Without Fanfare or Frippery

Friday afternoon officially gave birth to the NYU Steinhardt Student Blog. I left the orientation with a fire under my heels, eager to write about the city that I love and have grown to call my home.

Funny then that as soon as I left, I jumped into a cab and raced to LaGuardia Airport to catch a flight to DC. It was the first weekend of a new semester and there I was trying to break away.

I should have known better.

Sometimes I feel New York City's greatest talent is in her ability to suck you into a world that is almost impossible for some of us to disconnect from. I find it all consuming sometimes. I get caught up in the rhythm, the people, the discovery. Once my gut aligned with the pace of the city, I've found it challenging to exist anywhere else. It's like my inner metronome is set off track if I choose to leave. Trying to live within a different rhythm just leaves me feeling clumsy.

On this particular day, I was as ungraceful as a token nerd in a cartoon with her foot adhered to a wet wad of gum on the side walk. The city just didn't want to let me go. The traffic on the way to the airport was mind numbing. Thanks to a deathly combination of Friday rush-hour, a NY Mets game and the US Open, gridlock trapped everyone at a standstill. As luck with have it after barely making it to the airport with a pulse, my flight was canceled. The flight I was bumped onto...delayed. I could hear NYC jeering at me, "you see, why would you want to leave this place?" I was left asking myself the same question.

Perhaps I owe my current attitude to Delta Airlines, the New York Mets or the countless other motor vehicles that decided to clog the streets on Friday afternoon. Regardless of its origin, I find myself increasingly thankful to be back in Manhattan and inaugurating my NYU Blog. I come to you ready to share my life but more importantly ready to share all that I love and find remarkable about our great city. This is a place that keeps pulling me back, spooling me in. To tell truth, I wouldn't have it any other way...

So now for the juicy stuff! Who am I? My name is Erin Phraner. Tada! Currently, I am a junior at NYU Steinhardt studying Educational Theater and Dramatic Literature. I was born and raised in New York in the small town of Northport, Long Island. Many times I tell people it's, "like Pleasantville but in a good way". My family is as important to me as my heartbeat and breathing. My parents are uber cute and still the high school sweethearts they were 30 years ago. Friends, pets (or lack there of), honors, squabbles...probably not too important to you at the moment. My life will certainly reveal itself in due course.

To be honest, I'm a lot more apprehensive about beginning this process than I had anticipated. As you will learn, I am quite open about sharing my thoughts and opinions with those I meet. However, what I had failed to consider is that I don't know who you are. I don't truly know who I'm sharing with. It's an odd sensation knowing full well that you're exposing yourself to anyone with computer access. Suddenly, each word you type seems that much more vital.

My goal, is to find out what you'd care about and what you'd like to see on this Blog. What is important to you? I can certainly blab on about all of the things I see, hear, smell, taste and indulge in. Trust me there's a lot to talk about...this is Manhattan!However, I'm interested in developing a discussion (with you) about NYC moment to moment. I'll say this once, yet I'm certain I will say it 900 more times, write to me! Send me your comments, thoughts, questions, criticisms. Let's get this baby rollin'!

This entry is entirely too long winded.
Keep your eye out for my posts in the near future. I look forward to learning more about you.

Warmly,
Erin Phraner