NYC—Home in the Heart
By Jeannine Patané • January 2005

    I have been told that I never sit still or that I’m always on the move, but these comments are relative to one’s own lifestyle. I have a friend who travels around the country so frequently for movie and television production work, that he makes me look sedentary. Peter, or “Moose” as I affectionately refer to him, called me a few days ago to ask me the usual question that we ask one another, “Where you at?” For all the traveling we do, it has been about a year and a half since we saw each other. Fortunately, we discovered how close we were and we had two days to meet up in New York City before one of us was traveling again.
    I caught the southbound Metro North Train into Grand Central Terminal that evening. Moose and his friend, Jobie, met me at the information booth in the main concourse. We greeted each other as old friends do, and within minutes of walking to a subway platform, it felt as though it was only last week since we saw each other. I know I’m close to someone when time does not separate the memories we share. We asked questions, laughed and joked as we flowed in and out of subway doors and turnstiles.
    The ride brought us up to 116th Street in Harlem, where we exited the number two train and climbed the steps to the street above. Snow fell on us as we walked a few more blocks north on Malcolm X Boulevard to a brownstone building where Moose and Jobie were temporarily residing. We entered the basement level apartment and I was impressed to see that someone was in the process of renovating the apartment. The hardwood floors had recently been refinished, and the ornate wainscot was stripped down to expose the wood from many decades and layers of paint. There were signs of recent sheetrock repair, and contemporary recessed lighting had been installed throughout the apartment. The kitchen had been fitted with new cabinet doors, hardware and appliances. I observed the details that went into the renovation; this was a building that someone put care into.
    Before we settled down for the evening in the apartment, Moose wanted to show me the neighborhood. We wrapped ourselves up for the winter weather, dressing in hats, gloves and scarves, and then stepped out into the snow-covered sidewalk. Moose wanted to show me his favorite place to eat; Sylvia’s—Queen of Soul Food. It was late in the evening and we had already eaten earlier, but we went into Sylvia’s just to admire the atmosphere. Moose explained to me why he liked it there so much, aside from the food. Sylvia’s was a welcoming place and the people there are family. To Moose, Sylvia’s was another home for him.
    We left the restaurant and continued our walk around the neighborhood along with our conversation about our homes. The snow-blanketed city blocks were glittering under the streetlights, which gave the usual concrete dirtiness of a city a soft, pristine appearance. Moose expressed his love for the several places he has worked, and the qualities he saw in each place. He and I shared the same feeling that home is where the heart is. We have many homes and several families, therefore our hearts can be found in many places.
    The direction of our walk brought us back to the apartment and we were ready to turn in for the night. Moose unlocked the gated entryway, and then we removed our wet shoes as soon as we reached the foyer. For tonight, with home being where the heart is, my home is with Moose and Jobie, under the roof of a well-maintained brownstone building in Harlem.