirty-plus years in Ohio, I need the ocean in my life.
Do you really think you'll move?
DeleteI love that you are still looking for your place. I grew up on the Great Lakes but never saw the ocean until I was in my 20s. It's a powerful force.
DeleteI’ve always lived in the Boston area have visited many cities both in this country and other countries and as much as I have enjoyed other cities I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.
ReplyDeleteBeing a pedestrian has its own challenges, bicyclists who feel entitled to create their own traffic rules (which means none exist for them) not only do they go through red lights when people are in the crosswalk, but also want to ride on the sidewalk and have the walkers get out of their way. This occurs even on streets that have generous width bike lanes.
I still like the closeness of mountains, the ocean all sorts of nature opportunities from beaches and bird sanctuaries to hiking trails.
The world class medical facilities and cultural opportunities including museums, music and theater provide.virtually anything I would want in a city.
Oh, don't get me started on the Boston bicycles! It's terrifying.
DeleteCongratulations on the book!
ReplyDeleteI live near Pittsburgh. Upside, reasonable cost of living and it's near some truly beautiful natural areas. Downside, winter. It's snowing and 16 degrees right now. Ugh.
It's winter! xxx
DeletePittsburgh is a fantastic city. I was there for a family reunion years ago because it was halfway for everyone. It was great! Especially the Andy Warhol Museum. Plus the adaptation
Deleteof Chabon's Wonder Boys is one of my favorite films.
Hi Emily! Your books sound great.... and I loved your memories but ouch! your poor eardrum!!!
ReplyDeleteI was born in Portland (Oregon) and never had a hankering to live anywhere else. I've been to Boston a couple of times and agree about the drivers and traffic, though my experiences in NYC haven't been much better. The second time I visited NY, I stayed with a friend in Brooklyn who had recently moved back to his childhood home. One day, my friend drove us into Manhattan in his old Dodge Dart. A pedestrian ran across the street in front of us and Ken slowed down to avoid hitting him. The honking commenced and a taxi driver rolled down his window and told Ken to "get a horse because you sure can't drive".
I have been lucky enough to visit NY a few times over the years and love seeing the City. I think of my dad's first sight of the US as he came in as a passenger on a freighter in 1951, sailing from Southampton in the UK to NYC, passing Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. He never forgot it.
That is quite a vision, Gillian. Wow.
DeleteI agree, great story about your dad! Driving in NYC is tough. Canadians are known for being polite and I'm still a polite driver honestly. I'll speedwalk circles around my small town family, but when it comes to driving here, I am the one getting honked at!
DeleteHank, I remember visiting Boston during the winter. Very cold and beautiful. I get what you mean about I-95 and route 128 ? being the same.
ReplyDeleteThat reminds me of a street where the Sisters in Crime chapter met at a library. The public library was on The Alameda or MLK Jr. way. The Alameda became MLK junior way. It is the same street and the street name changes.
And Congratulations, Emily, on the new release.
Diana
Oh, yes, the honorifics for streets. And what the locals call them is never really what they are.
DeleteThanks for sharing your new book with us and your tales of moving to NYC, Emily. To answer Hank's question, I live in the city of Bern, Switzerland, which I consider a small city (about 140,000 people). I think Bern is a beautiful, interesting, and easy place to live, and I feel my Polizei Bern mysteries with praise of it.
ReplyDeleteThat was "fill my mysteries," not "feel." Sorry. Published by accident before I proofed.
DeleteYou do SUCH a good job with that!
DeleteI live in Rochester, Minnesota. If you need world class medical care from a bevy of specialists, this is a good place to be. The bad is that you NEED medical care from a bevy of specialists. In the 40 years I have lived here the population has grown from 58,000 to 122,000. You can drive anywhere you need to go in 15-20 minutes max. With Mayo employees and patients coming from all over the world Rochester is a very diverse city.
ReplyDeleteRight now we are in the deep freeze and in the summer we have heat, humidity, and mosquitoes. Downtown you can navigate your way to all the Clinic buildings without going outside either via the skyways or the pedestrian subway.
We came here straight out of college for my husband’s job at IBM. Unfortunately, the IBM footprint here has drastically shrunk over the years. Now the second largest employer behind Mayo Clinic is the school district. Overall, this has been a great place to live and raise a family.
As a visitor I much preferred Boston to NYC or Washington, DC. The traffic and noise is atrocious in all three! Boston just seemed to have more charm.
