I Love New York ...

And Washington, DC. Even with two planeloads of 7th and 8th graders and a few parents as chaperones.

Last year, as soon as we got back from China with Lily Grace, Austin got invited to join the ELHS Jr Beta Club. Become a member and be eligible to travel to New York and Washington, DC for a week of fun and learning. So without hesitation, we signed up. Connie and I would both travel to New York with Åustin, while Lily Grace got to spend some quality time with Memaw. At least that was the plan. So we began paying our installments for the trip for the three of us. But as time advanced, we knew in our hearts that there was no way that we could all travel to New York and leave Lily Grace here. So, Connie sold her ticket to another lady and Austin and I made the trek alone. Well, sort of ....

There were 90 of us in all. Two buses. Two airplanes - I was responsible for 60 on my plane. Two hotels. 30 hotel rooms. 65 kids and 25 parents (only three of us parents were men). We left East Limestone around 11:00 pm on the 24th and arrived in New York around 10:00 am the next day (we drove to Atlanta and flew Delta Airlines to Laguardia International). It was the first time to fly for several of the kids, so we parents had some comforting to do. Of course, Austin, being the worldly traveler, was explaining everything to anyone who would listen. He did manage to comfort one girl through takeoff and landing. Ah, the Big Apple. A piece of Americana. I wish everyone could go to New York at least once in their lifetime. It's really an awesome city. Especially Manhattan. Once in New York, we hit the ground running. Times Square for lunch. I had four boys to look after most of the time, so we watched to see where New York's finest, the members of NYPD, would eat lunch and we followed their lead. Ray's Pizza. How much more American can you get? Checkout the pizza slices. No skimping here!



Next up a tour of New York via motor coach. Chinatown, Wall Street, Central Park (checkout the group picture at the Alice in Wonderland Bronze statue), Uptown, Downtown, St. Patricks Cathedral, NBC Studios, Rockerfeller Center, Ground Zero. Stop. All day long, the kids had been chattering unmercifully. But now, as we exited the motor coach and began surveying the site of the most blatant attack by the enemy in modern history, every one of them simply stared quietly. Not so much as a deep breath could even be heard amongst them. No American can look upon this site without some emotional response, not even our children. It troubles me to wonder what they must be thinking. "Am I safe, if this can happen here?" We were blessed to have a wonderful New Yorker as a tour guide and even he couldn't say much. You just look and reflect. Some remember the victims, some their families, some the policemen of NYPD or the firemen of NYFD, others the attackers (they too must be prayed for), and still others the men and women in our armed forces protecting our country from further attack.




"One of Austin's Best Friends"

A Broadway show "Wicked" topped off the evening. In a word, awesome, awesome, awesome! Oh, sorry, that's three words. All in all, nearly 50 straight hours with no sleep. Wow, what a fun time that was! While we were away, Lily Grace was back home learning to say "Da-ee in Nu Ork, Au'tin Nu Ork, too!" She told both of us to come home after only a day or two. The next day was only slightly less chaotic. We visited a wax museum, Central Park again, 5th Avenue, toured NBC Studios and Rockefeller Center, prayed at St. Patrick's Cathedral, and then went to the UN. The final day in New York was spent in a pouring rain trying to get to Liberty Island. We did make it, but most were soaking wet, even with umbrellas and ponchos. But I guarantee you, everyone of us would do it all over again. The Statue of Liberty means so much to our country, you just have to see it, no matter what.

Next Stop, Washington, DC. Count the kids on the bus. Oh, we're a few short, not surprising. They have cell phones, they'll catch up. The Capitol, the White House, Ford's Theatre and the Peterson House, the Memorials and Monuments. The World War II Memorial is amazing beyond words. Go, see for yourself. Union Station, the Mall, Washington Monument, Smithsonian, Arlington National Cemetary and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Changing of the Guard. Well, you get the picture. We were all very tired, but so much the better for having immersed ourselves in some of the most historic and exciting facets of our wonderful country. But by now, Lily Grace had added a few words to her phone conversation "Da-ee, come home, now pease!"








I forgot to mention, I learned how to shop for purses while in New York. I bought two for Lily Grace and one for Connie. The boys were very disappointed in my shopping habits and were more than a little embarrased to be seen with me in the likes of 9 West. Oh well, some day they too will be in the market for purses for wives and they'll have me to thank for teaching them to not be embarrased to shop for them!

Love,
Jerry, Connie, Austin, Lily Grace ... and 90 of our now closest friends!