We’ve been tripping. First to Washington DC for the FFA
State President’s Conference, then on to
New York City to spend a few days with Callie. We were all together in New York
and had a wonderful time.
We negotiated the metro, night toured the monuments in DC,
walked Central Park and Times Square, sat on Washington’s veranda overlooking
the Potomac, and ferried to Staten Island. A highlight was supping at Callie’s restaurant in Manhattan with her as a guest instead of a server. The staff treated us royally, with
complementary wine and scrumptious dishes added to each course.
Callie lives in a Brooklyn brownstone and Seth and Anna stayed with her. It’s pretty quiet on
her street. She found Mark and me an apartment above storefronts a few blocks
from her room. Quiet, it wasn’t, but with earplugs we slept pretty well. What
an experience to soak up a totally different way of life. We saw the real New
York, the touristy sections yes, but also the residential areas and the
families that live their lives there.
I never really got used to using the subway. Well, I can
ride it, but I never quite accepted the lack of congeniality among the
passengers. Unfortunately the only conversation I had was a hostile one. A man
with lots of anger chose me as a scapegoat. I was pretty shaken for some time
and mad that he would have that effect on me. It took me a few days to see
others of his type in a positive light. I know he’s an isolated case. I know
the majority of people are kind if given the chance, but the “straight ahead
don’t bother me look” is pervasive.
We came home to a blackened skyline out our front window.
The fires are getting pretty close.
I stood outside last night, looked at the stars and
listened to a mourning dove. There was a gorgeous full moon. It’s good to be
home.
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| FFA kids at the changing of the guard Arlington Cemetery |
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| New York's charm, alone (but happy) people in Washington Square Park |
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| Central Park |
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| sisters on the roof of "The Met" Metropolitan Musem of Art |
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| the Brooklyn Bridge looking towards Manhattan |
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