New York
Oh New York…
I was not excited about you.
As in, I didn’t want to see you…at all.
Aubyn has been asking for years if we could visit and I’d just shrug her off or tell her “only if your dad takes you.”
I literally had no interest in visiting the city.
Zero. Zilch. None.
I’ve been a few times and enjoyed it, but was always relieved to leave with no desire to go back.
I’m weird like that.
So for this leg of the trip, Justin would talk excitedly about the plans and I’d just feel the anxiety rising and rising.
And then he told me where we were staying…the closest place to the city he could find…
A parking lot in Brooklyn.
A parking lot.
In Brooklyn.
We’re going to die.
That’s it. This is how we’re all going. In a Brooklyn parking lot.
Great.
Would have been helpful if he said it’s a campground in Brooklyn that doesn’t have trees and is basically a parking lot, but no.
Presentation matters Justin. Just saying.
Fortunately, our parking lot in Brooklyn was just fine.
Across the street was a playground where Avett discovered the pain of concrete and Edley chased pigeons to her heart’s content.
So as not to waste any time, we drove into the city and went straight to Battery Park where we saw the Statue of Liberty and played on another really cool playground.
The World Trade Center memorial was nearby, so we hopped over there next.
How Justin was able to find street parking in the city is beyond me, but he did and I probably still owe him an apology for doubting his abilities.
Sorry Justin. You’re an amazing driver and parker and I will do better with my backseat driving and doubting your abilities. (no I want, but don’t tell him)
We walked to where the towers stood and just took it all in. Unfortunately, the park had just closed 4 minuted before and we couldn’t go below or get next to the memorial, but just being in its presence was moving.
Justin and I stood there in silence taking it all in, sharing memories of 9/11, and answering all the questions our kids had.
Almost 24 years later and the tears can still come straight away.
The emotions flooding back remembering the phones calls made. The silence while sitting watching the tv. The pained call from my mom. The fear of my coworker who didn’t know if her dad was alive. Waiting to hear from my boss who was just blocks away and had to walk across one of the bridges to evacuate. The palpable fear of what was to come and knowing that everything had changed.
I pray my children never have to experience the fear and sadness that a day like that holds, but if they do, I pray they have a faith that will see them through it.
I was Aubyn’s age when I visited NY for the first time and went to lunch at Windows on the World, a restaurant on the top floor of the North Tower. What I remember is a waiter quickly ushering me to the kitchen as I choked on ice.
Not gagged. Choked. As in I could not breathe.
They sat with me on a step and calmed me until the ice melted and I could breathe again.
I also remember how long the elevator ride was and that my mom was wearing her fur coat, which she never wore.
What random memories of such a memorable place.
We lightened things up after the heaviness of WTC and made Aubyn’s dream come true by going to Times Square at night.
Incredibly, Justin found street parking again.
With the crowds, my anxiety was high and my grip on Edley’s hand was even tighter, but we made it and took it all in.
Even though I mistrust the city and my fears get a hold of me, I will admit that being in Times Square is fascinating. The lights and people and all the energy is fun to be a part of and experience, even if it screams tourist.
When in New York, right?
I’m so grateful we went into the city that night, because we got to see parts that would have been hard to visit the next day because the next day was lonnnnnnnng.
When you’re only there for a day and a half, you have to cram it all in, so we woke up early and took the subway into Manhattan.
Was I nervous? Yep.
Was I okay after the first ride? Yes.
Did the kids love it? Of course!
So off to a full day of sightseeing and exploring - Natural History Museum, Central Park, New York pizza, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Trump Tower, The Plaza, American Girl Doll, FAO, Rockefeller Center, and who remembers what else.
Seriously, my kids were champs. We walked all over Manhattan and they kept up (Edley chased pigeons all throughout). It’s not easy to move through the city with four kids and certainly not quick, but we did it.
We only got nervous at one point (and by “we” it was probably just me) when we spotted tons of firetrucks and ambulances filling the streets with their sirens and lights and two helicopters hovering over us, not moving an inch. Took a minute to figure out was going on, but turned out a hotel caught fire. Just another day in the city, right?
We walked past all the sirens until it was time to sit for a few hours…at Wicked!
We’ve all been excitedly waiting for this, even me. This was the main reason to come to NYC - to see a Broadway show we all love - and it didn’t disappoint.
The funniest part was hearing Edley singing afterwards…“Something baa-aa-aad is happening in Oz…” Hilarious!
We left Oz and exchanged it for our Brooklyn parking lot so we could navigate the crowded narrow streets of New York in a camper with a car in tow the next morning.
It’s fine. Nothing to see here. No anxiety whatsoever going on in the passenger seat.
Being in New York was incredible and I am grateful we experienced it, but I was also glad to be leaving it.
It’s fun to visit, but I was ready for the next stop…Boston!