I have experienced Boston traffic a few times, so I agree it's bad. And pedestrians have to be very careful. However, a recent article has ranked TORONTO as having the worst commuter traffic in North America! P.S. First is London, England, 2nd is Dublin, Ireland.
DeleteThe first time I was driving to Boston, my step mother who'd grown up there and still visited family there all the time told me, "Look out for Boston drivers. They will give your car a little bump. They go through red lights and stop at green ones." Sure enough. Every word was true.
DeleteI've lived in DC--for four years--and I adored it! It is a strange place, though, so governmental and transient, combined with deep history.
DeleteHank, I have been searching for today's JRW post on Facebook in the Reds and Readers and haven't found it yet. I'd comment there, but...Facebook is keeping its secrets.
ReplyDeleteAnon above is me, Judy. Blogger. Facebook. (Sigh) When AI takes over the world, we can already see how easy it is to erase someone.
DeleteJUDY: Hank's giveaway post on Reds and Readers is now live (after 11 am). Should be at the top of the group page.
DeleteYes, it's there! WIth a photo of Emily's book! https://www.facebook.com/groups/6835060499909032
DeleteSmall-town girl here, don't ever want to have to live in a city or even a town again. Prefer being out in the countryside with everything I need within 20-minute drive. Worldclass healthcare available less than an hour away. Ditto airports, museums, theater, etc.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on making it to your dream place, Emily! And on the new release--sounds like a thrill of a read!
Thanks so much, Flora!
DeleteSouthern Oregon, rural America. Farmland. If you love the outdoors this is the place to be. It’s absolutely beautiful- hiking, mountain biking, fishing, plenty of rivers and several lakes nearby. Kids complain there’s not much to do, but it’s there if you look for it. I am not a fan of snow, and that is a problem. 10 months of the year though it’s great
ReplyDeleteKids were born in Oregon, so I was there too. gotta ask: Are you near Grant's Pass? only place I can think of in the snow shadow.
DeleteI live in Suwanee, GA which is about 35 miles northeast of Atlanta. I love the arts, the libraries, the people, and the fact that it is in driving distance of a number of fascinating places. I detest the traffic and recent need to build on any green space available. Tends to destroy the peace I found when I originally moved here. Also, rising prices and rent are making it a difficult place to remain. But, I'm still here because it is where I am supposed to be until that inner voice tells me it is time to move.
ReplyDeleteI live in a suburb of Birmingham in Alabama. I love the town that I live in but it can feel small at times. I love to visit New York but it almost seems too busy for me!
ReplyDeleteTry Brooklyn when you visit--all the different neighborhoods have their own vibe!
DeleteThe book sounds awesome!
ReplyDeleteI live in Minnesota. It’s beautiful in the spring, summer and fall. We have a lot of lake time.
Winter is another story. We were lucky enough to have “warm” days up until the end of December, however now we are spending multiple days below zero.
I would love to live in Key West or the Caribbean!
I bet that would be beautiful and I hope you get there, Stephanie!
DeleteThe Minnesota & key west comment is from Stephanie Keasling.
ReplyDeleteI live in Minnesota where the smiles are real, the seasons are many and the weather can turn on a dime. I love it, even when I have to wear fourteen layers to be able to walk my dog.
ReplyDeleteHaving lived in Canada, I really understand the 14 layers! It's one of the things I like about NYC... I can usually take a couple off.
DeleteWhere i live is in a suburb of Cincinnati close to one daughter to help out with grandchildren. I like where I live because I am close to stores and restaurants. I really would not like to live in the country. I am from western PA and love going back to visit. I love Cincinnati chili so that is a plus. I lived in Cincinnati back in the 1960’s and early 70’s and loved to take the bus downtown. There were lots of stores and places to eat but now none of that still exists.
ReplyDeleteSt. Louis area is home, and I really like my little eco-home in St. Peters, with my favorite linden tree and hickory trees and the little pond. I did love my ten years in MN, but I think the winters would be too much for me, and I like having family close by. Ideal living would be a second home somewhere warmer for winter, with room for guests. ;-) -- Storyteller Mary
ReplyDeleteThat sounds beautiful!
DeleteWe live in a bedroom community about 25 miles from Houston. I moved here from a small South Texas town after graduating from college. I have always been a voracious reader and I really wanted to leave my hometown for somewhere with more opportunity. My profession brought me to Houston. I have now been in the area for over 50 years! As a retiree, I would love to move to a smaller place, but my husband needs the access to good medical care so we're here for now. When I first moved to Houston it was a different place from what it is now... now it is too big, too much traffic, and too much crime. A bit of a love/hate relationship! I will never leave Texas though... it's in my blood! Unless, of course, I can move to my husband's hometown, Genoa, Italy!
