Having the Right People in My Life
Ryan reflects on the devastation of Hurricane Sandy and what it changed about how he approaches his life.
This was a tough episode for me to watch, because I knew what was going to happen halfway through. I think anyone living in New York City during the dark ages that we called Hurricane Sandy can reflect on the unexpected state of helplessness that the storm imposed on parts of the Eastern seaboard. It seems like a lifetime ago now, but to be compromised in such a profound way is a feeling that I'll never forget.
Watching Episode 2 flooded me with memories of an extremely dubious time for New York City: downtown Manhattan was a windy scene from a dystopian science fiction novel -- no power, no water, and flooded streets. New York City as we knew it was completely and literally blown over. There was nothing scarier than the eerie sound of the train whistle blowing steadily through Tribeca as the gusting air passed through the open center of the unfinished One World Trade Center. Emergency vehicles' flashing colors were the only lights to be seen when the sun came down.
Despite the fact that I was able to leave New York City, the worst of the bad news came when I reached the surrounding tri-state area. Staten Island and the Jersey Shore were ravished in irreparable ways, and it seemed as though the Rockaways were beyond repair. For over a week, we were at the mercy of a higher power and a devastated infrastructure.
For the people who really had nowhere to go: I admire your determination and resilience. A few other things happened in the first half of Episode 2 that I should probably address: the hilarity of watching Fredrik try to spell and Louis try to steal my clients at 15 Broad for an apartment he still hasn't sold. Those moments warmed my heart.
Hurricane Sandy helped me realize many things, the most important of which is having the right people in my life. I want you each to remember that you are the decisions you make and the people you keep. I want to thank each and every one of you for taking the time to read this and for watching. We're all we have at the end of the day, and that's what Sandy taught me. Until next time, keep your heads up and keep fighting for it if it means something to you.
Expansion, always, in all ways. GO GET IT!
