monoceros blogsA week ago, I was walking past Ground Zero with my mom. Fall break came and went, and we spent it in NYC visiting Christine, my sister-in-law. The last time my mother was in New York was 12 years ago so I took her to the places I thought she'd like to re-visit, and some new ones. She went to the World Trade Center back then and as we viewed the vast, grey site, I saw her eyes tear. One corner of the site was dedicated to those who'd lost their lives on 9/11. Badges, patches, flowers, letters and drawings, helmuts and hats lent color and meaning to the small space.
According to my notebook (my mind has already adjusted to the rush of graduate school and household chores - though my mom is taking over some of the chores for me, I'm ashamed to report - so I must refer to my notes), we visited the Metropolitan Museum (we spent six hours in there, and it still wasn't enough!), we watched The Marriage of Figaro at the Metropolitan Opera, we saw two parades on Fifth Avenue, toured the financial district in lower Manhattan, attempted to enter the New York Mercantile Exchange but got turned away (the visitor center has been closed since 9/11), we took a stroll at Battery Park City, hunted for stores selling music scores, visited the New York Public Library, lazed in Bryant Park, did the Times Square walk, attended mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral, browsed Bloomingdale's and enjoyed a busride through Chinatown and past South Street Seaport.
My favorites include the opera, the lovely paintings of Sanford R. Gifford in the Hudson River School exhibition, viewing the Public Library, watching the people play chess in Bryant Park, and just being a part of this tremendous city of light, shadow and sound.
Posted by Monoceros at October 21, 2003 1:20 PM