I received one of my very favorite compliments years ago, from a friend I hadn’t seen in quite some time back then. It was 2002 or 2003 and I ran into him at an art show in the Treasure Coast. We had worked together at my hometown (Newark, Ohio) newspaper when I was a college student. He was so much fun to work with and, surprisingly, we both ended up working in Florida! We laughed about our time in Ohio and he said, “You always struck me as someone belonging more in New York City than Newark, Ohio.” Those words meant so much to me. Of course, as I’ve aged, I realize that NYC isn’t as perfect as I’ve always imagined it (unless you have endless amounts of money) and I know that there are cool and stylish and amusing and terrific people in Newark (I know a lot of them!). But I remember feeling so…pleased that he thought I’d fit into NYC.

Part of the infatuation I have with NYC is that it is a place where the unconventional is expected. Of course I just walked past a woman with a purple mohawk that stands a foot off her head. Of course a trans man just walked past me on the subway in short booty shorts, a fringed top and platform shoes that I would absolutely kill myself in. Of course someone is running across the street wearing red from head to toe. I LOVE the unconventional and I love that NYC is a place to revel in it.

When I see someone with unusual hair, unusual makeup, unusual clothing or jewelry, I just swoon. My face becomes the heart-eyes emoji. It brings me such delight. I aspire to such unconventionality (within the parameters of my own style).