Well, it’s time for the big wrap-up post. I wish that I could write a paragraph or two to give any readers who are still lingering a decent survey of the entire trip, but they wouldn’t do it justice. I don’t want to belabor the trip either so I will simply say that it was an incredible opportunity and I learned many things while walking those crowded, frantic, sometime glamorous, sometimes stinky streets. What an amazing way to live - millions of people over so few square miles and always, ALWAYS something interesting going on. If I were a singleton (or maybe just without children) there’s no doubt in my mind I would move there and enjoy what a large metropolis like that has to offer. But, being of a more domestic stage in life, I am content to return home to my family, my coworkers, my teachers and my little blue house. There are many comforts to living here too, not the least of which is just the sheer pleasure of driving my WRX up the canyon if I need/want to (one of my guilty pleasures - sorry CO2 police). I will miss the ease and efficiency of New York’s mass transit system - we never needed a car - and I will miss the amazing variety of shops, buildings, people and atmosphere of each of its many neighborhoods. I will especially miss looking across the Hudson at the beautiful skyline of buildings…. totally gorgeous and I’m sure it will figure in many of Bryan’s architectural paintings to come. I expect Salt Lake City will feel a little bland by comparison now.
Sadly there is no way I could keep writing like I have been and still maintain a decent standing in my studies. I remember how rigorous things get in the middle of the semester. I will leave this blog here for a little while for people who would like access to the slideshows or videos (clicking on the pictures leads you to a downloadable file) but I’ll archive it eventually. I hope to post a little more often then I have in the past on Bryan’s blog when the mood strikes.
Thanks to the many people who have commented and sent me email - I feel closer to you now than ever before. Thank you to the instructors and students at the GCA for a great set of workshops and fun lunches. Thanks to Danny for giving us a tour of the Waterstreet Atelier. Thank you Patrick, Mom and Joe for visiting us. Thank you Peter and Piper for hosting us and showing us your beautiful neighborhood. Thanks you Sal and Dianne for the awesome swimming lessons on our way out. And finally, thank you to Jocelyn and Garrit, Guy and Zoey for letting us stay in your beautiful home - we couldn’t have stayed sane without such a pleasant homebase!
Bryan finally has a few days in which to explore NYC without any distractions. His first wish was to visit the Empire State Building of course! Well, Asher and I had already been there with my mom, but it was so neat we decided to go again. This time I let Bryan take all the pictures and I think he’s planning on posting his own slideshow in a bit over at Rationalart. He seemed to really enjoy it - the interior has so many interesting details that would make for fun details in paintings, a kind of homage to the now tallest building in Manhattan. Speaking of which, the house we have been subletting all summer is home to a family that has a young boy and a little girl (lots of toys to play with) and a huge collection of books to read in the evening. We happened across a really fun, well-illustrated book that made both of us tear up at the end. We started reading it to Asher about four nights ago and he has requested it every night since. It’s called “The Man Who Walked Between the Towers” by Mordicai Gerstein.
After the third night Asher asked explicitly where the towers had gone since he recognized other buildings in the foreground but had never seen the two towers. This led to a somewhat difficult discussion of what happened in New York City only seven years ago. Bryan and I have never really had any detailed discussion about death or anything really existential or negative about the world with Asher, except perhaps the obligatory “Don’t talk to strangers - they may run off with you…” talk, so this is definitely new territory. Does anyone know when a good age to discuss this kind of thing begins? Old enough to grasp the essential idea but without having any nightmares or serious scariness? Just wondering…
Also, while in Pennsylvania Bryan and I were discussing what kinds of things to do in the coming weeks and he didn’t seem to have a big list. In fact, he seemed quite intent on starting a painting as soon as possible. That, combined with my own inclination to get back to work and my sister’s new baby, have compelled us to move our flight back to Utah forward. We will be back home very soon, but there are a few more things worth posting and a few more pictures worth viewing, so don’t sign off just yet!
This is Asher, my little baby suddenly turned boy (take note Amy). When we came to New York there was no way in hell he would EVER put his little face into the water, let alone jump into a pool. I’m so proud of my newfound water-baby.
Thank you Allegra, Dianne and Sal for a wonderful dinner and letting Asher swim in your pool for THREE HOURS!!! Tomorrow when he wakes up with webbed toes and gills we’ll know where to take him.
I remember many, many fights and arguments, screaming and sulking about which side of the room was yours and mine, or who hit who first, or whose fault it really was. You were my funnest sparring partner, closest friend and you, my dear, were the real peacemaker in the family. Now that we’re older and I see how accomplished and strong you are, I can’t believe how lucky I am to have such a wonderful woman to rub shoulders with. After a very long wait and saint-like patience you are finally the proud mommy of baby Nathan T. - middle name as yet undecided :). I can’t wait to come home and kiss the both of you. You are going to be the best mom ever dearest. Hope you are resting and loving every moment of this new experience.