ReplyDeleteThis is fabulous, Emily! I grew up in CT and spent my formative years on weekend trains to Boston and New York getting into shenanigans with my friends, but the west called me in my early twenties--the rugged beauty of the desert where nothing with a lick of sense should grow or thrive with wide open spaces and so much sky that I could sleep under a blanket of stars at night--and I answered, moving cross country to Phoenix. I've been here for more than thirty years. No regrets.
ReplyDeleteYour writing is delightful and I am so looking forward to reading Sleeping with Friends!
Thanks so much, Jenn! I also love the West and I'm glad you made it there! I wrote most of my earlier novel The Blondes while renting a place near Joshua Tree--needed the silence of the desert. Part of Sleeping with Friends is set in Connecticut...it's where they gather for their remembering party, but it's a fictional Connecticut town kinda similar to Darien. Would love to hear how I did!
DeleteI grew up in Chicago where we played in the streets and culture was a bus trip away. It’s a city that can bring out the grit and determination if you let it. The flip side of that is that it can be hard. When I worked downtown, I was excited to be around all the hustle and bustle. I made it to my big time. Wearing suits and enjoying all the city had to offer. But like most big cities I assume, I also had to be cautious. Because just like our weather, one street could be colorful and beautiful and the next could be dark and cold.
ReplyDeleteWherever you live, try to make the best of it. Surround yourself with good people and any place will be better.
DeleteThat is some good advice, Kim! Chicago is a great food city, great bookstores too, but it really is all about finding friends in a place.
DeleteI moved from Houston, a city of over two million people, to Lexington, VA, a college town of not quite 8000 people. I loved the museums, the theater, the population mix, the restaurants, all of it. I got tired of the traffic and crime. So it was time to bounce to a smaller place. I don't worry about crime here at all. I don't worry about being out after dark. I love the historic downtown and the walkability of it all. So, here I'll dwell until I get the itch for something different.
ReplyDeleteI lived briefly in Richmond, VA. One of my earlier novels, Little Threats, is set in a fictional suburb of Richmond. Virginia is so wild and beautiful, but like anywhere not without its problems.
DeleteI was born and raised in Saskatchewan but my maternal grandmother was from Nova Scotia and always told stories about growing up in Dartmouth. We visited in 1999 and fell in love. Over the next 17 years we visited all 4 Atlantic provinces and eventually decided on PEI. We currently live 5 houses away from the beach. We’re 30 minutes out of Charlottetown and 3 hours from Halifax. I honestly can’t imagine living anywhere else.
ReplyDeleteI have family in Halifax and was there once for the Halifax Pop Explosion (the music fest) but I haven't made it to Charlottetown yet. Sounds amazing and I'm thrilled you found your place!
DeleteOh I get this! Your "area/s" are beyond beautiful! One of our all-time favorite places to visit.
DeleteRUshing to an interview--back soon!
ReplyDeleteI'm a Manhattan native who morphed into a Californian somewhere in the 1980s. I visited NYC fairly often for work, but less often when I quit my day job to begin writing. But I'm headed back for a week-long stay in a couple of months and am so ready to embrace "my" New York!
ReplyDeleteYESSS! NYC! Come on home, and hope your writing goes well!
DeleteLOVE this! Happy writing!
DeleteSpeaking of a love-hate relationship, I'm late to comment because I've spent the day hauling wood into the house and sweeping and shoveling the snow so my poor little dogs can get outside. There's no place better than Maine in the summer, but in winter, it can be... challenging.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the publication of Sleeping With Friends, Emily, and what a fantastic premise. I can't wait to get mt hands on a copy.
Thanks so much, Julia! I'm also late to comment, so already I feel a kinship. Hope your dogs have a good snow day!
DeleteHi, Emily, and congratulations on Sleeping with Friends! What a great premise!
ReplyDeleteI live in McKinney, Texas, a historic town north of Dallas which is really a suburb now, and I grew up about twenty miles nearer Dallas. So a very native Texas, but my heart has always been in the UK, and London is my city. I love London down to its bones, the good, the bad, the ugly, the touristy and very ordinary. I never quite managed to pick up and move my life there, as you did with NYC, but I do set my books there.
Native "Texan," I meant. Should learn to proofread!
DeleteThank you so much, Deborah! The support here has been amazing today! Here's to intense walkable cities!
