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September 05, 2007 7:24 PM- first love

Dear Boston,

We go a long way back. I?ll never forget the night we met.

It was after midnight in the middle of February. You were in one of your moods. My parents had to inch through that crazy-ass blizzard you were spinning?their easy 1.6 miles to the hospital took nearly two hours. No doubt it was stressful, painful, and probably fucking scary for them as my mom was in full-on labor, but between you and me, I knew right then you were the town for me.

I mean, come on. Why NOT get the gauntlet at the get-go?

Who needs to be swaddled in bright sunny mornings and languid afternoons when we both know one errant breeze and you?re gonna go all dark and moody anyway?might as well get the bad news up front.

Besides, I like a wild spirit. I know, I know--- everybody thinks you?re this uptight, provincial, pot roast for supper, white shoe type town, but I know better.

Not only have you got your cousin Cambridge always at the ready to take it large and keep you tuned, you?ve got your secret self that most don?t see. I?ve spent hours in your public gardens, strolled the boulevard that is Commonwealth Avenue, gotten drunk on the heady scent of lilacs covering the hills of the Arnold Arboretum-- I mean, what other city has the Fenway, the Riverway, the Arborway, the Jamaicaway?four different names and you and I both know-- it?s all the SAME. FUCKING. STREET.

Dude. You just love messing with people?s heads.

Sure, there are those who prefer the simple, systematic grids of Philadelphia and New York. They?re the same ones who scream bloody murder at your old cow paths, your disregard for more conventional city trappings such as street signs?and of course, who doesn?t curse your penchant for rotaries and one-way streets? Truth be told, you?ve even had me growling under my breath now and again when I least expect it.

But that?s what I love about you, Boston! You?re not an open book.

It takes years, nay a lifetime to master the intricacies of your thoroughfares.

And I?m here to tell you I will master you, you will be mine.

Last night you thought you had me, didn?t you? Admit it. You were laughing to yourself when I offered my friend a ride from Huntington Avenue to her hotel over by the Museum of Science. You didn?t think I could do it in a single go. And it?s true, when Memorial Drive dipped left and dropped me cold on the doorstep of M.I.T. with no option but to cross the river and come down Storrow Drive, I thought we were through, I really did.

I mean, there?s only so much a girl can take?I worked at M.I.T. for two years! Do you take pleasure in humiliating me like that? That I can?t keep track of all your tricks?

But who won out, hmm? Who took Storrow Drive and looped back up and over using one of your hidden reverse direction curves, huh? Huh? That?s right baby. I won?t even remind you of how I sailed across Kenmore Square on my way back to Tara?s apartment ? sailed, despite the fact that the ballgame had just ended and traffic was thick with knuckle-headed Sox fans and blowhards. Do you want to know why?

Because I think you?re still upset with me. I do. You?ve never forgiven me for leaving.

It doesn?t matter how often I visit, how much fun we have when we?re together, you just won?t open up to me and I think that little M.I.T. number you pulled last night is a perfect example of your passive aggressive ways. It?s not like I expect you to be in touch with your feelings or be able to communicate them-- I know you?re no Portland, Oregon, but a little forgiveness? Is that so much to ask?

Here?s the thing, Boston. I?m back in your life, whether you want me or not. How do you like them apples?

See you Monday, baby.

Bisous, bp

(P.S. Did I mention you have a nice ass? You?ve been working out, haven?t you?)

got 2 cents?



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Milly says:
Boston is a great city, I love it!
posted on: September 05

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lizardek says:
Oh BP, you are awesome. That was simply fabulous. What a great love letter! Do you know, you made me miss CHICAGO even more, if that's possible. How can one love a city so? Even after 10.5 years away, I still pine for mine.
posted on: September 06

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Jazz says:
I've only been to Boston once, but I loved it. And I feel the same way about Montreal - though it does have a grid layout. Good thing, because otherwise, after over 20 years here I'd still be lost. Getting lost is one of the things I do really well.
posted on: September 06

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wee says:
o, the P.S. is the crowning glory. You just KNOW that that's all Boston remembers of this love letter. You just KNOW Boston is all twisting himself double try to get a glimpse of the nice ass in the mirror all day, all vain glorious and distracted, leaving you free to navigate his streets at will.
posted on: September 06

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bad penguin says:
oh, the joys of driving in Boston! I remember being particularly proud when I figured out a way to get where I wanted to go in Allston that involved turning into a parking lot and then cutting through an alley. I miss Boston sometimes. Not the winters, but Storrow Drive was awfully pretty at night, the Gardner is my favorite museum ever, and Cambridge has an energy and charm that DC is missing.
posted on: September 06

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frecklegirl jess says:
bwahahahahaha!
posted on: September 06

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Amber says:
I think it's great how people seem to have a spiritual connection to one specific city. A lot of the times it happens to be a polarizing subject; either people hate a place or absolutely adore it.
posted on: September 06

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Jecca says:
Brilliant! Sentiment, writing in general, mood, execution -- all brilliant!
posted on: September 06

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Bridgemor says:
love boston, i grew up in the italian north end, the maternal side of my family still lives there. when i'm done in the midwest in a few years i'm coming home to boston! who knows maybe we'll run into each other.
posted on: September 06

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Joy says:
And Somerville feels like the sage yet youthful grandparent, telling you stories about back when. Back when it was young, all the towns wanted to be just like it...
posted on: September 07

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Mala says:
This is such a wonderful post! I don't have as intimate a relationship with Boston as you do -- I grew up in Mass. and would visit Boston on school trips, drive to "the city" to hang out when I skipped school, worked there for a couple years and then moved to DC with every intention of eventually settling there. But never did. I visit every now and then... take in the sights... make an annual trek to Fanneuil Hall and the aquarium (don't ask) ... but I'm a stranger now more than ever. I love this post!
posted on: September 07

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bohemiangirl says:
I almost got a job at Harvard in 1998. Instead, I moved to British Columbia and connected with my inner hippie. Tee hee. I wonder where I'd be right now if I'd gotten that job?
posted on: September 07

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teahouseblossom says:
Yeah, I'm ambivalent about Boston. It has its charms, but sometimes seems like a closed off place to live if you're an outsider.
posted on: September 09

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otter says:
You clever girl :~)
posted on: September 09

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Sorry, comments are now closed.




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