A few weeks ago, I mentioned bumps. They happen. Life is not always smooth sailing. I am painfully aware of that at times. We will always have trials.
Sometimes, though, things just work out. The weather is good, the directions are correct, the tour is on time, there really is a parking place just across the street, and the train gets in on time. Well, maybe the train doesn't always get there on time. But maybe, even that was just fine because you had knitting and a good book. Anyway, I am very thankful for how wonderful our trip to the northeast was a few weeks back. Practically glitch-free, except for that last train ride that took two and a half hours instead of the scheduled thirty minutes. But, I did get lots of knitting done!
I don't take it for granted that this is so. I give thanks for....
472. safe travels
473. a sunrise to view as we drove north early in the morning
474. helpful tour guide, admissions counselor, much learned
475. correct directions, and yes, the parking place across the street
476. enough time for a lunch of subs
477. another helpful tour guide and seeing the promise and possibility for Matthew
478. more correct directions, a stop for donuts, a memory of "how to get there" and a happy welcome
479. John and Val, oh, we love them. Such warmth, hospitality, fun, grace, laughter!
480. early morning walk and the ducks sound like they're laughing at me
481. barking dog restrained - whew!
482. another sunrise, this one over the water, while I walk on unfamiliar streets in Absecon
483. more correct directions!!! and easy train connection into NY
484. excitement stepping out into the hustle and bustle of the city
485. finding our way, walking from Penn Station to Greenwich Village, such a fun time with the boys
486. am I sounding repetitive - but I am thankful - more helpful admissions people, so much learned
487. hot cider and scones in Union Square, watching the world go by
488. happy rendezvous with Abbi..."we're over here...in front of the pumpkins!"
489. a place to stay in the city, for free! thanks to more Armstrong hospitality
490. a fun dinner, a Chinatown excursion, sights and sounds, laughter and talk
491. dessert treats, just grace and fun and getting to know one who is dear
492. warm bed and listening to rain on the streets
493. early Saturday walk, fresh bread, good coffee, the best company
494. the wonders of Central Park's beauty in the middle of the city
495. walking, walking, walking - some spits of rain, more laughter and good times with the boys
496. singing umbrella salesman, juggler on a unicycle, avenue of trees, a black squirrel
497. hearing the world as we walk the streets
498. hot pizza on a rainy afternoon
499. the refreshment of sitting, eating, talking
500. the ease of navigating the city with the boys, really no glitches til...
501. late train, but clean place to wait
502. huge crowd, but we four stay together and get on the same train car
503. long delay, but we have no deadline so we can relax
504. angry traveler in another car, but those around us take it all in stride and find the humor in the situation
505. late night driving with safe driving Andrew
506. beds ready for us at Grammie's
507. a quick visit on Sunday morning
508. more safe driving, home again
509. memories made
6 comments:
Do you realize you skipped from 488 to 498? You left 10 out! :)
I must be getting dyslexic in my old age!
We *should* be thankful when things go right, shouldn't we? So often we only notice when they go wrong. Two very familiar items on your list: the sable squirrels, and the angry subway passenger!
I now have a theory that it spits rain every single Saturday in NYC. That's a day I spend a lot of time walking up and down Broadway, so I notice.
Did you ever finish The Snoring Bird? What did you think? I'm about halfway through it now, and find it amazing what the women-folk in that household put up with, and even encouraged! But I love the part where Bernd lives in the forest and spends all his time attuned to nature. Reading this book makes a certain amount of sense of some of his other books as well. Whatever his worldview, I appreciate his abilities to observe nature very closely and with great interest in accuracy.
You're making me excited for our trip in February!!! Glad you enjoyed :-)
Kelly - you really should go to Cafe Lalo when you go in February. And, of course, Central Park.
Erin, fixed those numbers!
Thanks for your note on my blog!
I hope it's okay to continue the *Snoring Bird* conversation here. The only other Heinrich book I've read so far is *Winter World.* I read it because I wanted to be inspired to appreciate winter, and besides, a lot of it is about kinglets (Golden-crowned, mostly), and they are among my favorite birds. I don't know Richard Haliburton, but I'm going to look him up now that you mentioned him, because I really like this kind of book.
Interesting question about why people don't have this kind of adventure anymore, but I think maybe the answer is partly contained in Heinrich's discussions of how the age of the naturalist was ending, and the age of the biologist beginning, just as he was coming into his career. It's a pity in some ways, isn't it? It feels like all the islands and species have been discovered already! But still, for most of us, the discovery is still there to be made, and made "in the field" whenever possible!
Let me know if you get back to the city. It might be fun to meet at Cafe Lalo, since you know it, and it's not far from me, either! (And neither is the garden from the end of the movie.)
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