New York City is definitely not a city my father ever saw himself living in, and he probably would never have moved here if it wasn't for my mother talking him into it.
See, he was born and raised in Virginia, and he lived all over the South in states like Kentucky and Mississippi.
The South is ingrained in his DNA, with his Southern family tree extending all the way back to the 1700s, and all of his immediate family still living there to this day.
He never really cared for city livin', but after living in the Bronx for twenty plus years and raising his own children in this city, there are some things he learned to appreciate about the Big Apple.
Here are 5 of those quintessential NYC things.
1. Bodegas
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These are his favorite spots; he can get his Diet Coke at any time of the day or night, and they're literally right down the block.
To him, it was like having his own fridge you have to walk a few feet from your house to get to.
There is definitely no such thing as a bodega down South because everything's a ten minute drive from your house. And to this day, when I go out he always tells me to grab a Diet Coke on my way back.
And why not? In this city, a bodega is never out of anyone's way.
2. Kids sitting on the hood of his car
I remember growing up and hearing my dad scream because the kids from the neighborhood were sitting all over his call.
He would always say to them, "I don't come and sit my ass on your couch, so don't sit your ass on my car."
However, the longer he stayed in this city and realized how many cars got broken into, he had a change of heart.
He went on to figure out that if kids were sitting on his car, no one would actually break into it. So not only did he start letting them sit on his car, he actually started to encourage it.
Go figure.
3. New foods
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When my parents first met, my mother said the only thing my father would eat was soul food and cheeseburgers. He was that simple; all he wanted was a plate of fried chicken and potatoes.
Once they moved to New York City, he started trying more and more food out-- like some of my mother's Italian dishes and even some Spanish and Mexican food.
My father never even laid eyes on a Hispanic person growing up down South, let alone eat variations of Latin-American-inspired foods; but nowadays he's all about chicharron with rice and beans, courtesy of my oldest sister's Dominican husband.
Ironic, am I right?
4. Acceptance of interracial dating and marriage
My father grew up during a time of great prejudice in America, as well as a region rich in discriminatory traditions. Interracial anything was something he was never used to.
People of different races did not mingle socially, let alone date. Once in NYC, he learned to take in new cultures along with appreciating them. All of my siblings, including myself, date outside of our races.
My father never thought for a day in his life that he would one day have dark-skinned Dominican grandchildren, or Jewish grandchildren (all of whom he loves to death), or even a son who brought home a Chinese girl. But he has all of that now, and he loves every second of it.
Personally, I think he was always attracted to females of a different race-- which is why he went for my dark-haired, dark-eyed Italian mother.
5. Rap music
Even though he won't cop up to it or admit it, he likes it when I put on Hot 97. When none of his favorite AM stations are on, he tells me to put on whatever I want (because he knows I'm going to play rap).
He'll sit there and say things like, "How do you understand what they're even saying?" but he doesn't notice I constantly catch him bopping his head to the beat.
And even though he's been here for over twenty years, he won't ever admit to loving the city-- or at least certain aspects. He says he tolerates the city and would move back down South in a heart beat.
However, he hasn't gone back down South, and I don't think he ever will.
He's too used to the convenience that this city has to offer. He knows how much my mother loves it here, and besides, my mom wouldn't move anyway.
Because as long as an Italian woman has a wooden spoon in her hand, she's the one in charge.
Check out Here Are 5 Essential Life Lessons That Both You and New York City Have Taught Me.
[Feature Image Courtesy: Mark Garbowski]