New York City

Visiting New York City has been a somewhat surreal experience.  It is something that I have dreamed of doing since I was a young girl.  It is funny to visit a place that has only been experienced through newspaper, TV, films, and my imagination.  There are those feelings of having been here before but realizing the deja vu was from a picture or movie. Taking in all of the sights, smells and sounds of this overwhelming place is unfathomable.  This is home for millions of people.  The Statue of Liberty is something they see everyday and a trip to the MET or Central Park can be a Sunday afternoon outing.  For me it is all magical.  It was so fun to see the minutemen at F.A.O. Schwartz and the big piano from the movie "Big" with Tom Hanks.  A ride through Central Park in a horse and buggy was thrilling.  Walking from Times Square to Central Park and back again left my feet sore and blistered but worth every "ouch."   The day spent beginning at the Statue of Liberty, then Ellis Island and finally Ground Zero stirred emotions that were unexpected.  Meals in Flushing and Little Italy ~ delicious.  A morning up at 4 a.m. and to Rockefeller Center for the "Today" show with my kids was too much fun and the surprising free coffee and bagels before the show appreciated.  We were second in line.  We brought home bags with towels, hats, etc. from Expedia.  Handshakes with Matt Lauer, Hoda Kotbe and Kathy Lee Gifford and standing next to Lenny were memory makers. Yummy baked goods from Magnolia Bakery ummm ummm good ~ the smells in the bakery were as delicious as the muffins.  Shopping, shopping and more shopping (not buying) from H&M, Toys R Us, 9 story Macy's, and on and on and on.  Subways, street peddlers, hot dog stands,  Harlem Music & Jazz festival at a nearby park, quiet reflections in the courtyard on Sunday, a "soft" pretzel from a stand that immediately went in the trash (dry, cold, yuck), NY style pizza and garlic knots, a wonderful hamburger at a place called "Toast," time with our children and friend, bus rides, different languages everywhere, crowded streets, throngs of people, unfamiliar sights and sounds, friendly people, distant people, people, people and more people.  So proud of these (our) grown children who are passionate about their faith, their family and their country.  Great times and still a day and a half to go!