The sun finally came out on my second day stretch of driving to New York City. The day before, it rained for 8 hours nonstop; as if something was trying to tell me to turn around and go back home. It wasn’t until my flight from STL to NYC was canceled, that I decided to conquer the 14 hour drive solo.
It seemed as if there were many signs telling me not to go work on the frontlines in the epicenter of a pandemic in NYC.. canceled flight, dreary weather, parents worried sick, many fears of the unknown, etc. But the sun was finally shining and the song Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson came on the radio, and everything just felt so right. “…take a chance, make a change and breakaway…” I cranked the sound up, and continued driving.
The drive itself wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Breaking it up over 2 days, good music and podcasts and catching up with friends and family on the phone definitely helped the time to pass faster. The anxiety was setting in as I saw parts of the Manhattan skyline ahead in the distance.
After taking this picture, I only had about 15 minutes left in the car before I finally arrived to my home for the next 8 weeks! I unpacked the car, met one of my roommates, FaceTimed a few of my friends and family, and settled in for the night. Every night, at exactly 1900, the entire City makes a lot of noise and cheers on the people working in the frontlines. I’ll have to get out the pots and pans next time.
The next day, I dropped off the rental car, and bless my roommate’s heart, she offered to pick me up and bring me back to our house. We ended up doing some exploring (by car) around the city. After all, it was a beautiful day!
We continued driving down the eerie, desolate streets of NYC. Certainly, we had to take advantage of this beautiful weather and empty streets to cruise around for some sightseeing.
Last stop was Brooklyn Bridge Park, an empty pier with a nice view of the lower Manhattan skyline and Brooklyn Bridge.
Without a doubt, reality starts tomorrow. (I’m fully aware that not every day will be filled with blue skies and picturesque sights.) I will begin online orientation for the hospital that I will be working at for the next 2 months. I know, you’re probably thinking that I’ve absolutely lost my mind by making the leap out here. Of course, I am a little nervous but I am more so excited to get to work and be apart of the fight against Covid-19.
I know that the next couple of months will not be easy. I hope to find light in dark situations, bring my energy to the staff and patients that I’ll be working with and make a difference by being here. If you know me, you know that I cherish all of the lessons I’ve learned by being far from my comfort zone. “…I’ll spread my wings and I’ll learn how to fly…”
Thank you to all of my friends and family for supporting me during my decision to come here. And shoutout to my co-workers at Mercy for the encouragement and checking in on me. All of your support means more than you know!
Follow along with me as I continue to use my blog as a platform to share my personal stories and experiences in NYC during this unprecedented time in history. Stay safe and healthy, my friends.
The Aud Blog 