It was a warm summer morning, the skies were blue, the birds chirping ready to usher in the new day. My brothers Wesh and Kim were ready to drive me to NYC. The date was July 19th, the year 2015 a few minutes past 6 am. I remember my brother Kim asking me a few days prior for keys to my storage place to start loading up my stuff. That’s the kind of guy he was - he did not want me to lift a finger. The truck was his to - thanks to his job. Helped me save money with transportation costs. I miss my brother terribly.

I can’t talk about this journey because he was always a part of it. He was beyond excited! You would have thought he was the one moving. The journey up North started when the sun rose, an indicator of a new dawn. The drive was long, sprinkled with stories, and lapses of comfortable silences. Taking in the scenery along the drive. Upon arrival to NYC, my brothers helped me unload, move in, made sure I was settled before they headed back to Maryland.

I was left surrounded with my unpacked boxes, a bed that needed to be made, and the possibilities of something wonderful. To overhaul my life and start from scratch without any job prospects was daunting. I reminded myself I stand on the shoulders of really strong women who taught me to go for what I wanted.

My early days in New York had me doing all kinds of jobs from hosting at a restaurant called Sarabeth. It overlooked Central park and apparently the same building that house Lady Gaga. I couldn’t survive in the city with that salary so I got another job at the hotel, working the front desk. In between that, I interned with stylists, connected with other photographers for shoots - this blog was that creative channel I needed. Finally, I got my huge break with CHANEL.

My first job interview was a week after Kimantion’s passing. I remember my heart was heavy with grief, I wasn't sure I could even do it since it was on video. Flo, my sister told me to take a moment, and think what Kim would want. She urged me to take a shower, beat my face, and set up my phone for the video interview. I started my job 4 months later. It’s bittersweet not being able to share that with Kim, but his spirit and the memories I have of him live on. 

I still can't believe it’s been five years. It blows my mind sometimes. The comment people say of how time goes by so fast rings true. August is next week! 

This year will be one for the history books. So much has happened. So much is going on. I feel like we are in a cataclysmic shift. This year is so mind blowing! If anyone had told us about it last summer while partying in rooftops and hugging each other, we would have laughed them off.

2020 was the year we all wanted to travel, explore, get started on new adventures, buy homes, finish projects but life has a way of upending everything.

I have learnt to take all these changes in stride.

New York City was the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic earlier this year. It was heartbreaking to see the city we all love, the city that never sleeps - go on a shut down. There are so many losses that this pandemic has brought forth. 

I believe we are all trying our best to cope, to survive, and hope that we can come out of this healthy and alive.

I have a deeper appreciation for nature because while at shut down, nature was the one place you could go too. I enjoy walks and picnics. I enjoy conversations of depth with people I care about. I enjoy being on the phone with a loved one. I started meditating because my anxiety in the early days of the pandemic was up the roof. It’s a daily practice though I fall short on other days.

The best part is that, I am here - writing again. Enjoying the process of creating looks for shoots. Immersing myself in this process that I had taken a break from. I am all for celebrating wins, even small ones.

Happy 5 New York! I look forward to the next 5.