Brooklyn

Last weekend was Mom and Dad driving Kevin out to New York for his last internship, a tour with the Criminal Division of the US Attorney’s Office for Southern New York. And the major themes and pictures are out on Facebook. But here are some random comments that didn’t make it there.

1) Man it was cold. But the wind was the killer - I think we could have gotten through just fine because we are Michigan-acclimitized without the wind. But the wind made hats an utter necessity, and it turns out that Suzanne hated the look of my hat. And I think my hat was the most functional of the bunch. It’s this cap-scarf combo that I guess could go under a ski-helmet. Suzanne hated that it looke goofy on my head; I loved it because it covered my ears and my neck and I bet I was the warmest on New Year’s Eve when we were standing on the Brooklyn Bridge.

2) I’m glad I have Suzanne to ‘force’ me and the family to have all of these experiences because there are things we did this trip (the Bridge on NYE) that we probably wouldn’t have done if she didn’t have us doing it.

3) But the one thing I realized I disliked the most was the walk through Times Square - the older I get the less thrilled I am to be out battling through these situations.

4) Highlights? Loved the trip to Bryant Park.

(NBC News had this frozen fountain as a shot on the news last night)

Was really glad we went by the window display at Macy's

5) Lowlights? The roads were not optimal BUT we did avoid any major snowstorms so I shouldn’t complain. The van changed color from maroon to this ugly salt-crusted brown by the end of the trip. And as a family, we need to be better about moments when we end up ‘off-book’.

6) We saw movies since it was so cold. Loved the Alamo Drafthouse - what a great place to see a movie. Enjoyed Molly’s Game - can’t believe I didn’t fall asleep during it! I Tonya was good but the music really made it great. And The Post was good but not great - for me it was the worst of the three movies we saw in NYC - but the memory of the movie was Kevin nudging me with the enthusiasm of a twelve-year old and telling me to look at Mom, whose head is tilted back, mouth slightly open and she is G-O-N-E sleeping!