Monday, November 21, 2011

New York - Day 1

Pin It The plane touched down at John Kennedy Airport somewhere in the wee hours before the sun split the skies to officially begin a new day. Outside the large, plate-glass windows, darkness still reigned supreme.

I walked groggily through the terminal with my laptop bag and camera. My legs beneath me felt like jelly after not being used for so many hours, and I was exhausted from the few brief sojourns into slumber as the plane had flown through the night skies. At one point in the journey I’d even asked for a vomit bag—the bouts of turbulence, coupled with the fact that I was wearing several layers of clothing in order to save space in my small suitcase, seemed to not agree with whatever it was that I’d had for dinner earlier that night.

Yeah, I felt sick.

I retrieved my luggage and made my way to the airtrain. The breath of cool, early-morning air was welcomed as I watched the sky slowly change to a shade of darkest indigo on the skyline. With somewhat blurry eyes I exited the airtrain and bought a ticket on the LIRR (Long Island Railroad) bound for Queens and barely caught it. The skies outside my windows continued to change—softening to tint the clouds overhead with pinks and peaches—as I exited at Woodside Station and began the walk toward my brother’s flat.

Gangs of leaves huddled together in the gutters and along the curbs as I walked...dried and crispy although plenty of the trees around me were still arrayed in their autumn splendor. The skies reflected a melancholy feeling with the ripple of clouds overhead, spread like a layer of peanut butter on an extra-thick slice of bread...just the way I liked it.

Within minutes I arrived at the building and texted my brother.

He buzzed me into the building and within a minute or two I entered their flat, greeted with a barrage of hugs.

We all talked for an hour or two over a breakfast of cereal as the sky continued to brighten. We laughed, reminisced, and made haphazard plans for the next few days as the sun arose and the day officially began…

and then I went to sleep.


This view is from my brother and sister-in-law’s apartment. If you look off on the left top side, you can see the Empire State Building…which is lit up various colors every night.

14 comments:

Mindee@ourfrontdoor said...

Not the sort of landscape photo I usually find here. Have a great week!

mamahasspoken said...

Hum, for some reason I think the Empire State building is to the left :o/ But love the fact that you are in New York to enjoy time with your family.

marci said...

I lived one hour from NYC for six months back in 1977. I tried to take the train to the city almost every week. Reading your blog takes me back in time.
Hope you have a great time.
mc

summer said...

Oh, it's Thanksgiving and back to the city for you! It sounds like you and Bryson were on flights back here the same night...he got out on the flight right before the red-eye.

Enjoy your time - the city is starting to get decked out in all the Christmas glory. I think this is the best season to be here!

Carolyn said...

Pretty pretty please take pictures of the huge escalators in the airport. I loooove escalators and my parents said they have giant ones there. I'dbeyour very best friend. :)

Oh, and have fun!

Possum said...

Stepped through the doorway from karen's blog and am enjoying your blog's "other-ness".
Enjoy New York!

Richard & Natalie said...

Hooray! I picked out the Empire State before you told me.
Hope you got your beauty sleep and can enjoy the rest of your trip. :)

mCat said...

Hooray for New York! And thus the vacay begins! Glad you made it safely and without puking : )

Teachinfourth said...

Bonnie - Noted and fixed...

I haven't been out into 'the city' at all since I've been here but taken a few small excursions about Queens. Mostly, this trip is all about visiting my brother, his wife, and my nephew.

Photos? Perhaps...

Karen M. Peterson said...

I fell in love with New York.

I hope you're feeling better and that you are seeing everything you want to see. Can't wait for the photos!

TisforTonya said...

I have tentative plans to finally get my butt to NY next year to visit my sister - however, her view is a little more congested with buildings (and no trees I'm pretty sure) since she lives across the street from Macy's... I'll have to snap a photo of the Victoria's Secret shop maybe?
(or not... really, I'm going with not)

ashleestout said...

Oh I'm so jealous that you are in NYC. I hope you feel better soon and that your Holiday is wonderful. Happy Thanksgiving! Can't wait to see the pictures!

tammy said...

Loved this.
Except for the part where you got sick. Dramamine is my best friend.

So gorgeous! Enjoy.

Mindy said...

Getting sick - not good.

Making it safely to your brother and sis-in-law's house - very good.

Visiting with family and sharing memories old and new - priceless.

What a great view from the window. I love that there are still so many fall colors visible.

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