Do you remember your youth? The time where you stayed up all night with your friends at a slumber party? You know that weird haze that comes over you and you almost feel like you're sleep walking, but you don't dare close your eyes. You laugh. Tell jokes. Maybe get in an argument or two. Then you play truth or dare and realize you're the only one that hasn't kissed a boy yet? Well, that's how I felt in Manhattan last night...minus the truth or dare part.
Jackson (age 11) and I went down to 34th street around 1 am last night to see elephants march down the street. The elephants were from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and they were on route to Madison Square Garden. They're unloaded off train cars in Queens and then walk through the midtown tunnel and continue across 34th Street.
It's actually quite a sight. People line up hours ahead of time just to get a spot to watch. Some of these people are quite territorial, too. I won't go into the ugly details, but I got in a bit of a scuffle. A grumpy, old man said Jackson couldn't stand next to him because he had been waiting at that spot longer than we had. If you want to see a kind, quiet Southern woman like myself morph into Teresa from the Housewives of New Jersey, just tell my son he can't stand next to you to watch the circus elephants. If there had been a table there, I would have flipped it over, too.
Did I also mention that it was raining? I don't think rain brings out the best in people.
Jackson and I actually had a blast. It was unbelievable to see traffic stopped so ELEPHANTS could walk down the street. We'll definitely come back next year to see it again.
Here's a short video so you can see what it was like.
Rod took our boys to Shake Shack on the Upper West Side for a guys night out. I thought it would be nice for Lily and I to go somewhere, too. A girl's night out. The only thing she was upset about was that the boys got Daddy and she was stuck with just me. I guess she is prepping for her teenage years when she wakes up one morning and tells me I am the one who is ruining her life.
Anyway, Lily and I walked a couple blocks to Yorkville Creperie. I have to tell you that walking to restaurants is one of my favorite things about living in the city. It's nice to walk and talk instead of drive and break up fights in the back seat.
Lily had never even tasted a crepe before. So the entire walk went something like this:
Lily: What's a crepe? Me: It's like a pancake. Only better. Lily: OK. Where's daddy? Me: With your brothers. Lily: What's a crepe? Me: It's like a pancake. Only better. Lily: OK. Where's daddy? Me: With your brothers. Lily: Oh....Can you tell me what a crepe is again?
I finally gave up and told her it was delicious. She would love it. And it would change her life. The end.
As soon as we were seated, Lily pulled out all the sugar packets and asked me to play a game. It's the same game she always wants to play in a restaurant. The problem is...there are no rules. Well, there are rules, but only she knows them. And she changes them constantly to throw you for a curve. It's a little game I like to call insanity. She loves this game. I am not a fan of this game. I quickly ordered a glass of wine.
Then I looked up and noticed the crepes were being made right there at the bar counter- behind a little wall of glass. I grabbed Lily away from her evil game of Sugar Packets and plopped her down in front of the crepe chef.
She was mesmerized. Her mouth fell open and she proclaimed that she felt like she was IN A COOKING SHOW. From her excitement you would have thought she was in Pat and Gina Neely's TV kitchen. By the way, "Down Home with the Neely's" is Lily's favorite cooking show. I'm assuming this is due to their extensive use of pork in every recipe. My girl loves her pork.
Our dinner crepes came and they were mouthwatering. Lily ordered a cheese and ham crepe. Surprise, ham! And I ordered the bruchetta crepe. We moaned after every single bite. It was delicious. Once we were done, I told Lily that if she thought that was good, she should try a dessert crepe. She laid her head down on the counter and sighed. It was all too much for her.
But I did order a dessert crepe. With strawberries. And dark chocolate. And whip creme.
Lily took one bite, looked at me and said, "Is this a dream?" To which I replied, "No, but I'm sure it is similar to heaven."
Once we were home, Lily began to re-live the experience and tell the boys about it.
"OH.MY.GOSH. YOU HAVE NO IDEA! THE CREPES. THE CREPES. THEY WERE UNBELIEVABLE, YOU GUYS!"
And then I heard her in the shower singing this. A little love song about crepes. Enjoy.
My favorite part of the morning is walking the kids to school. Even if we've had a rough morning and the kids have fought over the elevator buttons down all 31 floors.
Something about the city being awake, bustling, children everywhere. I get a little buzz off it. But the absolute favorite part of my morning is this crossing gaurd. She is a constant for me in an everchanging city.
And she says this. Every. Single. Morning.
I love her. And I have to fight the urge to hug her.
Posts
