From the Concrete Jungle of NYC to the Cornfields of Illinois

How My New York State of Mind Eased My Anxiety With Moving

The Original Nathan’s restaurant stands at the corner of Surf and Stillwell Ave in Coney Island Brooklyn since 1916

I am a born and bred New Yorker; I am from the heartbeat of the state, which is New York City. New York City has various monikers, its known as the city that never sleeps, the big apple, and the infamous Empire State. There is a difference in those who move to the city as an adult, then those who have been raised here. We are bred with copious amounts of grit, resilience and alligator tough skin. New comers are as foreign as smiling faces on the Monday morning E train[1]express to midtown. They stand out; therefore, they will fall first as prey for the predators. There is so much to say about and nothing to say about home all at the same time.

Coney Island Brooklyn Train station

As a New Yorker, coming to the Quad Cites I’m Dorothy realizing Kansas is a far cry from here. There is no more hustle and bustle, sirens or the calamity of people below my 1-bedroom apartment window. I am now cradled to sleep by crickets, and the loud rumbling thoughts of my subconscious. I have begrudgingly acclimated to some of the adjustments. There were certain comforts from old home that I took solace in that have left me feeling lost and very emotional in new home.

A mural of great African American Musicians under the Long Island Railroad Station tracks in St. Albans, Queens New York

My “coming to Jesus” [moment of reckoning] occurred at 12:45am on a cold fall night. I finished writing a blog post and suffered from a severe hankering for a Chopped Cheese[2]I walked downstairs, put on my coat and proceeded to walk outside. I soon realized there was no place here in Illinois to satisfy my craving. I said to myself “baby girl you are not at home anymore.” This is when I walked back inside, sat on the stairs with my face in my palms looking like I lost my best friend. Then suddenly the thought quickly popped in my head, how am I going to recreate and mesh old home with the new one?

I miss being able to walk to a bodega[3]and get anything, at any time of the day or night. The smell of smog and urine-soaked train cars is a comfortable yet disturbing familiar I now appreciate. Another major hurdle I’m having is the availability of sourcing specialty food items. It is difficult to source fresh seafood, exotic produce, organic grains, and exotic spices. I am the culinary worlds Batgirl. At night I am diligently cooking, blogging, and posting my passions. All of this in hopes to share parts of me to the world through my creative lenses. But it’s proven to be much more taxing to complete when I’m being blocked by my demographics.

All is not lost in the Quad cities, I am just now starting to regain my sea legs. So far there have been a few great gems that I utterly adore such as Sowing Seed Urban Gardening Center, Blue Spruce Bakery, and Johnnie’s Meat Market. In the Quad cities they have great local farmers, great cattle, and the most amazing dairy. The Freighthouse Farmers Market are something wonderful everything is organic and locally sourced. That venue is literally a treat for the entire family, everyone is so friendly and personable. Their prices are much more reasonable than my overly high-priced home state. I am beginning to like it here, because of the land of opportunity and family. Everyone here like me loves their animals and one place that I found was Rescued in Moline, Illinois that proceeds go to helping all pets in need.

Gramercy Neighborhood in Manhattan New York

I had to realize that it’s not about the state you’re in but the state of mind that you have.I can recreate my New York City metropolis wherever I am because it is deeply rooted in who I am. New York City made me, and now it’s time for me to show everyone else what “Just a little black girl from Queens” can do.

*All photos are original work of my own. Using images without prior written consent is not authorized.

[1]Queens (Jamaica/ Parsons and Archer) to Manhattan (World Trade Center) Blue line train that runs along 8th Avenue via Midtown and Times Square (express or Local) .

[2] New York City signature sandwich consisting of chopped ground beef patty with onions, peppers, topped by melted cheese and served with lettuce, tomatoes and condiments on a hero roll — has long been a staple of bodegas

[3]A bodega is a convenience store open 24 hours a day 7 days week. Consists of a deli, a restaurant, liquor store, pharmacy and legal and illegal lottery numbers. There is always a cat laying on the bread infamously known as the bodega cat to catch vermin.