Next-of-Kin
I’m 25 years old. I live in a 300 square foot box. I’m not gainfully employed. Yet, somehow, my sister, S., named me next-of-kin. I’m supposed to protect the little one (my brilliant, 2-month old niece) if anything should happen to S. and her husband. Where will I put the little bundle of molecules—in my tub? When I go for oysters and Sancerre at “Balthazar,” where will I leave her—with the coat check lady, hoping she won’t get lost in a mountain of mink?
A baby and Belle and New York City…
“You ever gonna have one of these up in the city?” my sister asked me as she lay in mother’s four-poster bed…
September 15th, 2005 at 10:17 pm
splendid! delicious! wanna have dinner tomorrow?
terei que, através do nosso ponto comum nr.1 - a latitude -, percorrer o nosso ponto comum nr.2 - o atlântico. ou será melhor mandar-lhe um bilhete perfumado dentro de uma garrafa?
September 15th, 2005 at 10:42 pm
And baby makes three!
(Chantilly, Belle, and the baby!)
September 15th, 2005 at 10:54 pm
Hey I know the feeling of being from the South… being single… didn’t get the next of kin thing (it was given to the sister-in-laws sister). Other than that I am just dating all the wrong men still here in the south. lol.
September 15th, 2005 at 11:27 pm
you write beautifully. i love your blog.
September 15th, 2005 at 11:29 pm
I like your blog… It’s very interesting to see a southern belle’s point of view… especially one that lives in the great city that is NYC
September 16th, 2005 at 12:28 am
Even if you had to tote a tot, you’d be ok. Sounds as if you’ll always be ok if you just keep shoving yourself along, here in NYC, there in the South. Even in Jersey City.
Advice Un-asked-for: forget about dating and clothes for awhile. Get really strong.
September 16th, 2005 at 1:07 am
I love your style of writing. As a young writer I enjoy finding good pieces of work.
Keep it up.
September 16th, 2005 at 2:00 am
“Asinine” is such a chewey word. Makes me want to spit it out.
How does one manage to fall in love with a few words on a video monitor?
September 16th, 2005 at 3:16 am
Beautifully written!! Your blog almost reads like a novel, one that I don’t want to put down. If you have spare time you should come check out my blog, www.lisastraveljournal.blogspot.com. I’m on an 8-month backpacking adventure, and while I may not write as eloquently as yourself, I do have a lot of interesting things to say about the places I am visiting. Cheers!
September 16th, 2005 at 5:42 am
Oh! just drifted in and have enjoyed my visit here. Wonderful reading….. Take care
September 16th, 2005 at 6:28 am
You’re a captivating writer - I nearly read the whole blog.
I have close girl friends in Manhattan, and indeed, like you, everything they do there is so much *faster* than anything in London.
September 16th, 2005 at 8:30 am
It is amazing what a person can do when they need to. Your sister sees that you have it in you to take care of your niece, and in a manner that will enrich her life should the need ever arise. It is good that people have such faith in others and you must have earned it sometime, somewhere.
September 16th, 2005 at 9:30 am
I think you write just beautifully. Very impressive. I really enjoyed reading your blog.
September 16th, 2005 at 9:47 am
Just another random person passing through. . . keep up the good work, I love your style!
September 16th, 2005 at 9:50 am
Great! Just great! :O)
September 16th, 2005 at 11:00 am
I’m fascinated by your blog, yet I haven’t quite figured out why.
September 16th, 2005 at 11:36 am
I just have to say you have such a way with words. I’d love to be able to write half as well as you. Please keep it up. I look forward to more.
September 16th, 2005 at 11:37 am
Second-best blog ever!!!
I love it!
Keep it up…
-PG
September 16th, 2005 at 1:00 pm
That’s really beutiful.
September 16th, 2005 at 1:04 pm
Sorry you had to visit my blog on an “off” day. I’m usually much more uppity if you look at my old posts. But thanks. I would appreciate a happy story right about now. Maybe one with a talking chipmunk and his obsessive-cumpulsive best friend Chester the woodpecker.
September 16th, 2005 at 9:28 pm
You write so well it almost makes me embarassed by my own inchoate blog. Really— exquisite detail and use of words. I can’t wait to read more! Bravo!
September 18th, 2005 at 5:19 pm
I think I’m addicted to your blog.
September 19th, 2005 at 7:24 am
best prose yet. vestiges of Southern writing are finding your fingers as they tap on the keyboard. very Faulkneresque, the scribbler version of Andrew Wyeth……
September 19th, 2005 at 10:24 am
Of course, you won’t be called upon but I’m sure you would be a fine step-mom. And, when you are ready, a fantastic mom in New York City or wherever you wind up.
September 27th, 2005 at 10:18 am
Belle…….just a comment from Europe, great writing but as you know over here in Europe we dont really wake up until it gets torrid…wheres the SEX Belle…dont let us down