Red Rocks in New York City

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!