DeleteTacoma always makes me think of Neko Case. I think I reference her in the book. I have been to Seattle, Victoria, Vancouver. Would love to make it to Tacoma one day.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in New Mexico. I love to visit New York, but don't think I could live there. At this late point in my live, I'm trying to figure out where I would like to go. Congratulations on your latest!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Janice! I wasn't young when I moved to NYC, and I have another friend from my small hometown who decided to move to Saint Martin at mid-life. Sometimes the call for adventure comes when we most need it, and there's no need to rush. ; )
DeleteWow - 120+ comments on this topic! It's so fun to hear about everyone's preferences and geographical loves. I have been fortunate to have moved to/lived in a lot of different areas of the country and also England - cities, suburbs, mountainous areas, etc. it helped me come to realize my intense love for my home State (Maine). I am always a little leary of sharing WHY I love it so much here because the main reason is the small population. To me it is perfect. The 4 seasons, the people, the scenery, the peace and solitude to be found, the artist communities, and most especially my family heritage and history. I love driving through the town where my great grandparents (maternal and paternal) once lived (though I now live in another area), and imagine what their lives were like. I enjoy passing by and waving to my cousin on the road, living near the people who have known my family and me for generations. It's been fun to get out into the world and learn about others too, and it has helped me become more appreciative of learning about my own ancestry here. I like that Maine is "tucked away" at the end of the country and surrounded by the ocean and rivers, mountains and Canada. As an introvert, the city life is too much for me. But I do appreciate it in small doses.
ReplyDeleteEmily, your writing creds are quite impressive. Even though I'm just now trying to start reading fiction again after almost eight months unable to (our son was murdered and my passion for reading became a task too far), I have a real instinctual feeling I need to add you to my future reading list.
ReplyDeleteI've lived in the state of Kentucky all my life, first 22 years in the north-eastern part and now 47 years in the western part. I had a wonderful childhood in the little town of Maysville, KY, the home of Rosemary Clooney Of course, more people now are familiar with her nephew George. In fact, George and his wife were just in Maysville this past weekend for his father Nick's 90th birthday. OK, so while I do love Kentucky, when I was younger, like teenager and in college, I had dreams of moving to New York and trying to work in the publishing business. But, as is often the case (or was in those days), I met a boy and we got married and moved to his hometown and had children and here I am. But, here's the rub. I've never fallen in love with the city where I've spent the last 47 years, and I thought maybe my husband and I might move somewhere else after her retired. But granddaughter is too much of a treasure to move away from
Oh, and I'd love to know more about Heroic Collective.
I'm so sorry to hear about your son. I do think the mystery here might be light enough to not be too much, as it's a lot of talking and pontificating among friends about things like relationships and film. At Heroic Collective, we make fictional podcasts, short films, and longer scripts. We adapted my earlier novel The Blondes into a dramatic podcast with actors and original music.
DeleteI live in a very beautiful part of upstate NY. A lot of people automatically think New York means New York City. There is a whole lot of the rest of the state. But when I was first teaching in NC, those girls were so impressed. I couldn't make them believe that they were way more sophisticated than I was.
ReplyDeleteIf I have to mention something like a downside it would be the politics. I'm sure it isn't totally true, but it seems that everyone else is on the "wrong" side and they aren't shy about it. I'm just going by signs in their front yards.
I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada 🍁 🇨🇦 I love the four distinct seasons we have and the clear blue sunny skies even when it’s -40 degrees Celsius. Our temperatures range from 27 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit) to -40 degrees Celsius (-40 degrees Fahrenheit) in a year. I have visited many countries and cities on five of the seven continents. But, it’s always nice to come home! ❤️ I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else ‼️
ReplyDeleteI love New York City and Ottawa too 💕
I live halfway between Boston and Providence in Taunton, MA. Both places have great theater/entertainment as well as fabulous restaurants. And we are not far from the ocean, Cape Cod and the wonderful restaurants of Provincetown and Martha's Vineyard. We travel a lot now that we are both retired. Every time we arrive home, I am grateful for our tremendous medical facilities here besides all of the fabulous shopping. Ever try to find a drug store in downtown Frankenmuth, MI, for example? FORGETABOUTIT....You'd need to walk for miles! I worked in Boston for most of my career with Verizon (37+ years) and taking the train from Mansfield to South Station was a breeze, but still afforded me the opportunity to always know what was hot in the city! When we drive in, we either know where to park in certain areas or we use a parking garage app especially for the theater. Spot Hero or Park Whiz work well for us. It is useful to purchase the parking before heading into Boston just to be sure! Sometimes the price of parking can give you heart failure as the last time that I checked, the TD Garden for a Boston Celtics game was $60. I don't want to frighten anyone with what it costs to park near Fenway Park for any type of an event including a baseball game! So, I won't tell you! New York is close enough for us to drive down for a long weekend of theater, restaurants, and museums. We don't care what we spend for a hotel as long as it is super clean and has valet parking! Living here in MA, we are so close to everything, but also are able to easily escape to our home hidden at the end of a private, undeveloped cul-de-sac on 16 acres - where the deer, coyotes, etc. roam!
