A couple of days ago, New York City was far from mind when Wendy asked if I'd like to go along with her, Keoni and Aidan. Unlike the months-long planning leading to our NYC trip 15 months ago putting this in motion was a matter of minutes; not even hours. How our lives have changed.

Living now in this somewhat rural setting, it has been more a thought of the mind that we are so close to  Philly and NYC rather than an experienced place handy in consciousness. As John says, "Hard to get my head around how close we are to New York." He stayed home to do some work, and wound up putting away 30 bales of hay the new boarder delivered ahead of her horse. Big glitch.

Saturday began with about an hour car trip to Trenton NJ where we caught the Amtrak to Penn Station in NYC...

Which train is it?

Got the right train!

Of course, it was all new to us, so my glitch moments were my departing the Turnpike at the wrong place, parking (how do we get into the lot), and the Amtrak conductor who thought we were picking up a handicapped person. He put us in the empty dining car to expedite the train leaving the station quickly. He said he didn't want send us to the coach seats because we wouldn't want to look in those cars occupied by people who'd come all the way from Florida.

Penn Station is an easy walk to the Empire State Building where Wendy wanted to take Aidan...

Now here is the reason we went to NYC in the first place...

Keoni and Caroline are Interlochen friends.

Caroline and her mother met us on the corner next to the Empire State Building. Keoni, Caroline and her mother went on their walking tour while Wendy, Aidan and I went on our own tour that started with some NY pizza!!! Yea. Then, of course, the great building.

Going up!

Looking down.

The Statue of Liberty was a hazy silhouette in the distance on this humid day. Closer below us were the best views. Enjoyed seeing the many trees and shrubbery living on rooftops all over the city the most.

Aidan found another solution to The Statue of Liberty shot.

We saw an example of parallel parking in NYC.

We met Keoni next...

The meeting spot.

Lindy's was the next destination...

Yes, it is true, Lindy's really is the Mindy's in Damon Runyon's stories of the Guys and Dolls, and Bloodhounds of Broadway.

Their cheesecake gives NY its claim on greatness.

With plenty of time left the two blocks of street fair beckoned.

After that my footsore condition reached the verbal stage so I went into Saint Francis of Assissi Church a half block from Penn Station while Wendy, Keoni and Aidan ventured further. There was a service beginning in the church! I was handed a bulletin and discovered the service was mostly songs. It was a great moment singing there among the parishioners, the glittering gold trim everywhere, led by an operatic voice and masterful pianist whom I couldn't see.

I was glad for a rest time beyond relieving footsoreness to hold Dimetrios, one of my beloved great-grandsons, in the light of love. We heard via a cell phone call he'd been hospitalized with breathing problems. He is improving today. Please keep him and family close to your hearts. We all love him.

Close to journey's end a few steps from Penn Station...

The golden man.

The train, the car and home 12 hours later.