My Exit Strategy from NYC

You can’t just leave here. You have to have a plan and consider- did I do enough?

There’s never enough time to spend with family but I managed to see as much of my wonderful son as I could, without running out of things to say and appearing like a sentimental mother. Even though I am.

My dear friend Judy provided culture, comforts, laughs, a cat and a dog to fill the sucking void of leaving mine for all this time. She is across the street from another famous landmark- The Flatiron Building.

How’s this for the quintessential view of NY as I woke up in the morning?

Still one of the grandest icons of architecture and embedded in our collective psyche regardless of what version of King Kong you grew up with.

After all the falling cranes perched perilously on top of yet more glass skyscraper sliver buildings, it’s not hard to be pulled in by sights that remind you how long the history of this city is.

I came across this old Sephardic cemetery on West 21st Street, sandwiched in between two modern buildings. It’s the origin of the oldest , only Jewish congregation in NY, dating back to 1654 at another site. Read about it’s history here.

And another view-

This lovely gentleman of British inflection and endless energy, demonstrates how to peel carrots, potatoes, vegetables of all varieties, with a Swiss made ( meaning the opposite of made in China ) $5 peeler. The peeler is almost as enchanting as this fellow. We bought 2.

If you were a knitter, wouldn’t you want to buy your hand dyed yarn from this vendor?

Van Gogh could have survived nicely here, given the displays of flowers.

Maybe it’s this image that reminds me that no matter how many shops, restaurants, big deals, limos, fabulousness, grandiosity and excess you experience here, what it all comes down to is this:

My grandmother was always right.

I’ll be back home to St. Croix tonight, feeling wealthy in so many ways.

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16 Responses to “My Exit Strategy from NYC”

  1. judylobo Says:

    Your exit blog was fabulous. We here in the Big Apple and at the Judy Holiday Inn will miss your wit, style and panache.

  2. Nancy Moskovitz Says:

    Another winning post and photos too. Might you paint from any of them? I can really identify with your mother/son explanation. smile. Great grandmothers think alike.

  3. nathaliewithanh Says:

    Hey Bonnie,
    I bet you’re exhausted! I got tired just looking at your list of things to do on Pat’s blog.
    The Jewish cemetery looked interesting, tucked away between buildings. What a weird place to “rest.” I bet it wasn’t like that when they got the plot. 100 years later: surprise, surprise! Never mind your prairie views, buildings all around. Woohoo!
    The old man makes me sad. At his age, you should not be demonstrating $5 carrot peelers on the street (although his carrots looked killer!) I’m glad you bought two. I hope you put them in your suitcase, and not in your carry-on. You cannot travel with carrot peelers.
    I think you should make a portrait of your son and post it. I’m curious to see if he looks just like you. I bet he does. A male version of course!
    Hoping for your safe return!

  4. Carol Says:

    Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! We miss you already! Soon we’ll visit YOU in St. Croix!

    xoxox

  5. CArol Says:

    YOU GUYS BOUGHT TWO OF THOSE PEELERS? LOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!

  6. bonnieluria Says:

    Nancy- thanks for jumping right on this last minute entry. It’s a strnge juxtaposition, being there in the morning and back here among the frogs and birds some 7 hours later.

    Nathalie-funny enough, that Englishman looked more delighted to be doing what he was, than the “investment banker guys “, plugged into their Blackberries and big egos.
    He was engaging the passersby and was very funny too.
    Think I’ll send you a private photo of my son- he might get swarmed if I reveal him publicly!

    Carol- it was great to see you and Matt and I’m awaiting the beautiful results of your newly bought paintbrushes!

  7. wrjones Says:

    Great photos. I can’t believe a sophisticated New Yorker like you would stop by our sleazy smoke filled painting halls.

  8. Paz Says:

    So glad you had a good visit in NYC and have returned home safe and sound. I love the sunflowers shot. And the sign is right, Health IS wealth. 😉

    Paz

  9. Marian Fortunati Says:

    I love reading your blog… So fun and full of life lived well!

  10. bonnieluria Says:

    Bill- remember that NY was built on sleazy smoke filled halls!
    Aside from your paintings which are great, and your humor which is insanely divine, your smoke filled pages always pull me in.

    Paz- sorry we couldn’t meet up this time but perhaps next one. We can always visit each other through these pages here, as we seem to do daily!

    Marian-Thanks so much for your very kind, sweet words. It’s so nice to know that the thoughts are shared and enjoyed.

  11. david lobenberg Says:

    Great combination of words and images! Boffo ending! I’ll tell ya, if I was at that window with that view, I’d be painting my butt off! Holy shit!! Pardon my language but what a view!

  12. david lobenberg Says:

    Ain’t WR Jones from Onpainting a great sleaze bucket?! Gotta love him!

  13. bonnieluria Says:

    David- She’s got the Flatiron on one side and the Empire State out the other. I forgot how incredibly intrusive the lights are at night when you’re trying to sleep. They never go dark.
    And it is a killer view up on the 11th floor.

    WR is waaaaay too inventive and clever and funny for one dude. I could read that blog and see a sitcom, couldn’t you?
    Would be a not yet exploited trade- artist. With insane musings.

  14. w1kkp Says:

    O, goodie. You are back. I was just thinking about your son. Not what he looks like as Nathaliewithh because I don’t know what you look like either. At least, from the outside.

    But, I was thinking this: if he grew up with a mother who could compliment him every day in a new way, as you do with your bloggers, with new words and new observations, each damn day of his life, as he evolved into himself, then I suggest nathaliewithanh could photograph him at night without need of moonlight or flash–he’d simply glow from within.

  15. nathaliewithanh Says:

    I could certainly elaborate on Pat’s suggestion in a most evocative way… but I’m quite sure that’s not what Pat had in mind therefore I’ll exercise an unusual degree of restraint and leave it at that.

  16. bonnieluria Says:

    Pat- sometimes as adults, we are fortunate enough to pick the people that become the parent roles we wish we had growing up.
    Your words express that sentiment from my perspective.
    You have the fine ability to say so much, in most original ways.
    So, yes, he’s a fine human and a job well done.

    Nathalie- all fired up with endorphins from a night at the gym, huh.
    Exercise of restraint is yours to do with what you’d like. Or not. Restraint is sometimes overrated……..
    And let me take a moment to thank you Nathalie for introducing me to Pats’ blog with that first imploded, pathetic spud. Who could have imagined where she’d take us all?

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