It's Monday and I'm practically floating following this past week. It was a busy and fulfilling one both personally and professionally so I didn't have much time to sit and fill journal pages like I normally do – that's a good problem to have at times. That being said, this'll be another short post as I dive into this week.
I've started plowing into another book after finishing my last one. I'd been wanting to dig into Patti Smith's memoir Just Kids since seeing her interview with Stephen Colbert way back in the day. Side note: it drives me bonkers seeing this YouTube clip in the wrong aspect ratio but not enough to embed the version from Comedy Central's website.
I'd come to learn of Patti Smith via the photographer Robert Mapplethorpe (portfolio – some NSFW images BTW). I'm about two thirds through her book at this point and good grief these two were absolutely in the thick of it amongst the NYC creative scene of the late 60s and early 70s.
I've nerded out reading about her commutes on the same F train I ride almost daily as well as a couple mentions of the early days at Electric Lady Studios considering I've been able to shoot there a couple times already with Contrast Films for VEVO and Spotify projects.
Anne and I absolutely had more money and years to our name than Patti Smith did when we got here and we’ve been able to lean into that, but it’s crazy easy relating to some of the struggles she faced during her early years in the city. It’s tough being away from family, especially with kids, but we’ve met and connected with some outstanding people here who are in the same boat and up to do life together. Financially I’m still working to get my legs under me as a freelancer and I’m VERY much a small fish in this giant pond. I know what it’s like to drink black coffee and nurse a cheap beer at social events while some of my new peers have the financial means and margin to spend more. There’s also the thing about having and needing space to work as a creative. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t fervently covet a studio space, but for now I’m down to work at a coffee shop behind a laptop and notebook with a plain black coffee — typically the most inexpensive item on the menu.
It's stories like Patti Smith’s that keep me excited about being in New York City.
At twenty years old, I boarded the bus...Today was a Monday; I was born on Monday. It was a good day to arrive in New York City. No one expected me. Everything awaited me. - Patti Smith