The New York State of Mind;

"Upstate New York in the middle of October. You can't get more beautiful than that".-Paul Reiser

-As previously stated I consider myself an outsider. However, really I am from the same small town that everyone else around here is from. I guess, then, that I just consider myself lucky. I am lucky; to have lived and explored the world outside of this small town that so many around here never leave. Lucky to have experienced culture from other areas of this giant world I am lucky enough to be a part of. Lucky, I guess, to have the ability, and the want, to get out of this small town that seems so lost and forgotten and hidden. A town where identity is lost to those from the outside world, in the assumption that the "Big Apple" is the entire Empire State. I find that I am able to call myself lucky to have gotten a taste of both worlds, and still have the eagerness to dare to want some more.

I am generally a very outgoing and sociable person, although, this doesn't seem to hide my innate social “awkwardidity” I seem to create wherever I go. The problem I face is I love to travel. And apparently people from around here frown upon leaving the comfort of surrounding county fairgrounds, and exploring nearly any other part of the world. Being the social butterfly I've always been, I seem to attract people naturally to me when I travel. This is my favorite part. Being able to interact and really connect with people from parts of the country and world that you wouldn't naturally be in. A very awkward situation I always seem to fall in, is explaining to other people where I'm from. Often times I giggle first, which obviously make them suspicious and a little intrigued. The next step is obvious, I say, "I'm from New York."

People always jump at this statement. They seem to love the idea that they are in the presence of someone from the greatest city on earth. But they are wrong. Most everyone has this misconception. Pretty much unless you're from a small town in New York, or you have family from one, you are under the same impression as everyone else; People from New York are automatically from New York City, The Big Apple, the home of Broadway, the home of Wall Street and the greatest city in the world. People assume that the title "New Yorker" implies that we are from New York City, along with all of the other implications and feelings associated with it. People assume we are crazy drivers, rude to talk to, have a thick accent (which since my family is from there I can hear the dialects within "city" accents), go and see Broadway shows every weekend, and love pizza.

 Coming from an outsider’s standpoint, and the fact that I've had to explain it enough times, I can understand why people think this way, even people from New York City forget that there is a whole state attatched to their island. But I mean, can you really blame them when all they know is what they hear and see through media and history? Whenever you see New York being represented in T.V. shows such as Friends and Sex and the City, it's always filmed in the city itself, and played up to all the hype. Whenever you hear New York being talked about on the news stations like NBC and CNN, it's always to do with Wall Street and the Stock Market. And whenever you think of New York, at least when I do, you instantly think of Broadway, The Rockets, the infamous Time Square and the timeless classic, Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York".

No one is discounting that New York City truly is all the hype that goes along with it. However, it is often forgotten that there is an entire state just north of there. My small town is about 5 hours north, following 17 most of the way up until you have to take back roads to get the rest of the way. (Did you know that John Lennon and Yoko Ono own a country home just seven miles from my house where they would frequently stay in the summers?!?) New York is truly a beautiful, and what I would call thee perfect state. Upstate New York can quite possibly be one of the most beautiful areas in the world. You experience all four seasons, thoroughly and timely.

The winters are filled with bright sunny days and fresh layers of cold snow every morning, perfect for snow days and making those classic snowmen. Spring is when everything is coming back to life. All of the trees and flowers are budding and everything, literally everything is bright, warm and green. Next comes summer. Summer here is temperamentally predictable. It is mostly hot, sunny, lively and humid. Humidity seems to go along with the things that define upstate. Most kids spend their days working. Afternoons are the time to have fun, especially on the weekends. Spending the days out  by a river or lake, barbecuing with friends and family, and playing volleyball (or other forms of sports), seem to be how most everyone I know around here spends their summer days. A big boost in the traffic coming through mine and surrounding small towns comes in the summer when the baseball camps are in session. People from all over the nation come to train and play baseball at The Cooperstown Dreams Park and The Cooperstown All Star Village. This being obvious since the home of baseball is New York's own Cooperstown. All this being pictured, the best is yet to come; the fall. Perhaps I am impartial to the beauty because it is my favorite season, but there is nothing more beautiful that upstate New York in the fall. The leaves are changing colors, the air is still warm but cool, and everything stays picture perfect for a couple months. New York City wasn't just nicknamed "The Big Apple" for no reason; we have a plethora of gorgeous apple tree farms growing here in upstate. Apple picking is one of the most fun things around for all ages. The famous Fly Creek Cider Mill has been supporting visitors from all over for more than 150 years.  

The beautiful scenery and history embedded into upstate culture has shaped who all of us are as people. Did you know that;

"Upstate New York continues to boast low crime rates, high educational prospects, and readily affordable daily essentials, earning Syracuse, New York, Rochester, New York, Albany, New York, Schenectady, New York, and Buffalo, New York spots in the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upstate_New_York magazine list of top ten places to raise a family in the United States."

And quite possible for these sole reasons: You are friendly to your neighbor, you always lend a helping hand, someones problem is your problem too, and a smile will get you further than anything else in your life. You are raised with respect and manners, and the importance of taking care of yourself and those around you. (And to always be aware and dress for the weather!) There is an entire way of life here in upstate New York most people don't even know exists. There is so much more to this beautiful state than the wondrous New York City. Many people often take upstate for granted in that there is not much going on and it is all country living. We, however, understand the beauty in simplicity and embrace it.

-And so next time someone talks about New York, and the stereotypical city-slicker, remember the picture perfect world I have enlightened you about, the world I come from, and wouldn't change for anything.-