Coming Down From New York

Sunday morning in New York started with brilliant sunshine pouring into the apartment through the not so tightly closed blinds. I had been cold all night (I did not want to wash sheets so I slept on a blanket with another thin blanket covering me) and was happy to have a hot shower and warm up. I could not decide how much to clean in the apartment and decided on bleaching out the tub and washing out the sink. I swept up some of the dust and cleaned off a few tables and decided that was enough, packed up my things and left before 9. There were few people on the streets, including a few dog walkers and joggers. I walked up 7th avenue, relieved that it was not too cold and I could feel the sun shining on me. I found a Starbucks and had a leisurely coffee while I caught up with Eric by telephone and then called my friend Sandi to arrange for an evening out with the girls. I kept walking as the streets filled with people, and by the time I got to Times Square, the crowds had arrived. I knew I wanted to watch a play, but was unsure as to which one. The TKTS line was long already, and when I looked at the list of half price plays and musicals I found myself uninspired. After a day of stunning opera, I could not imagine a musical with microphones and plastic music. I was interested in 'The Merchant of Venice' with Al Pacino, but there were no half price tickets available. I walked to the theatre and found a short line of hopefuls waiting for the box office to open in an hour. I joined the group and read the New York Times on my iphone, learning that I really did want to see the play. It got great reviews all summer when it played in Central Park, Waiting was cold and painful, but I did get a good ticket when I finally got to the front of the line.

I dashed over to an exhibit on Tutankhamen, which I realized only too late that I had already seen a few years ago in Philadelphia and in Cairo before that, but I loved the exhibit and stayed too long to see the Imax movie I paid for. Luckily the theatre was across the street so I made it to a great performance. I remembered when the play started that I forgot to turn off the AC in the apartment, so I took the subway back to 7th and 13th to turn it off, and then hoped to return to the Egyptian exhibit for the movie, but for some reason the subway stopped for a half hour, and I had to rush over to Macy't to catch my bus home. It was full, and I felt lucky to get on. I wanted so much to stay and appreciate New York some more. What a wonderful weekend! I can't wait to come back with Maya and Eric! New York is marvelous, I feel like a child in a candy store, and I have felt that for years. I first started coming to New York when I lived in Montreal, and I loved it then. Ron and I visited several times, Tara loved the theatre, we both enjoyed plays every time we came, and now Maya loves the place. I think I would like to retire in New York!

I caught up with Tara and Ron on the way home. He had gone to visit and see her play, which was a great success and they were both happy with the visit. I was relieved to see Eric waiting with Maya at the bus station,which is not in a great area of the city. Maya had had a good weekend too, visiting the farmer's market, cooking lunch, seeing her friends. She had helped Eric rake the leaves, so there were piles of leaves on the grass. They will all fly away before they get bagged, but at least something was done. The yard is full of leaves, more than ever!

I was exhausted and exhilarated after my very marvelous weekend, and found being back in the office altogether too quiet and calm. I had a smattering of patients, all doing reasonably well. I had time to put charts in order, bill, take care of my plants, answer phone calls, but there were few patients, and a few who forgot to come.