American Dream: To Live in Brooklyn!

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American Dream: To Live in NYC, and in Brooklyn -- Even Better!

By Norma Jaeger Hopcraft

One of my dreams has come true. I was always curious, what was it about Brooklyn that people enjoyed so much?

I've been here two weeks, and I approve of Brooklyn! It's bustling, the neighbors are getting to know me and saying hello, there's LOTS of great cafes to choose from to work in. It's got a diverse population, and that's important to me at this point in my life. I like to talk to all kinds of people.

If I won PowerBall, I'd buy a row of brownstones, renovate them, and rent them out at cost to my family (except most of them hate the city) so therefore artist friends.

Here's some scenes from my neighborhood, Bedford-Stuyvesant.

It's January, and it's COLD. But the sun warms the faces of the brownstones.

Here's a close-up of a handsome one.

The front door is glamorous.

There's lots of murals around. This one spells out "Brooklyn."

A row of bigger brownstones. The area is gentrifying rapidly. Notice the architectural details under the eaves and above the doors and windows.

Here's another mural, on a corner. That's my shadow in the corner :)

A mural with a message: Stay in school.

"Find the good and praise it!"

Here's another mural, one of a row of brownstones.

It's glamorous enough for a movie set, no? Well, there's lots of movies being made in Brooklyn. My roommate directs indie films!

How about you? Do you dream of living in the city? Comment below!

American Dream: Designing Something Like the HighLine in NYC

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Dreams of High-Impact Design

By Norma Jaeger Hopcraft

I wish I had thought of it: Convert an old, elevated railroad track through a gritty part of New York City into an elevated park.

What a great concept! Probably stolen from some other city, but executed in a grand manner here in NYC.  These shots are from July 2014, just before I went on the grandest adventure of my life (so far): a one-year creative writing sabbatical in Paris! More on that later.

Good, clean design. Unfortunately, not designed for me! I need back support!

Lush vegetation along the HighLine.

A gardener working (I want that job!) and people enjoying.

The people in this building get a bonus view.

Lovely plantings -- wait, that's not cannabis, is it? :)

Artfully placed plants -- or perhaps one of nature's serendipitous juxtapositionings.

Restful greenery and flowers in a high-density area.

A shady perch, with back support.

An extension of the HighLine in the process of being completed.

Now we go to Maplewood, NJ, to an indie bookstore called Words.

This is a great space for a writer to see, a place where people can buy books and read about another person's viewpoint. And not be so alone.

A sign in the window. A reminder for when life gets hard.

A reminder for every day. This is how the HighLine started, as a dream. "Nothing happens but we dream it first," Carl Sandburg said.

How about you? Are you dreaming about what could be? You're never too old to stop dreaming! Comment below on your dream, or on bookstores, or on the HighLine.

Dreams of Independence: Catalunya

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Catalunyan Dreams of Independence

By Norma Jaeger Hopcraft

Catalans held their independence day while I was in Barcelona recently. Supporters of the idea of secession from Spain draped themselves in Catalan flags and showed their support every which way they could.

If you wore a pendant like this, you were for independence.

If you wore a T-shirt like this, you were for it.

For it.

There was no lack of flags, or Catalan independence spirit, that day.

A pro-independence flag against a Barcelona / Mediterranean sky.

Face paint? For it.

See the giant in the red cap? That's pure Catalunyan. He's for it.

More symbols for it.

Barcelona's iconic Agbar Tower is for it.

It's hard to convey the spirit of the crowd.

These young ladies are all for independence.

He's for it, too.

The giant farmer and mermaid were paraded for independence.

Looks like they'll live happily ever after.

He's head and shoulders above the crowd.

Have a beer in favor of independence.

He's in favor, too.

Heading toward the big demonstration, all in favor.

This guy doesn't care one way or the other.

The outcome of the vote later that month was complicated, and not at all binding on the legislature of Spain.
But you got a taste of Catalan spirit. Not everybody wants independence. Some Catalans feel that they are stronger united with Spain. The outcome of all this flag-waving and parading waits to be seen.

Catalunyan Independence I

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Catalunyan Independence

By Norma Jaeger Hopcraft

Catalunya, the area of Spain I now live in and seek my American Dream, wanted an historic referendum on whether or not to secede from Spain. Catalunyans have a long-term distrust of Madrid and a history of rebellions put down brutally. The region creates 35% of Spain's GNP, and they want to stop the flow of tax money to Madrid. Nobody here cares a fig about the Spanish royal family. They see them as drains on the economy and a bunch of entitled, corrupt snobs.

"My grandfathers are singing in their graves," one Catalan told me. Earlier in September was the annual National Day of Catalunya. This year it was bigger because of the upcoming referendum.

Barcelona is the capital of Catalunya. Here is the Arc de Triomph with people preparing to march in favor of independence at the foot.

Flags were everywhere. This is how people showed support for indepence.

Wearing the flag of Catalunyan independence means you're in favor of it.

So does wearing these T-shirts.

This means you're in favor of it.

So does this.

This T-shirt? In favor.

Whole families got into it.

These people just wanted gelato.