New York State of Mind

As tensions mount in our household, still adjusting to Peachie living at home again, and her not supported idea of moving to Boston with her boyfriend instead of pursuing her career path, a much needed family trip to New York City was planned.  No boyfriends, no heavy life discussions - just a girls day out in the city.  

We started with a train ride to the city.  I sat with Peachie who basically ignored me and texted with her boyfriend the whole way.  

First item on the agenda was to walk the High Line down to the West Village.  Although Peachie was obviously still mad at us and walked ten feet ahead, the rest of us enjoyed this unique urban linear park constructed on an old elevated rail line.

Legos had a cool installation where people were constantly creating new buildings and skylines.

Then a quick stop at the Christian Louboutin boutique for Peachie who is a shoe fanatic.

We had brunch at a French/Moroccan restaurant that looked like we had walked into the set of Casablanca.  Great atmosphere.  Great food.  Peachie still trying ignoring us, but softening.

We then read that the hotel where the restaurant was located was where the Titanic survivors stayed while the official inquiry took place.   We went into the lobby where a bellhop, looking like he just walked out of a 1940s movie, gave us a brief tour.

We walked off our brunch along the west side park where Martha was awed by the Freedom Tower. She had wanted to do the 911 museum but I just can’t do it.  Too personal.  Too tragic.  Too everything.

A short stop at the Aids memorial.  The inscription reads “I can sail without wind, I can row without oars, but I cannot part from my friend without tears."

That reduced us all to tears.  

Cupcakes and some time to shop the boutiques on Bleeker Streeet which seemed to lighten Peachie’s mood.  Oh, she does love to shop.  She even started asking her sister for opinions and things were definitely getting better.

And a small detour to explain the history of this place.

Then back uptown for an off-Broadway show.  

This was hysterical and had us laughing until we cried.  It was quite the raunchy send up of Disney princesses and  “The Princess Syndrome”  Yep, this is what my family needed - a fun, rollicking laugh. By the time we ducked into a quaint little restaurant for dinner, everyone was talking and laughing and sharing food and back to where we used to be as a family.

Pretty tuckered out after almost 14 miles of walking and shopping and eating and laughing, we boarded the train home, dozing and smiling about our shared experience.

Soon we will take a week long family beach vacation.   It is exactly what the doctor ordered.