Fantastic trip

I’m back! We had a wonderful trip. I loved having the whole family together. The worst part of any trip of this nature, for me, is navigating the airports, but it was really a breeze. All I had to do was stand a bit behind Nick or Mollie and follow. What an amazing feeling to have Mollie leading the way with all the subway connections once arrived – she’s only been there once on her own, but with the confidence of youth and a good app on her phone she seemed like a natural.

Sunday night we had a big family dinner. We headed first to Brooklyn to see the boy’s apartment for the first time. It was really very nice and not the tiny shoebox you’d picture for what they could afford. It has a decent size bedroom, two large closets, a kitchen and dining area and then a living room with enough room for a couch, chairs, a desk and a TV.

While we were there Colin’s mom and nephew joined us and we headed out to eat. Now the next part is a bit of a blur, but let me tell it the way I remember it. We left to go to dinner. (Please remember I’m a southern girl – until last year I didn’t own a winter coat. Who needs one to walk from the car to the door? Now back to my story.) It was coolish out, around minus twenty, with the winds howling fifty to sixty miles an hour. (Perhaps an exaggeration, but I’m telling you what it felt like to me.) I had on two pair of socks, long johns, my slacks, my shirt, a light jacket, my winter coat, a scarf, earmuffs and my gloves. Yet as we walked the ten to twenty miles to the ferry, which would take us to Manhattan, I felt sure I would truly freeze to death.

Mollie, who wanted to ‘look good’, had on a dress, nylons, heels and a pretty coat. I don’t even want to contemplate how cold she was. LJ’s dear friend from college, Franny works on the ferry and arranged for the top deck to be opened just for us (yes it was enclosed and heated) and the views come over were magnificent. 

Once we got off the ferry it seemed like only a five or six mile hike on over to the restaurant. BTW, New Yorkers are notorious liars, should any of them tell you “It’s not far.” or “It’s just up here.” or “We’re almost there.” They are lying through their teeth.

Once we arrived alive at the restaurant the evening was perfect. It was the whole crowd, Nick, Mollie and I. My sister, my BIL and their daughter, who lives in NYC. LJ and Colin, Colin’s mom and nephew and Franny rounded out the crowd. LJ and Colin are regulars at this place. They gave us a large table in the back and treated us like royalty. The food was great and the fellowship perfect.

It was an evening to remember, relaxed, happy and fun and I enjoyed the time to just visit as family. I’ll tell you soon about the wedding itself – I did love it.  But for now I’m happy to be back home.

I wish everyone in America a wonderful Thanksgiving and hope you have the chance to enjoy the day with the ones you love.