New York New York, It's a Wonderful Town

Last week a girlfriend and I went to New York to visit my daughter Kari in Astoria. Stephanie (said girlfriend) had never been and she had been eager to see the sights. I'd been a few times but since Kari had moved to a new apartment I gladly went to check it all out.

It was go go go from the time we got on the plane until we returned home 5 days later. We tried to pace ourselves but the very buzz of the city itself made it impossible to go slowly.
If we wanted to go to, say, Times Square, we had to hop on two busses, three subways, and walk twelve blocks just to get there. It would take all day and some careful planning to spend a few minutes at the attraction itself. By then, sometimes, we didn't care. I did purchase some postcards to remind myself of where I'd been.

The crowds were everywhere; the only place there was solitude would be in the bathroom. Even then you had to rush because there were always several desperate people waiting outside wiggling the door handle.

We visited Ground Zero the day after the anniversary of the attack. It was a somber experience to see the memorials, handwritten notes and flowers lined up against the fence.
We also rode the Staten Island Ferry and viewed the Statue of Liberty. Stephanie made sure we rode a horse drawn carriage through Central Park. Kari and I walked partway across the Brooklyn Bridge (we went halfway and back).

Kari's apartment is very nice; she and Gareth have made it into a home. Actually, Maeby and Ferrari, her cats, only allow humans to live there to care for them. Gareth, Kari's fella, cooked us a wonderful italian meal that I am still carrying around my midsection.

I was very glad to return to St. Louis, however. I realized how blessed I am to have a place to call home that I can actually hear... nothing. Busy cities make it difficult to be relational as there are too many people rushing around to get to know many of them.
I found myself longing for the ability once more to chat up the grocery checker, to tease the person at the drive thru window, to nod and smile at someone as they pass.

Relationships are challenging enough without the added pressure of the 'rules of the city.'
For example, Kari grilled me before we first set out sightseeing:
1) Don't make eye contact,
2) Don't talk to anyone you don't know,
3) Don't pet someone elses' dog on the street,
4) Don't wait for someone to go in front of you- you must push forward or you'll never get anywhere,
5) Get through the turnstiles fast or you'll be cursed out or run over.

It was exhausting!

I loved my visit. I experienced a few snags sleeping (Kari woke me up one night because I was snoring. She said I sounded like a dying alien...). Gareth is a great host and Kari is a good guide.

It's been about a week now and my ears have almost quit ringing. By next week I hope to be able to sleep without fighting the desire to look out my bedroom window to watch my neighbor's big screen tv.

If I've gained anything from this trip (besides weight) I'd learned to be glad that I'm a midwesterner. I may not know my way around my own town (read previous blog) but I know I can pet someone's dog (if it's shorter than me- read previous previous blog), and that good manners will always put a smile on someone's face.

Fun With Church Ladies

Thanks to all the 2 Rivers ladies who came out en masse to enjoy a great evening at the Lindsay's Chocolate Cafe on Wednesday night. I'd like to think each person came to fellowship and to hear me speak but I know better. It was the promise of CHOCOLATE.
We girls have our needs, right?
The food was phenomenal, the ladies were so friendly, and the ambience made it a wonderful evening.
Everyone was very attentive although I suspect that since I spoke after dessert that their rapt attention was in reality a sugar buzz.
So be it.
I loved the warmth and openness of each lady who approached me to introduce themselves and visit.
So thanks again (thanks Chardean). It was a lot of fun.
BTW- I must have had too much cake since I got lost on my way home. Really.
I've lived in this area for almost 22 years and I got lost going home.
Ya gotta laugh.

My Own Worst Enemy

I am such a klutz. Really. Every injury I've ever had has been something dumb I did to myself.
Just like everyone else, I've stubbed my toes and crunched my knuckles on something. I've had to have sewing machine needles removed from my finger (after having to lift the presser foot and releasing my digit from the machine). I've needed stitches for holding a knife wrong and trying to cut through frozen food and slipped. I've given myself a black eye running into the arm of a chair.
My neighbors never really know what to expect when I leave my house for work since I've fallen out of my own front door. Twice. Everything stops when I'm nearby as everyone waits to see what I'm going to do next.
I've even been whiplashed by a mannequin in a department store; the explaining I had to do and teasing I had to endure while undergoing treatment was disconcerting. And that was just by the doctor!
The latest episode to my list of embarassing injuries occurred last week while waiting to go on a bike ride with my hubby.
He'd gone to pick something up at our house and so I asked to be dropped off at the end of our street so I could play with/pet the neighbor's great dane.
I don't know this dog very well but he seems to be very sweet. I've petted him several times and he 'plays well with others.'
Man, when this dog gets up on his back feet to get closer he towers over me. Looking at him that day, I estimated him to weigh probably 180 lbs. I wanted to break away from the petting gently so he wouldn't get upset so I pushed against his shoulders to get him back over his side of the fence.
Suddenly I felt this sharp pain on my upper lip and I doubled over to put my hand over my mouth. My eyes clenched shut as the tears rushed down my face. Once I opened my eyes I looked at my hand, fully expecting to see my front teeth in my palm. Luckily, no. Blood, but no teeth. Apparently the dog had bumped into me with his giant paw and hit me just under the nose.
By this time Don has returned for me; he must be really used to my clumsy antics because he calmly looked at me and said, "Here, put some ice on it."
The bleeding stopped soon afterwards and we went on with our bike ride. Even as I write this my mouth is still tender but now I'm in the 'I can't believe I did that' mode.
But it is a reminder to me how most of the pain we experience we somehow do to ourselves.
Misunderstandings, a rush to judgement, not thinking clearly, impatience. These all create a pain that could be avoided if we stopped, took a breath, opened our hearts to the Lord, and stepped a bit more gently into the situation.
I never really get the sympathy I think I deserve when I'm experiencing pain like that. I think my friends are quick to understand that if I hadn't (for example) gone to pet the dog I wouldn't be bruised and sore right now.
It's a great lesson to us all to think first, live prayerfully, and never pet an animal that is taller than you are.