Tuesday, May 26, 2015

New York, NY

Merry meet Friends,
Michelle here, bringing lots of love and light!

" No family is perfect...we argue, we fight.  We even stop talking to each other at times, but in the end, family is family...the love will always be there."...unknown

My youngest son, Jason, turned 30 on May 21st of this year.  He is not a big birthday celebration person.  He doesn't like the attention focused on him.  Regardless, he is my youngest, and although any age is a blessing, I always feel that the "0" and "5" years could be celebrated even if one celebrates no other.  So I decided I wanted to go to NY to celebrate with him.  His father was on vacation and decided to go as well.  My youngest daughter, Tiffany who lives in DC decided to join us also.  Tiffany came in on Saturday morning and left on Sunday morning.  Jason's father and I left on Thursday night on the Chinese bus.  The bus was due into NY at 6:30am on Friday morning.  The bus was late leaving Richmond and we arrived  at 8:30am in China town.  Jason was going to pick us up but had to go into work.  I knew how to take the train and told him that's what we would do as opposed to paying an astronomical taxi fee.  Jason's father is from NY but hasn't lived there in years.  He was like a fish out of water.  He is more a southerner than I.

We got to Jason's apartment and I showered and changed in order to go to 116th and Lenox Ave to the African/Harlem Market.  I never made it because Jason came in at 1pm and we decided to go out to eat.  He had been to Pier A with co workers for a send off of his former manager.  It's in Battery Park and on the water.  He wanted us to enjoy the experience and to have the oyster sliders, which I had but not his father.  He had salmon and creamed spinach.  (I know you wanted to know, Net)  It was overcast and started to drizzle so we ate inside.  It never rained and I wish we had stayed out.  Afterwards we rode around, and Jason drove me to the African Market.  Jason said to me: "Mom, you always come with an agenda; you either visit friends, meet them for dinner or want to go to a store."  I told him I had planned those things knowing he would be at work and that I would spend Saturday with him.  We headed back to his apartment and we all went to bed.  We were extremely tired.  Riding a bus at night is, in my opinion, the same as working an overnight shift. One is tired and sleepy but can't really rest.

On Saturday I prepared breakfast for Jason and his father but I didn't eat.  A couple of hours later, we left to pick up Tiffany from Greyhound.  She had not eaten either.  It seems that everything is a big production in this family.  Tiffany didn't care if she had breakfast, brunch, or lunch. It was 11:45 am.  No one seemed to be making a decision.  Finally, I said what about a diner.  Everyone agreed and I told them about Metro Diner on West 101st Street.  I had eaten there while in my first year of Seminary.  With that settled we drove there and had a meal.  Everyone ate and their father treated everyone.  Tiffany and I wanted to get a mani-pedi ($20 in NY for both) but noooo, we were there for Jason, we were politely told, and so we went back to the apartment.  We were trying to decide what to do before dinner reservations at 6:30. Suggestions were flying and no one could agree.  Tiffany wanted Coney Island, I wanted to walk the Brooklyn Bridge, their father wanted Times Square (like a tourist), Jason wanted anything.  We should have gone to see the Yankees but the game had started. Jason's friend was joining us for dinner but he wanted the meeting to take place before dinner. I guess we re a bit much to take initially.  LOL  

We ended up going to Times Square (like tourists).  We met Jason's friend there.  She is very nice and pretty. After walking around and taking in the sights (like tourists) we decided to head downtown for dinner.  Their father was against the restaurant because he didn't want Jason to spend the money.  It kind of soured it for Jason but we did go anyway.  Jason is in love with Korean BBQ and had been telling his sister about it.  I don't eat red meat or pork so it didn't matter to me.  The food is cooked on a hibachi at the table.  I had very large shrimp.  Jason wanted us to have the experience. That was how he wanted to celebrate and his dad didn't seem to get that. They all seemed to enjoy the different cuts of beef and the side dishes.  I certainly enjoyed the shrimp and the eggplant was delicious!  We then walked to the train and headed back to the apartment, with Jason's friend going back to her place.  It was a long day and again we were tired.  Tiffany was leaving at 9:15 am. I told her that I would take her to Greyhound and then meet Jason and their father at Jason's church.  I feel as if NYis my home.  I get around easily.  

I took Tiffany by train to the bus station and then took the train back uptown to 125th Street.  Jason's church is on 127 and Lenox Ave.  I thought to myself, I can go and visit the stores on 125th Street.  Alas!, they weren't opened.  I walked on over to the church actually getting there before Jason and his dad.  Jason is always asked to pray and he does a fantastic job.  It's nice when the people in the congregation tell us how much he is loved.  After church we went back to the apartment to change and then went to Manna Soul Food Buffet on Lenox.  Our bus was due to leave at 5pm. Jason's car had been giving him trouble and so his father wanted to bring it back to Richmond to get it repaired.  In the meantime, I finally was able to get in touch with my granddaughter!  I saw her, and I saw my great granddaughter for the first time.  I held out my arms to her and she came to me (she's 2). I asked her: "Do you know who I am?"  She said, "Yes" and I asked , "Who?"  She said, "Grandma" I told my granddaughter that she must have told her that and she said she had.  She didn't stay in my arms though.  She took to Jason and cried when it was time for her to leave. She looks like her mother did at that age.  I am so happy to have seen them.

We left NY at 5:30am Monday.  The car started hesitating and we thought at one point we would have to call a tow truck.  I heard in my spirit the word "gas" but I didn't say anything.  When Jason's dad put mid grade gas and then high octane in the car, the problem virtually disappeared.  This is why I love Spirit.  We are always led in the right direction if we pay attention.  Jason is coming here on Friday to pick up his car.   I plan to take a day trip to NY in a couple of weeks since the Chinese bus is $50 roundtrip.  I love my family.  We don't always agree and sometimes we really don't speak to each other but family is family.  No one says you have to like them but we do love them and would fight for them if necessary.  

Until next Sunday,
Merry part and merry meet again,
Blessed be,
Gypsi Mama Michelle


1 comment:

  1. Of course the stores on 125th Street weren’t open cuz Mickie wanted it or in the words of the late great V. M. Brown - “if it was raining soup I’d be standing outside with fork” darlin!

    And yes. Family is family; might not always like ‘em but you always love ‘em. After all, we’s “all cut from the same cloth” - another Mckism.

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