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I never thought I’d have a job in food services. While attending Ithaca College during the 1990s. As a work-study student I worked the grill, supervised by a chef in the main dining hall. I learned how to make a mean grilled cheese and my friends would stop by the grilling station for a grilled cheese and fries.
I never thought I’d live in the suburbs. I lived in Brooklyn for over 25 years — first in Greenpoint, then in Park Slope where I had a rent-stabilized, two-bedroom near Prospect Park for 17 years, and finally Bay Ridge. When the pandemic hit, like millions of others who lost work, I was forced to relocate. My brother moved me back into our childhood home on Long Island. While I was grateful to have a roof over my head, I didn’t drive, and all my friends lived in the city. To stay sane, I spent most of my time writing. Last year, Alien Buddha Press published my poetry chapbook, A Shadow of Your Former Self. I also received a grant from Poets and Writers.
I never thought I’d stay at a hotel during the pandemic. In 2022, I took a chance and attended a writer’s convention in New Jersey. While I enjoyed seeing my fellow authors IRL, the hotel lacked even the most basic amenities.
I never thought I’d live in Queens. After searching for apartments in Brooklyn for two years, only to be turned down because I’m a full-time freelancer, a friend suggested Forest Hills. I found an over-sized studio in well-maintained a co-op — Manhattan is a short subway ride away.
Never say never because you never know…
Amy Grech ©2024. All rights reserved.
