Piccola fetta di paradiso
As the lightning bugs blink around a painted sky and the kids line up at the local shaved ice place, we often find ourselves sitting on the porch sipping a limoncello in the twilight hour. I have to admit that I am a bit obsessed with our porch. After living in a studio apartment for almost 30 years, being able to sit outside at anytime of day seems like a little slice of heaven. (Along with having a washer/dryer.)
One of our favorite things to do is watch the sunset over at Memorial Park, also known as Sunset Park. Which is just a hop, skip, and jump from our place. Talk about a little slice of heaven. It’s great to see so many people of all ages gathering around each night to see this spectacular star make magic, with the help of the earth.
Some nights it is a sailor’s delight and other nights the clouds hang around and are perfect for a poet’s eye. I have been lucky to capture some beautiful images. There were a couple of nights when I only had my iPhone and was upset that I didn’t get the perfect shot. Lover reminds me to enjoy the moment – I try : )
Friends have asked me if I miss the city life and, honestly, I really don’t miss it. I enjoyed Manhattan for many decades starting from when I was 6 years-old and my Dad arranged through a friend for me to sit in the captain’s seat and pilot the Staten Island ferry. When I saw that skyline, it was love at first sight and so it was that I fell in love with the city. Manhattan will always be a part of me. But around 10 years ago while in the mountains of Montana (check out my Big Apple Big Sky post) something was awakened in me and my heart opened up. A new chapter had started. Over the past decade and especially during the Covid lockdowns I – like millions of others – spent a lot of time alone. It was during that time that I knew for certain that eventually I would leave the city lights. What I didn’t know then was that I would find love, too!
Walking around my new neighborhood, among the beautiful flowers, I often find myself “sunflower dreaming.” There are many twists and turns in the square mile of Sea Cliff and I love discovering new views, new wild flowers and the many unique pieces and places. Instead of my Dear New York, I have started a Dear Sea Cliff and I look forward to capturing the town of Sea Cliff through my lens. Because it truly is a little slice of heaven. Or, as the Italians would say, Piccola fetta di paradiso.
Check out my Instagram @tleetracy to follow along.
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