Laurence took me to Spicy Shallot for supper. He wanted to do something special as it’s been a year since Dad left us. We shared memories of Dad while eating pad thai and spring rolls.
It’s been a beautiful day. I left the apartment earlier than necessary to eat breakfast of blackberry loaf and cheese beside the East River on Roosevelt Island, a peaceful place across from Manhattan. I watched the red tram move beside the Queensboro Bridge as it took commuters across the river in this city that never sleeps.
We didn’t win the tickets to watch the fireworks from Brooklyn Promenade last evening. Though it’s an amazing show we’re past that and rather, went to bed, but there was plenty of noise and it was still going when I got up early this morning.
Traveling to the Catskill Mountains with friends made yesterday a special holiday. We saw Kaaterskill Falls, but we weren’t the only ones there. In fact, the parking area was full. Several enterprising people had signs by their yards saying, “Parking $10.” Roger paid and parked. I laughed when we went by the same place mid-afternoon, and they were charging $20!
Catskill Mountain House Overlook was much quieter than the falls and breathtakingly lovely. The Hudson River meandered far below while we looked out to New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont! Before heading back to the city Tony and Shelly, Roger and Elsie, Clay and Dana, Eric, Laurence and I had supper at Five Guys. I thought how these people that I’ve had such a good time with today will likely never celebrate a Fourth of July together again.
It is the way of life here. We make good friends, but then they leave and are replaced by new good friends. The connections remain though. Benn, Sundaymar, and Bee were back last week. It was so comfortable being with them. Sam and Vicki Eck are coming this week. Sam was one of our boys and we already know we’ll share about many things.
A year ago, Laurence had emergency surgery for a detached retina, and he could not go to Dad’s funeral. 😢 This led to him having cataract surgery last week. This long eye journey is about to be behind us. We are glad!
It’s time for tea. Love, Berniece
(To have my Muslim coworker say, “We love you, Berniece,” was so startling that I’m motivated to write, “Love.”)
An Ordinary Life 