We hung with Sarah as she took off for Grand Central Station and her fancy marketing job near Wall Street. She seemed very nervous about leaving us to find our own way through the streets and subways of NYC. I assured her that her father had a little bit more noodle than Barney Fife, and that she was not the only one who had grown up in a city. Still, she would not be at peace until she had written detailed directions for us to the sites we would see that day. Our Sarah is a wonderful daughter - one who especially seeks to protect and nurture her mother. One day, I hope she has that same experience with her own daughter.
We arrived at Wall Street just before 8:15 AM. Sarah's high-rise office complex is only a block or so away. The plan was for us to see the Statue of Liberty, the 9/11 Memorial at Ground Zero, and a few other places of note in that general area.
After a few hurried minutes of direction-giving, well-wishing, and picture-taking, our little girl hurried away to her office. So surreal it is to see her as a little girl one moment, and then in the next instant as a grown-up business professional in this city of all cities.
A father could have never envisioned such for his #1 daughter.
As we bundled, huddled, and braved the icy NE wind coming off NY Harbor, my Tennessee girl and I headed toward Battery Park and the ferry to Liberty Island. The security measures passengers have to go through to ride that large, tri-level boat are the same as any major airport in the country. The security lines are inside a giant tent, but the wind still cuts through. This is quite a challenge when the wind chill is at or below zero (as it was that day). To compound the fun, you are told quite matter-of-factly by the security agents to remove your coat and shoes as you go through the screening area.
Once this is accomplished, we stood just inside the large "boat house" where the ferry docks to unload and load passengers. The boats to Liberty and Ellis Island depart and return every half hour. Even though the conditions that day we gravely extreme, each boat was packed to the rails with passengers. The top is an open deck, and it, too, was filled each time a boat arrived or departed. Evidently, Lady Liberty has some serious drawing power to entice folks to brave such elements.
The Park Service was not allowing folks to go up into the statue itself. The limit for tourists was the observation deck at the base of the statue. Looking up at her, I remembered my 1972 trip to NYC with the O'Keefe High School Band. On that occasion, I got the treat of climbing the winding staircase inside the statue, and looking out through the slits in the crown.
What a memorable thing for a sixteen year old.
Mrs. Decker and I were content to walk around the wide, brick walkway lining the edge of Liberty Island. By the time we made it once around, and had visited the gift shop, the feeling was quite mutual - we had seen enough.
After standing in line, we boarded the next vessel back. After a stop at Ellis Island to load and off-load, we soon arrived back at Battery Park. As we stood on the boat coming back, we were sandwiched between two British couples. Both Debbie and I listened silently and intently as these Brits talked - loving every syllable of their thick accents.
Once we made it back to Wall Street, we had some genuine NY Style pizza, and then found our way to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. This was, by far, the most emotional and moving experience of our trip. There were many artifacts in the Memorial, including the twisted remains of one of the airplane windows, personal family pictures and remembrances of each person who died, and even recordings of all the fire-fighter and police radio traffic from that horrific morning.
This blog was intended to maintain a light-hearted and jovial tone throughout. For a moment, please forgive the serious tone of the following observations.
At the end of the Memorial, a designated area allows visitors to sit at tables and write on large cards that are supplied. These cards ask for personal reflections/memories/opinions regarding the day itself, the brutal and savage events that took place, and any other items that one might wish to express.
Following our visit to Ground Zero, we headed back to Sarah's place to pack, rest, and await her arrival from work at the end of the day.
When she came home, we went out for one final NY meal. A local Chinese restaurant provided some of THE best Chinese food we had ever eaten. After a short walk back, we spent the rest of the evening watching a Christmas movie with our girl. It was a very personal, restful, and peaceful way to this trip of all trips.
Retiring rather early, we readied ourselves for an early morning cab ride to LaGuardia for a 6:00 AM flight.
It was time to go home.
Sarah had been a gracious, sacrificial hostess, and we had profoundly enjoyed this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
But now, it was time to get out of her way.
3:00 AM would come very early.
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