NYC: There and Back

Here's the report of my day trip into NYC. 

It was a really good day.

Busy. But I got a lot done.

My heart is full but also has a pang...

how will NYC be after this winter?

Will Tea and Sympathy still be here? 

Will my favourite stores still be there?

I never knew, just how much I loved it all...

Here's my report on today... 

The PATH train into NYC...

(Christmas stuff at Michael's...)

My favourite diner, RIP :'(

(These are the things at TJ Maxx that I did not buy! to see what I did buy, 

go to end of this long blog post :) )

I was struck with how faded and old the awning was... poor NYC... 

(My dear library!!!)

(because I was going from West to East in Manhattan, the cab drove through

Central Park, the above picture is from that)

I had been wanting a smaller cake stand for years!

Got this + the tray at TJ Maxx!

***

Here's a report of my day...:

Thankfulness list.

1. A year ago I had not realized, to the extent I do now, how normal things are really such glorious adventures. I am thankful for a bunch of these today...the first one being point number

2. I went to NYC today! By PATH train.

First time since late February.

I wrote a KN95 mask with a (clean) fabric mask over it.

And plastic gloves.

And, as always, I had my (what you wear when you mow the lawn) big ear protector headphones on.

Husband laughed at me, finding that I looked so funny.

I get it.

3. The PATH train station, at 9:17 AM, was almost empty. I had 2 seats empty on each side of me. SO VERY different than before.

4. I was in NYC. That alone is huge.

5. I went shopping. Trader Joes, Michael's, Blick Art Supplies, TJ Maxx.

6. Then I took a cab to Tea and Sympathy (a British teashop that's like a British Teashop Pub really) and had a most delicious Cornish Pasty. And a salad. And 1 scone with jam, and of course a pot of tea.

7. Later I went to my library in East Manhattan picked up 10 (!) books for me and 2 for my Hubby! (And returned 3 of the 16 I got last week, LOL!)

8. The PATH train home (I took it at 33rd station, a great choice as my cart was loaded down and there was an elevator) I had 1 seat on either side of me empty. It was about 3:30 or a bit later, so it was a fuller train. I doubled-masked again and wore gloves (the gloves I immediately take off from the wrist and throw away in a nearby garbage can). On the way in, only 1 or 2 at most on my train had their nose showing when wearing a mask. On way back, 2 had 'chin guards' and some noses showing. Most people in NYC while walking around outside are wearing masks.

9. I took a cab home (always having my window open for ventilation) and my Husband met me there and helped me bring in all the goodies! :) It was so wonderful to have a shopping and library day in NYC like I used to do. (Well other than that I cabbed when in NYC instead of taking the subway as my Husband wants and I desire also).

10. I am super stocked up on some favourite things in our freezer and am beyond grateful.

NYC, the cab drivers all were saying (I had 5 today in NYC) how different it is,

how empty NYC is and how the business people are gone.

There were still people, but the cab drivers would know; how driving is easier;

one told me how if you went out at the height of lockdown to try to work

by driving cab you would maybe get ONE person wanting a cab ALL DAY.

That's unheard of.

Pretty much every one working in stores now when you leave they may wish you a good day

but they will for SURE say "Stay safe"...

And elevators, they have 'stand here stickers' or signs 'only 4 at one time'

(like NYC elevators, like to the PATH at 33rd, used to be 'let's get as many in as can possibly fit + 5 more people')

.... This won't be forever, but it is right now.

I just told everyone (esp cab drivers)

we must not give up HOPE and hoping for better.

A lot of the cab drivers are concerned about all those out of jobs.

Lord have mercy.

I made a point to go to Tea and Sympathy

(as I have I think 2x before since August)

BECAUSE I want them to stay in business.

My favourite NYC diner

(Ridgeway on 6th Ave near Trader Joe's but on the other side) is gone.

It was such a sweet little dinner, quiet, kind, blond wood tables and chairs,

green padded seats.

I went there so many times.

I wonder what the workers, who I recognized after

visiting there for the last 8 years;

what are they doing now? do they have a new job? are they OK?

