The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves, and not to twist them to fit our own image. Otherwise we love only the reflection of ourselves we find in them.” - Thomas Merton

I came to New York for the roaches, the filth, the sense of intimidation, the foul odors, the violence and… oh yeah, the sky-rocket rents and the over-population, not to forget the freezing winters or the insanely hot summers.”
“If you don’t like it, why don’t you leave?”
“Don’t like it!” I replied. “But where else can I get all this?