Nothing Compares To You

CHAPTER 1: Welcome To New York
Entry #9: "Nothing Compares To You"

Dear readers,
We're back at the crossroad. It's now time to level up again. It's crazy. The last 2 months have gone by and now here we are, feeling like we just completed one portion of our journey. It's true, we have. I leave back home to California this week. Meanwhile, Jesus, Julio, and Anthony are off to Miami, and my band (+Gio) is staying behind in NYC. We all won't be together again until March. We've all spent every week together since I moved to New York. It's going to be so weird to put a pause on this part of our lives and go do something different for a few weeks. I never would have thought we would reach some sort of milestone within my 2 months of living here in NYC. I've performed numerous times, I now have a whole band that is on my side, and I have made so many new memories that will stick with me for life. As I look back and see what we have been able to create as a unit, and as a team, I'm proud of all of us. Lately, I've been in rehearsals with my band. I've gotta say, they sound so good. I'm so excited for everyone to see what we are working on. They just learn so quickly and it just makes it easier to work with them. I'm sad I have to leave them for a second, but, I know they will rehearse without me, to the best of their ability, until I return. Hopefully, when I get back home to NYC, I'll feel like I have settled in completely, as opposed to how uncomfortable I have felt over the last 2 months. Can you believe I've lived in 2 apartments since I arrived here? That's crazy! Somehow amongst all of that, I've still managed to create some sort of life that I can be happy with. For a last hurrah of sorts, until we're all together again, last night we celebrated Jesus's birthday. Both Jesus and Julio's birthdays are right after each other. Jesus had a gig last night, so, Anthony and I went out to support him on his special day. It was in one of the weirdest locations, but he pulled through and got it done, all on his special day. I'm glad Anthony was there to tag along. I know when I get back from California, I want to build more of a bond with him. That dude is so cool, he reminds me of my brother Braeden, and he reminds of home. The plan is to go skateboarding when I return. So, I shall re-add that to the list of things I will learn and conquer when I get back to NYC. The boys have come real far since I arrived. Everyone has shown some sort of growth. It's weird to see parts of myself within them now, and the things they have thought me, shine through things that I now do. I'm a completely different person than the guy that first arrived here. Today is Julio's 22nd birthday. Jesus, Julio, and I went out to dinner to celebrate our brother's special day. Julio is like the glue of our family. Everything we're doing is because of moves he made, to help us all move forward. It's so crazy for this part of our story to come full circle on his birthday before we all leave. Our brother Gio joined us and informed the waitress that it was Julio's bday. They brought out a cake and Julio got to make his wishes. I'm really proud of my brothers, from Jesus and Julio to Gio and Chris, and everyone in our lives. Everyone's life was a little different before I arrived here. Now, I can't see any part of my future without them in it, in some shape or form. They have become my family. We continue to create these bonds and build upon them. Most of them may be younger than me, but I give credit where credit is due. They each have thought me something new about myself. I didn't know I could tap into certain parts of my life and feel things I never felt before, on my own. The family that I have here in New York has shown me, I don't need to force love upon myself, from someone who always flaked. When the love I have from them, and the family I have back home in California, fulfill more of my happiness than I ever knew it could. As I close up this first chapter of my life in New York, I can not stress how grateful I am for everyone that has taken care of me and guided me here in this city that I'm now honored and blessed, to call home. 

I look back to my very first day in New York and just mentally watch how every single day, every change, and every unexpected moment, made me and continues to make me so much better. From Julio showing me around town for the first time to getting drunk at an Irish bar at 2:30 am, Playing Mario Cart with Julio and Anthony, to singing 'Nothing On You' at 3:30 am on New Year's eve with Jesus and Julio, to the first day I met Chris and foreshadowed our bond that is so strong now, to seeing the beautiful NYC skyline curtsey of Alex and his beautiful home, to spending a second with Adrian and Sherry and feeling welcomed in this new big city, to the late-night dinners with the boys and Jenny at random Chinese restaurants, to meeting my band and creating a world for the music that I have inside of me, to come to life... Every little moment adds up. Deadass, they all touch my heart and make me want to do better, do more so that all these moments are honored within everything I do. Tonight they all flashed before my eyes and filled my heart with so much gratitude. As we walked out of the restaurant and parted ways, we look towards the future and what's to come next. Gio turned to me and said, "sing 'Nothing On You'". In a full-circle moment that takes me back to the start, my brothers, and now this time, with our brother, Gio, we walked down the street and sang 'Nothing On You'... one more time before we take the steps to the next portion of our journeys. Because no matter what this story becomes, no matter where we go, no matter what my story and each of our individual's stories become, nothing can compare to these memories, that will now stick with me for life. I love you guys, with all my heart. Nothing compares to this, to you, to us.

Love, Roydom Lucian

Photographer: Chris Lopez

What I'm Wearing Jacket - Good Fellow, Flannel - Dickies, Sweater - H&M, Suit Pants - Express, Shoes - Fila