New York State of Mind

In the last month we have had eight visits from friends and family and we feel grateful that some of those fit into both categories. You decide where you fit. Each set of visitors has inspired us with their enthusiasm for sightseeing and making the most of their time in NYC. Paul's sister Susan and her family had just two days in the city but managed to take in the Staten Island ferry tour, walk through Chinatown and Little Italy, catch the lights at Time Square, with time to spare for swimming at the hotel. The next day they arrived to say "hello," park their car and hop on the train to get to Yankee Stadium for a tour of the ballpark and ball game. They were gracious enough to delay their five hour drive home to have dinner with us so we could all catch up and it gave me a good excuse to buy cupcakes from the Buttercup Bake Shop. Other visitors have taken in Broadway shows, walks through museums, more baseball games, and tours of the city, etc. This past weekend Sam and Jolene Bodily introduced us to a new way to see Manhattan. They rented bicycles and rode from our home at 70th down to Ground Zero, to the Brooklyn Bridge, through some of the sights in Brooklyn, back across the Manhattan Bridge, up to the United Nations and across Central Park back to our place. That was just the first day! The second day, they biked from here up into Harlem and back. It must be mentioned that they also took time out to go to church with us, visit several museums along the bicycle route, take us out to dinner a couple of times , have lunch with other friends, and we still had time for some nice, long visits while we stared out the windows watching the boats float by on the river. They were kind enough to leave all their maps and rental information behind for future visitors who are so inclined. I have only known New York as a tourist so on the days when I have to clean or do laundry, I have to remind myself that I am not on vacation anymore. I LIVE HERE! Wow, it still amazes me. (Photos include the Gates Family--Richard, Susan, Sam, Will, Emily & Rachel Sam and Jolene Bodily-in front of the Dakota where John Lennon was shot. Not their most exciting adventure in the city, I might add)