The Big City

On Monday we left with our son to spend two nights in New York City.  Last year we visited in March and that time it was 70 degrees.  This time we weren't so lucky with summer time temperatures.  We still had lots of fun.

I know some of you live near NYC and I wish I could have set up some visits, but our schedule was jam-packed from the morning until the evening!  One day I'll be there with some blocks of time to spare to making blog friends into real in life friends.

On our first full Monday, my fitbit  clocked over 20,000 steps :)  I'm telling you - crazy!!  I'm thrilled I was well enough to do that amount of walking.  The next day I had only 13,000 because I was too tired and my body was sore.

We walked all over Central Park and I remembered to take lots of photos.  A park information worker gave us a lovely walkabout trail at the lower half of Central Park.  She was quite helpful!

Monday night, we went to the Kinky Boots musical and was thoroughly entertained for the evening.  There is nothing like a LIVE performance.  I appreciate the talent, sweat and hard work that goes into entertaining an audience.  I also think of the creative people who designed the set, the costumes, the choreography.  Amazing amount of participation that makes a seamless performance.

While in a big city, I ponder if I could live there and be happy.  I think I could but you know what?  I do love living in my teeny tiny town.  I'm lucky that I can be in a city quickly and then be back in the country just as fast.

I grew up in Pittsburgh and my father's dream was to be in the country.  We moved to the suburbs when I was eleven years old and that was a culture shock for all of us.  When I would go to sleep, I would hear nothing.  No traffic, no sirens, no car horns, instead I heard crickets.  Also my mom would exclaim how dark the nights were without street lights. I remember the novelty of having a large lawn to run around and play games, sometimes in bare feet.  Even smelling a freshly cut lawn!

Walking around NYC, I noticed the noise and the hum of busy people, the kindness of others and striking up conversations in a little neighborhood Chinese restaurant . We met someone from Pennsylvania. How coincidental!

Hot street pretzels, a smiling immigrant waiter telling us his story of how he came to New York and his future wishes and dreams.

Oh, nearly everyone asked where I was from so I guess I don't look native to the city.  I believe it's because I wasn't wearing a black coat. Everyone who's anyone wears a black coat!