Half a Lifetime

On By Eric Peterson

I moved to New York City on my thirtieth birthday.

OK, so, actually I did this:

  • on the 24th, the movers picked up my stuff from my apartment in South Philly. I then drove me and my cat up to Manhattan, dumped the cat at my friend Jennifer’s apartment, and met the movers at Manhattan Mini-Storage.
  • on the 25th, I drove back to Philly and cleaned the apartment, then went to a farewell party thrown by friends who didn’t realize it was actually my birthday, even though there was cake!
  • on the 26th, I drove back to NYC.

So, close enough.

Anyway, I’ve now lived half my life in NYC. As I’ve said a hundred times, moving here was the smartest thing I’d ever done. The city itself was so interesting and inspiring. And immediately, opportunities opened up in ways I’d never imagined.

I’ve now seen hundreds of shows and operas. I’ve performed in hundreds of concerts – as hornist (and tubist and bassoonist and and and…), singer and most importantly, conducted them. I’ve marched in dozens of parades.

I’ve conducted at Carnegie Hall!

I had a day declared for me! No, I’m not kidding.

I’ve been on stage as an actor and singer many many times, and in the pit of shows even more. As a theater conductor, I’ve conducted masterpieces by Sondheim, Sullivan, J. Strauss. I conducted my first symphony! I was a choir director!

I’ve also, without much paying attention to it, had a largely successful and enjoyable IT career.

I became a knitter! I learned how to ice-skate!

Oh, yeah, I also met the love of my life.

Four months. Four months after moving to the city. By the time I’d been here a year, we’d already bought and moved into the apartment I’m sitting in now.

I’ve lived almost all that time in Jackson Heights, a neighborhood I didn’t know existed until we moved there. It’s possibly the most diverse neighborhood in the city, and I love living here.

I had an entire domestic partnership. I got married. I was loved! And loved back! Full throttle, both our hearts.

So here I am, half a lifetime as a New Yorker. But although I’m on a new chapter, the book is nowhere near finished.

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