Hello.

 

Hi, I'm Annie.

Mother of 3,
spouse to G,
writer of things,
former batgirl,
sister,
daughter,
lucky friend,
and American
living in Australia.

Basic Joy = my attempt to document all of this life stuff, stubbornly looking for the joy in dailiness. 

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Mama, Ph.D.: Women Write About Motherhood and Academic LifeMountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the WorldThe Sweetness at the Bottom of the PieThe Island: A NovelThe PassageSecret Spaces of Childhood

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« Independence Day | Main | The wondrous land of blog »
Wednesday
Jul022008

Made in Manhattan

Yoo hoo! Psst. Over here. No, not there. Down the coast a bit. Here I am, in NYC. I'm stretched out on the foldout sofa bed on the 27th floor of a hotel with the glow of Times Square seeping through the sheer drapes. My parents are in the next room + I'm enjoying hearing one of the sounds of my growing up: laughter from their room as they watch the Tonight Show (in fact, one of my brother Chris's first phrases was "Here's Johnny!" True story.)

I was born here a few dozen blocks away and several decades ago. I think my cells remember my Big Apple beginnings because I love to make the pilgrimage and soak up the city. Even the stinky summer sewer smells don't dampen my love of this place. This time I'm here with my parents for a few days then we'll head back up to Boston for the 4th of July weekend with the fam.

Yes, this is a kid-free (thanks to G for holding down the fort at home), just-me-and-my-parents getaway. Evidence: I stayed up until 1:30 a.m. Funniest moment today: watching my mom be interviewed by CBS News for a man-in-the-street interview about travel. Don't know if she made it to the broadcast, but if you see someone on that show ask about boutique hotels, that would be my madre. Besides that brush with fame, we walked around, ate dinner at a cafe (delish) in the West Village with my sister (who lives here) and her boyfriend, and saw the movie The Visitor (very good).

Di Fiori Marquet photo courtesy of NY magazine
don't you love that mustard yellow on the outside?

Tomorrow is a theatre-packed day: August, Osage County for the matinee and South Pacific at night. I know, lucky am I. I'm thinking I need to find some way to pay it forward to balance out this trip. Does anyone need their toilets scrubbed? Their wallpaper stripped? Let me know.

[I wrote this last night but, in my sleepy haze, forgot to post.]

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Reader Comments (5)

i'm going to NY tomorrow! i love it there. i'm glad you're enjoying your vacation. there is NOTHING in the world like the 4th with the pops on the charles. have a fantastic holiday.

07.3.2008 | Unregistered Commenterandrea

I LOVE NY!!! Seriously, it is one of my favorite places in the world.

We're taking my 13 year old this summer (before H.S. starts).

Enjoy your freedom. Vacations with just Mom and Dad are the best. It's nice to be "taken care of" again!

07.3.2008 | Unregistered Commenterqueenieweenie

What a blast! Have a terrific 4th!

07.4.2008 | Unregistered Commentercalibosmom

I think you can pay it forward by coming to visit your long lost friend who needs some cheering up after her LAME vacation.

Deal?

07.7.2008 | Unregistered CommenterChristie

Ohhh, sounds like heaven. Sometimes after being the responsible adult around here for too long I just need some mothering myself and NYC sounds like a great place to do it! I'll let my mom in on this secret.

07.7.2008 | Unregistered CommenterEmily

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