Broadway's Up and the Battery's Down

Ahhhhhhhhhh, 2 glorious weeks in New York spent with darlin' daughter Dana. Yes, I love alliteration, but that just happened.

September after Labor Day -- a great time to be on the East Coast. Weather is mild, not humid, kids back in school, everyone walks with a brisker step. Well, New York City buzzes with its own energy, and it transmits it to my core being. Dana got us a great suite at the Affinia Dumont Hotelon 34th St. and 3rd Ave., where she works. I qualify for Friends and Family discount, and it was a whopper.

When I arrived at LaGuardia (after non-eventful flights, changing at Denver), I took a Yellow Cab to the hotel, as Dana was still on duty. That was the last time I touched my luggage for 2 weeks. We had dinner in the room and I went to bed early.

Next day we relaxed and she re-introduced me to everyone on the staff. From then on I was "Mom." As in: Is Mom having a good time? Is everything alright with Mom? How's your room, Mom? Yes, Yes and Terrific. They all love Dana, so automatically I'm a celebrity from the West Coast. It's fun.

We had massages that day at the Spa, which IS the 2nd floor of the hotel. Next day we trained up to the New York Botanical Gardens, a gorgeous place. Lush and greener than green, there is a collection of more than one million living plants, 30,000 trees, and what they call the most beautiful rose garden in America among its 250 acres. There's a conservatory that provides "an ecotour of the world and renowned seasonal exhibitions; magnificent collections of trees, schrubs, and flowers." It was so tropical inside the conservatory building that I was bitten 2ce by mosquitoes, each one must have been humongous!

The highlight of the visit was the Henry Moore sculpture exhibition. There were 21 pieces placed throughout the gardens. As he's one of my long time favorite artists, I was rather over the top -- to actually see them "in person." And please don't tell anyone that I actually touched a few. Wow! Well, there were no guards staring at me like they do at MoMA and the Guggenheim...

Then we spent a couple of days in Washington D.C., also traveling by train, and stayed with my former in-laws, who remain my children's aunt and uncle. We didn't have a lot of time to sight-see but it was wonderful seeing Cathy and Neil after, um, 20 years or so. The pace of D.C. is so vastly different from NYC, much calmer, more measured, and the traffic is a lot less crazy.

When we returned to the City we stayed one night, then got Dana's car and drove out to Greenport, on the north shore of Long Island. Friends Dottie and Richard came out for one night and we went out for Maine Lobster. Yessssss. Dana and I stayed on for 2 more days, just relaxing, also visiting Shelter Island. This island, reached by ferry, has "summer houses" that are mansions, surrounded by acres, leading down to the water.

Outside of the City my eyes just couldn't get enough GREEN. During my visit it only rained a couple of times,and I was diappointed. Course, everyone there thot I was bonkers. Told them we don't get rain in CA for months on end. They just shook their heads in disbelief.

The end of Dana's vacation came so Mom was on her own for 3 days. I took myself shopping at Lord & Taylor on 5th Ave., visited the NY Public Library lions, did my usual tour of MoMA and the Big G., walked and gawked up at both tall and beautiful old buildings and took loads of photos. Bought some sidewalk art outside the Met, and tried and missed a boat trip out of the South St. Seaport to see the waterfall art exhibit. Yes, and I souvenier shopped.

Some highlights included a wonderful as always dinner at Sevilla in Greenwich Village with Dana and Monica; at least 3 meals at the Barking Dog which is attached to the Dumont; a great pedicure with Dana in the next chair; fantastic views from EVERY hotel room we stayed in (4); being taken care of and spoiled by every, single person (especially Dana) that I encountered. Even had a great hair cut and color by "Dios" in the salon up the street. Not expensive.

I'm already planning on when I can go back. I do hope to import Dana early next year in order to celebrate her 40th birthday. How is it possible that my "baby" is older than I am?