So many to remember. To say a prayer.

But I am thankful - I can say a prayer to Christ.... ❤

(Day 7) without Cleo: swimming, buffet building, casserole baking

Today was a bunch of highs and lows.

Some of the highs were hearing of a friend's upcoming wedding,

swimming with my sweetheart and making 

more turkey casserole.

The lows included the buffet having some hiccups in building

(we can't figure out how to get the drawer to go in correctly)

and I got super teary later tonight...

this morning I had packed up Cleo's things in her newly cleaned food jar

to keep and the buffet is where she used to eat,

and her little picture frame, yet without a picture, and her sweet Angel

are on the buffet now. 

(The buffet is 2 small identical ones pushed together.)

***

We buried Cleo a week ago today and I was surprised at 

how much I cried today.

I miss that little fur-ball... 

***

Tomorrow I need to go to NYC to return library books

and do some errands. 

I pray that God will get us all through the hard times we have

and that in His mercy, He will forgive us.

May the Lord's loving-kindness be poured out on us! 

Church, Lunch and Brighton Beach in NYC

I went to church this morning for the new calendar

feast of the Beheading of St John the Baptist. 

It was beautiful... I so wish more were there to see and even

be in awe of the beauty that is so clearly present...

Then a friend and I had lunch and then went to Brighton Beach...

which I had not been to before, it's in NYC near Coney Island.

We went to the beach first and then to various Russian shops.

The beach was nice, but typical beach, except that I don't remember

seeing men (middle aged or older and thin) being so incredibly tan that their

(white) skin is almost burnt black... seems so unwise with skin cancer being a 

serious health issue that I know family and friends have had!

I liked the beach, the sun shining on the waters, the waves...

the children playing...

I read an email while sitting on the sand about grief and Cleo

and felt that newly familiar wave of sadness...

I looked out at the waves and sought to be absorbed only in the beauty of them...

I ate a soft-ice cream cone like I had not eaten in days... 

I found Russian cookies that I had been wanting; 

and I got some blini; I felt blessed to have the treats;

grief is so weird; I am struggling with worry that others will think it 

strange to grief the loss of a cat for more than 3 days.

What does loss mean? 

My Mom told my Aunt H that Cleo died and she cried; 

(did I say that already 

yesterday?) ...

I told my friend S today and she teared up; 

my friend L. (also at church) was shocked.

What does grief mean? 

What does it mean that Cleo's quiet present sitting nearby me

or being petted by Mr Husband at night while he is doing his exercises

no longer happens?

That we threw away her litter box? That I am going to pack up her food bowls?

(I am keeping them).  That I am figuring out in time who to give various things to 

that we don't need as we don't have Cleo.

That I loved Cleo so much and she was there for 13 years of my life

and so many seasons of my life.

what does it mean to not know what form of comfort

 I will have now that I don't have Cleo? 

For various reasons, I am not sure we will get another cat,

at least while we live in New Jersey, which we think will be for some years yet.

My friend Z. was over a few weeks ago and commented that we could have a second

buffet (small one like the one the star lamp is on) where Cleo's food station is.

And now Cleo is gone, I looked, the buffet was on sale (which often means

it is being discontinued) and I (with consultation of Mr Husband) bought it

and we are indeed putting it by Cleo's food station, in place of it.

I hope to have a nice picture of Cleo there...

I want it to be small... simple... I hope to pick a picture soon... 

I was worried, last week, about possibly going to Brighton Beach today

as I was worried that Cleo would be alone while so sick

but she's gone and I went to the beach... 

I got some really special jarred honey and blue and white Russian tea towels...

I have various moments of tears or near tears...

I find grief hard, but somehow I am relieved when I am sad about

losing Cleo... but I am also glad when I can look at pictures of her

over the years here on my blog and not feel

pained as much as remembering...

***

Mr Husband and I had burgers and fries for dinner

before going home from NYC... I and the subway I was taking 

was late/delayed so we got there too late for dinner at his work...

I am so glad I am home tomorrow.

***

I pray each of you are being upheld, no matter what your current situation is...

may God have mercy on us!