Our first outing found us in CentralPark, it has always been one of our favorite places to go. We are avid people watches, some may say I even gawk-rubberneck davis was an old nickname-(really I'm just absorbing it all), and the park is the perfect place. The day was so perfect, the sun was out, people were running, the bleachers were being set up for the marathon next week, the smell of the roasting nuts filling the air and boom boxes sending out a beat as street performers get the crowds to gather, violins under the stairs and sun bathers all around.
We walked home past our first home on 56th and 8th Ave, saw how much has changed yet stayed the same. The familiarity of walking those streets still deeply woven into the cellular memory of my being. We ended with a stroll down Broadway to 47th to scope out some shots for my photo shoot the following day. I figured since we are doing a Daylight and Friends New Years Eve show at the Columbian Theater, I must have a picture of me in Times Square for the poster, just the way my mind works (wink).
The next day, what a gorgeous day it was! We started with a walk over to SAKS because a girl needs to walk through the shoe floor just because. Heaven. Then, we strolled up to Bergdorf Goodmans to check out the windows, always a must.. Especially at the holiday season. To our wonder and awe, the windows were done in celebration of the opening of Crimson Peaks and they were unbelievable!!! I'm still drooling thinking about it.
Next, we were on the train down to Union Sauare to get produce for our meals, what a great outing!! After a power nap, we went to our old favorite neighborhood bar, Barrage, for a Crystal Gayle, which is a frozen cosmopolitan, delicious!!
The time was right, we headed home and got the girl all dressed up to take Times Square!!! 
Walking down the street pulled me back to the first time I introduced myself to the world, on the streets of New Orleans 3 years ago! That was a trip, wandering through the French Quarter with Becky, Jeanine, Uriah, and the rest of our crew. It was a glorious parade and I felt my spirit bursting and floating around me. I had the gold Isis wings and I fluttered down thos streets with my friends as we made new ones with every person who wanted to stop and have a photo and a hug. My favorite was a group of young girls asking me if I was dressed as Beyoncé, I laughed and loved it, and introduced myself as Daylight! But maybe it was getting to have a dance moment with a one man band as a crowd gathered to cheer on the magic!
That memory was pulsing through me as I made my first few strides down the street, I was feeling a touch shy. I get that way. Once we hit the square and I found my light, the rest was just flirting and flitting. Had some photos taken with people taking in the sites and wondering once again if I was supposed to be Beyoncé or Lady Gaga.. 'You are so sweet; no I'm just a girl out on the town. My name is Daylight Cums.'
Our next stop was to return to Barrage, then hit Flaming Saddles and go to Therapy. We took our time and when the moment hit we took a photo. This may be my favorite:
Everywhere we went people stopped to admire, comment or share a hug. This little town girl was feeling so much love! At Therapy so many people wondered when I was performing. 'Oh, I'm not performing tonight sweetie, I'm just here to take it all in.' And boy did I. A girls got to have her trashy moment.
We watched some of the big top show. Had such a great time. What I swished away with was the knowledge that even though I am a small town queen and nickle and dime our shows together, we put out a show that is just as fierce as anything I saw here. Often, I feel I need to apologize for myself, apologize for being a low budget act. Kind of like when I was in school and had to present a movement piece for my composition class and I would inevitably begin with my disclaimer of not being on top of my game and I am sorry. Apologizing for something I hadn't even done yet and what kind of set up is that for anyone? Why give them permission to note the 'flaw' before it even happens. And doesn't that give me permission to not give my best.??
Thos are those challenges I have chosen to give up and being out last night and shining as I do, I felt nothing but at ease and at home with every stride I took down the streets of this powerful city. What the streets rumbled to me was that 'I am, I am who I am and no one can tell me I'm not...' I feel as I have been dipped in the rejuvenating waters of my being and I feel the rush of what me and my family of Cums has to bring forward to our community and all those that feel that rhythm too, the rhythm of our Dragalution and the beauty our bodies dancing down the streets strong in the beauty of who we are brings to our incredible town of Astoria.
I'm loving you and can't wait to drink you all in!
Yours,
Daylight
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