cindybrandle

56 And My Childhood City

This past week I traveled to Ohio to visit my parents. They had recently moved from my childhood home to a condo. In my urban mind, a condo is an apartment you purchase, maybe a townhome. But, in the midwest, and I suspect other locations, a condo appears to be a ranch-style single-family home with…

On Finding Material…

It is evident that the title of my blog 56andthecity is a play on Sex And The City. I will admit to being a fan of the show, and so it seemed fitting when I moved to NYC in the fall. On occasion, I do find myself quoting a few lines, here and there, from…

On a Budding Perspective…

In my neighborhood, where I walk three times a day with my dog, my eyes have been feasting lately on the hopeful sprouting of new leaves and potential flowers. The air is filled with spring, awakening from a frozen slumber and doling out a sense of optimism. Today, even as the clouds covered the city…

On Writing a New Narrative

Sometimes, it is easier to find one good story or stock answer neatly packed in your back pocket when meeting up with friends you haven’t seen in a while. Especially when you, yourself, have made a significant life change. My daughter had been visiting from college for the past ten days in NYC, and some…

On Seeing Through The Fog part 2

A few months ago, as I was on a morning walk with my dog, the fog was so thick I could barely see the Statue of Liberty. There were, however, traces showing the outline of the iconic figure, and it sparked the idea that a glimmer of hope is sometimes all we need to get…

On Turning 57

A few days ago, I turned 57. Fifty-seven. Aging is one of those constants in life that genuinely feels dichotomous. Of course, the definition of aging is to continue living and moving forward, which is the goal. However, almost all of us want to stop time, or at the very least, slow it down. But,…

On NYC and Me…

Two things sparked my thoughts last night about New York City and my place in it. First – My two beloveds and I began reminiscing about our life in Boulder. It all started when Ashay was suddenly experiencing pangs of nostalgia and missing our life in Colorado – things like long, beautiful hikes, open space,…

On seeing through the fog…

In a city like Boulder, Colorado, a town I lived in for 11 years, where they boast that the sun shines nearly 300 days a week, it’s always a little strange when you can’t see the mountains behind the clouds. And, then, it’s such a revelation when they begin to lift and expose the glorious…

On creating an introduction …

On WordPress, when one embarks on a new blogging adventure, they ask you to create an introduction. So, this morning, while walking my extremely cute and still very vibrant senior dog, Sami the Shih Tzu, I began to develop a list in my mind. You see, for me to introduce myself, it became increasingly important…