From one of my windows here in Hell's Kitchen, I have a great view to the west. In fact, on a clear day I can see New Jersey. Now, have no idea what I am looking at in New Jersey but my friends in the city tell me it is indeed the Garden State. What I love about my western exposure is that it gives me some of the moments I miss from Turkey Hollow. The sunsets are in clear view. The other night I got to see an incredible view of the full harvest moon. Sitting in my little 'nest' in the window, I can see approaching storms and cold fronts.

As I watch the urban version of Mother Nature unfold, can't help but be taken back to my childhood to my tiny west-facing bedroom in our old family farm house in southern New Jersey. The room had a bunk bed with just springs and a very paper thin mattress. The bed was originally used by the Jamaican workers who came during crop season. The blankets were 'army issued' brown ones that were scratchy on the body. The floors were wooden and in one spot I could lift a piece of floor board and hide my treasures from the prying eyes of intruders. On the walls, I had posters of John Kennedy for President and cut outs from Life Magazine.

In the stark room were two large windows where I loved sitting and watching Mother Nature put on a show. Looking across the fields, I could always see the first approaching cold fronts of winter with a clear delineated line. The sharpness of the change always surprised me. No matter how many times I witnessed going from mild to sharply colder with heavy winds from the northwest I was in awe. With nothing to block my view for miles, I would stand guard to 'protect my family' from the approaching storms. However, when I went to warn them, my announcements were always greeted with laughter and someone saying, "Well, it seems David is bound to become a weatherman."

In winter, we would get wicked "Nor' Easters" that would dump up to two feet of snow. They don't seem to happen anymore. Maybe it is because of global warming. Always as the storm shifted to the north of us the winds would curve around to the northwest with heavy blowing and drifting snow. From my bedroom perch, I could see white outs, swirling snow tornados, huge drifts pile up to the roof of the outer building on the farm. Our roads would close for days. Sitting in that window, I had a first row seat better than any I could have at any New York Opera and often it lasted longer than Wagner's Ring Circle! I was fixated on the show. From those moments, I have come over the years to love storms.

Now there is a new 'viewing nest' for me in the corner of my living room with a special little chair where I can sit facing west awaiting those storms that I vividly remember from childhood. I find myself uttering prayers for a major blizzard this year (quietly so none of my friends will blame me if the city is brought to a halt by drifting snow and white outs!) As soon as I walked into my new apartment, I knew I had to have it because of that western view: A once in a lifetime opportunity to relive a real part of my childhood.

Can't wait to get on the phone and proclaim loudly to my new urban buddies, "Hey friends, there is a storm coming!"