Thanksgiving Time: Thank You (For Letting Me Be Myself Again)
It’s Thanksgiving eve in New York City. They are blowing up the balloons for the parade right outside my Halstead Property window on 79th St and Columbus Ave. It’s quite a sight.
This has been a unusually eventful year for all of us politically. We have been tested by unfathomable stresses, whether in our news feeds or our family dynamics. Some of us lost heroes — I lost Tom Petty and our long-loved family dog Mayzie. Some have lost friends. These losses feel profound, I know.
Still, this year I feel more like myself than I have in years. It’s frankly hard to put in words. I do know it has been a important year for me personally, and I think for many of my loved ones. My family is very fortunate to be together, my daughter Hallie and wife Natalie and son Elias all happily employed, all grabbing control of their destinies, all moving closer to doing what they want to do.
So, tonight I will walk down Broadway and meet my son, his friend Ned, and my wife at The Beacon Theater. I will have spent the day doing exactly what I want to do. I’m building a business. I still can’t believe I get to help people find and sell their homes, in my favorite city in the world. It’s not an easy job, but it’s ridiculously satisfying.
And then we will go see a legendary musical hero of mine. We will go see Bob Dylan live and in concert.
“A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between he does what he wants to do.” — Bob Dylan
There will be bum notes, rearranged-to-the-edge-of-recognition songs, a phenomenal band, and a fierce and uncompromising artistic sensibility on display.
I’m thankful for it all, including your reading and your friendship.
So, Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours from New York City.
Don’t be a stranger.
