No one's really from here, they just all pretend that's what they've been about.

thank you Butch, for the words of Wisdom again.

he's referring to the transplants in Brooklyn, the ones who have reinvented the culture there and are now a part of the cultural landscape. but he's referring to the ones that seemingly act like they've been there their entire lives, who look down upon the next crop of newcomers.

its an interesting thought though.. this melting pot. i have always sort of assumed that the main melting pots occured during the influx of immigrants in the beginning of the 1900s, during the Ellis Island revival. i now realize that its in fact happening on a daily basis in the NY metropolis.

i have many friends in brooklyn... all but two who have moved there from elsewhere. its great to see the borough getting its props after all this time, but it raises another interesting thought.

at what point are you "from" somewhere? if some homies in brooklyn are asked where they are from (at a casual get together, or at a bar, or you get the picture...), when is it ok for them to say "i'm from brooklyn"? at this point, should they still say "yeah i'm from up north but i live here now"? 10 years from now, can they say they're from Brooklyn?

is it when you see the same people walking on your street? when you can smell the air (preferably by the park!) and know that its the air of your new city? when you learn the new tax rate, or when you realize that there are no taxes on fruit and veggies? when you go back 'home' for a weekend to see family and realize that your soul is aching? that you feel weird not knowing if the subways are messed up or not seeing your familiar bartenders that weekend? when you dont see the adorable dog in your apartment building for a few days? when you start raising a family and your spawn can really say that they're from there?

or, does it just become a sort-of melting pot of your own history? you can be from many places i feel... its not as if one disappears from who you are just because you left. its still there, they just might be a bit hidden. i firmly believe that you're made up of everyone who you've met, that they made some impact on you, no matter how large or small. you're not yourself per se, but a mixture of everyone you've known. you learn how to tie a scarf around your neck from this person, someone else taught you what compassion truly is. all a part of you, no matter physically or mentally. is it the same for where you reside? can you ever have a true definitive home?