ReplyDeleteOh, fabulous! And do you know the amazing An Unlikely Story Bookstore? LOVE to see you in person for the launch party for ONE WRONG WORD at An Unlikely Story of Feb 6! And everyone gets a gift bag! xxx
DeleteMy comment above showed up as Anonymous as it was a challenge to link this blog to my google account! All fixed now! Can't wait to see Hank on February 6th!
DeleteI’ve always wanted to go/live in Alaska. Being from a poorer than a back woods West Virginia dirt farmer living in North Central Idaho family, I never thought it possible. But I made it. Lived in Anchorage and run the state from Seward to Cold Foot and many places in between; I loved it. Would go back in a hot little New York minute. (Like how I did that? 🤪)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you made it to Alaska. I would love to travel there!
DeleteI am f r om Quincy Ma. A suburb of Boston, when the subway came to Quincy I loved taking it in to Boston and exploring! I m afraid it would be too cold for me now!! I live in Myrtle Beach SC
ReplyDeleteEMILY! Tell us about your launch---hope it was fabulous! What a wonderful day on Jungle Red--you are incredible! Cannot wait to meet you in person...
ReplyDeleteIt went well! I'll pop back on a bit later today to read/comment some more as I have to pick up an out-of-town friend who came in for it, and take her to the airport. Thanks for all the support!
DeleteThis is Robbin S. We moved to Coeur d'Alene Idaho during the pandemic for our retirement home. Something we could never afford in 25 years in Santa Cruz. Miss it very much, but having a home of our own for however long we can is wonderful. I grew up in Fontana California and left right out of high school and have NEVER desired to live there again. Would happily live in Aviano Italy, about an hour north of Venice. It was wonderful. I am uneasy about the political agenda here in Idaho, and I just keep to myself for the most part, I don't want to know my neighbors politics and they certainly don't want to know mine. This coming election year has me worried for our country and for women. So many just don't quite understand that. The Handmaid's Tale isn't that far-fetched.
ReplyDeleteWe live on a small island west of Seattle-on the waterfront of Puget Sound, with a view also of the Cascade Mountains-it is paradise, so quiet and beautiful! We love it!
ReplyDeleteYou asked about twins. I was married to one for seven years. His twin lived nearby and had a very different personality but they had a unique bond in that they always knew where the other was and What he would do in situations.
ReplyDeleteI live in Glenville, New York and I LOVE the single lane rotary they installed near my house that helped tremendously to keep things moving on my early morning and evening commutes, but I DO NOT LOVE the two lane rotaries, one of which I also have to drive through regularly so I know which lane to be in to go out and about, but other people who are not familiar with which lane to be in can cause havoc!. I got a new car in April. In August I enter the culprit two lane rotary in my proper lane that I need to be in. A gentleman in the outer loop who apparently needed to be in the inner loop rushes past on my right and is past the point where he is allowed to change lanes and supposed to exit the rotary, but instead, he crosses a solid line and cuts me off. I have to hit the brakes quickly to avoid hitting that driver and the driver behind me who is in the proper lane but is traveling too close to me to stop on time, plows into me. 😭😭😭. New car is christened in a bad way….then the adventure of getting the new car repaired…body shop short on workers, supply chain issues with parts, high tech bumpers and cameras need time consuming specialty calibrations and repairs….took me to December to get my “new” and beloved car back. Good news about rotaries is no one typically gets hurt or badly injured, but lots of accidents especially in those two lane ones. Don’t get me started on the low railroad bridges near my house….i have three….trucks that are too tall and whose drivers don’t heed the warning signs and lights crash into them every week and last month it was one filled with compressed gas that exploded; I felt the explosion shake my house. A train going over the tracks during the impact had to drive through the 200 foot flames. It was a miracle that no one died, including the truck driver who was severely burned, but survived. I love visiting Boston but parking is a bear when we visit. Great museums, great food, great aquarium!
ReplyDelete