In my 50+ years on earth, I've resided in Medford, MA, New York, NY, Seattle, WA, Dallas/Fort Worth, TX and Eureka Springs, AR. Wow! What a journey!
Only recently, in my infatuation with our adorable flat-iron building in downtown Eureka Springs did I realize that all of these destinations are actually home to their very own, unique flat-iron-shaped buildings.
Upon learning this, I decided to take an introspective journey as this realization suggests there may be a deeper narrative thread to my life, as if the universe itself has curated my journey through these remarkable places on earth.
I have learned that the flat-iron shape is a symbol of adaptability and defiance of traditional architectural norms. This, in fact, truly mirrors my life's journey and spirit. These buildings stand at intersections, commanding attention and inviting reflection, much like the pivotal moments in my life that have brought me to these unique locations.
In Medford, my childhood hometown, the architectural form reflects Medford's balance of history and innovation, a quieter cornerstone of New England life. New York's Flatiron Building, an icon of urban audacity, likely resonates with my ambitions and resilience, qualities needed to thrive in a bustling metropolis. Eureka Springs’ flat-iron structure is more intimate and whimsical, emblematic of its eclectic charm and perhaps my own appreciation for artistry, individuality, inclusion and connection.
The universe may be drawing me to these places as a reminder of my ability to balance contradictions: history and modernity, the practical and the artistic, the grounded and the aspirational.
Like the buildings themselves, I often find myself standing at intersections of ideas, opportunities, and communities uniquely poised to connect and inspire.
The thread that connects me to these flat-iron-shaped buildings goes beyond their physical architecture. It speaks to the way these structures defy the odds. They rise proudly, often in constrained spaces, proving that ingenuity can turn challenges into landmarks. Perhaps this mirrors my own journey: thriving in spaces others might overlook, finding beauty in the intersections that happen during our life journey, and standing resilient to face the forces that attempt to shape me.
Medford, MA: Here, the flat-iron shape speaks to the history and industrious spirit of New England. Medford’s architectural nuances, including its flat-iron, often reflect practicality born out of tight colonial-era planning. I feel that growing up in Medford represents my grounding in nostalgia, tradition and to my roots. Family is everything to me.
In the 19th century, Medford was a hub of shipbuilding, and its storied shipbuilding history is the perfect metaphor for the beginnings of my career journey, inspiring my later ventures on the high seas as an entertainer aboard Holland America Line. The flat-iron shape here feels like a quiet compass to me — sturdy, unassuming, and focused on purpose. The compass perfectly positioned at the starting point of my life journey, in downtown Medford, MA.
I lived in Medford, MA in the mid-to-late 1980s (my teenage years) before moving into my college dormitory in Boston in August 1988 at age 18.
New York, NY: The Flatiron Building in New York City is a bold symbol of ambition and daring creativity. Its triangular form dominates its corner of Manhattan, unyielding to convention or criticism. New York’s energy clearly drew me into a phase of my life right out of college where I was called to be daring and unafraid to claim my place in a very fast-paced world. The city and its iconic architecture resonated to me then and it does so even now. As a young New Yorker, I was looking up at heights of possibility every day.
My time in Manhattan was a vibrant experience.
Now, I see these flat-iron shapes as reflections of my own ability to adapt to changes all around me, even in an unforgiving, ever-moving, ever-changing place like New York City. My life map has been created by a variety of intersections which, I now know, aren’t barriers but points of discovery.
Note: Delmonico's intimate flatiron is one of my favorite buildings in NY City.
I lived in NY City on West 47th and 10th (Hell's Kitchen) from 1993 to 1999.
Seattle, WA: Seattle was the first place in my life where I glimpsed the vast potential of my career. After spending time working on the high seas, sailing as entertainment staff on passenger cruise ships, it was Seattle that taught me adaptability, foresight, and the importance of creating spaces (both physical and emotional) that leave lasting impressions.
This is where I met my life parter, Jeffrey and this place was the intersection that changed the trajectory of my life. Seattle's ethos of innovation and inclusion continues to resonate in my approach to leadership and people management.
The Triangle Hotel, a distinctive flat-iron shaped building is a modest yet essential part of Pioneer Square’s identity. It is no wonder, given my career in hospitality, that the distinctive flat-iron shaped building in Seattle was a hotel, as it was the city that introduced me to a career in hotels.
Seattle, WA brought me my earliest roles in hospitality which served as the building blocks upon which I shaped my career. Seattle introduced me to the world of hotels and resorts, so this flat-iron shaped hotel is quite apropos.
I lived in Seattle on Capitol Hill from 1999 to 2008. Together, Jeff and I moved to Dallas, TX.
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX: with its cowboy grit and cosmopolitan flair, reflects the duality of my life path. It’s a twin city that doesn’t shy away from hard work or bold ideas, just as I've never shied away from challenges. The Flatiron’s triangular design, which efficiently utilized a corner lot in Fort Worth, symbolizes how I navigated opportunities during my life in Texas, turning what might have been limitations into advantages. In many ways, my time in Dallas/Fort Worth likely honed my ability to see potential in even the sharpest angles of life, love and career.
Jeff and I lived in Dallas/Fort Worth from 2008 to 2018. Note: Jeff is native Texan, from San Antonio.
Eureka Springs, AR: In this small Ozark town, a place we now call home, the flat-iron building serves a more intimate purpose. It’s quirky, warm, and human in scale. Eureka Springs is a town where the past feels alive and where creativity flourishes without pretense. A place so very, very different than NY City, Seattle, WA, Dallas/Fort Worth and Medford, MA.
Here, the flat-iron structure sits in the center of it all, but it doesn’t loom; it invites, it tugs at you much like Eureka itself. My connection to Eureka Springs comes from a grounding in individuality and a love for being in a place where empathy, inclusion and artistic expression thrive.
Jeff and I moved here with our furbaby Kirby in June 2018 and we plan to remain here until we're taken to the other side. Eureka Springs is breathtaking, and we adore our home, our life, our neighbors and friends and our historic, artistic town.
The flat-iron shape itself is significant. It requires resourcefulness to design, standing firmly on oddly shaped plots of land, proving that limitations can give rise to beauty. I truly find a kindred spirit in this form — a willingness to thrive under pressure, to make the most of circumstances, and to turn unconventional opportunities into something extraordinary.
The universe is clearly nudging me to see my life in these terms. It is as if it's saying,
“Look at these buildings — they thrive where others might not. So do you, John-Michael. So do you.”
My story is as much about the places as the spaces between them. These flat-iron buildings are not merely architectural coincidences; they are milestones for me. Dots on the timeline of my life. I believe that each represents a part of my personal growth. Medford is the foundation, New York is the ambition, Seattle brought me love and career, Dallas grounded me with my grit and tenacity and Eureka Springs brings it all together by keeping me profoundly connected to exactly where life was supposed to take me.
Here in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
I am here.
Eureka, I have found it!❤️
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