Author Archives: cindybrandle

This past week I traveled to Ohio to visit my parents. They had recently moved from my childhood home to a condo. In my urban mind, a condo is an apartment you purchase, maybe a townhome. But, in the midwest, and I suspect other locations, a condo appears to be a ranch-style single-family home withContinue reading “56 And My Childhood City “

It is evident that the title of my blog 56andthecity is a play on Sex And The City. I will admit to being a fan of the show, and so it seemed fitting when I moved to NYC in the fall. On occasion, I do find myself quoting a few lines, here and there, fromContinue reading “On Finding Material…”

In my neighborhood, where I walk three times a day with my dog, my eyes have been feasting lately on the hopeful sprouting of new leaves and potential flowers. The air is filled with spring, awakening from a frozen slumber and doling out a sense of optimism.  Today, even as the clouds covered the cityContinue reading “On a Budding Perspective…”

Sometimes, it is easier to find one good story or stock answer neatly packed in your back pocket when meeting up with friends you haven’t seen in a while. Especially when you, yourself, have made a significant life change.  My daughter had been visiting from college for the past ten days in NYC, and someContinue reading “On Writing a New Narrative”

A few months ago, as I was on a morning walk with my dog, the fog was so thick I could barely see the Statue of Liberty. There were, however, traces showing the outline of the iconic figure, and it sparked the idea that a glimmer of hope is sometimes all we need to getContinue reading “On Seeing Through The Fog part 2”

A few days ago, I turned 57. Fifty-seven.  Aging is one of those constants in life that genuinely feels dichotomous. Of course, the definition of aging is to continue living, which is the goal. However, almost all of us want to stop time, or at the very least, slow it down. But, alas, to stopContinue reading “On Turning 57”

It is 6:00 a.m., and I’ve been up for about an hour or so. Unable to silence my rapidly spinning thoughts, I relinquished my attempts at sleep, rose from my bed, and started the coffee maker.  I am currently sitting in Boulder, at my carefully curated dining room table that I have listed for sale,Continue reading “56 And a (slightly smaller) city”

Two things sparked my thoughts last night about New York City and my place in it. First – My two beloveds and I began reminiscing about our life in Boulder. It all started when Ashay was suddenly experiencing pangs of nostalgia and missing our life in Colorado – things like long, beautiful hikes, open space,Continue reading “On NYC and Me…”

Let’s talk about looking for the “right” words. Lately, I feel as if I have constantly been searching – a search for purpose, a search for meaning, and now a search for words. Now that I am forging this new path as a writer, I feel as though I should always be writing – writingContinue reading “On Finding The Right Words”

Since moving to NYC, I have become more of a housewife/home manager/chef/director of housekeeping – essentially all of the above. It seems as though I’m typically in charge of figuring out what is going in our bellies at any given time. So, I’ve been the one making dinner reservations, ordering food online, grocery shopping, cooking,Continue reading “On feeding – my soul, our bellies “