One of the great things about living in New York City is how quickly you can get out of it. (Perhaps I should qualify that with. . . on a Saturday at 6:30 a.m. on the subway/train.) I timed our exit this weekend as we left for a day in Connecticut:
3 minutes - walk to subway
5 minutes - wait for #4 express
7 minutes - Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall station to Grand Central Terminal
5_ minutes - purchase tickets, walk to train platform
20 minutes TOTAL from apartment door to Metro-North train door!
As the sun was leisurely pulling itself out of bed on the first day of a weekend, our train cleared the terminal. I opened a book; Drew leaned back for a snooze. Two-and-half hours later we would be in Waterbury, where our friends, Marian and Jim, would pick us up. With no responsibility but to ride, read and look out the window, I settled into my seat with a relaxing sigh.
About forty-five minutes outside Waterbury, the passing scenes began to change. Reds, oranges, and yellows yelled for our attention as the sun spotlighted the brilliance of the season. With my camera pressed to the window, I snapped picture after picture. The blending of colors, created by the movement of the train, reminded me of a delicate impressionistic painting.
One group of particularly bold branches stretched their leafy limbs precariously close to the track so we could fully appreciate their beauty.
Nature surrounded us all day as we ate lunch in Marian and Jim's tree-lined backyard, hiked 3 miles in Flanders Nature Center, and reminisced over scrapbook pages at the kitchen table (while nosey shrubs peeked through windows.) Jim's father, whose wife recently died, joined us in the sunshine.
Photos from our walk, combined with the simplicity of a poem*, speak to me of a day that was truly a gift.
*©2011 Twylla Alexander
3 minutes - walk to subway
5 minutes - wait for #4 express
7 minutes - Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall station to Grand Central Terminal
5_ minutes - purchase tickets, walk to train platform
20 minutes TOTAL from apartment door to Metro-North train door!
As the sun was leisurely pulling itself out of bed on the first day of a weekend, our train cleared the terminal. I opened a book; Drew leaned back for a snooze. Two-and-half hours later we would be in Waterbury, where our friends, Marian and Jim, would pick us up. With no responsibility but to ride, read and look out the window, I settled into my seat with a relaxing sigh.
About forty-five minutes outside Waterbury, the passing scenes began to change. Reds, oranges, and yellows yelled for our attention as the sun spotlighted the brilliance of the season. With my camera pressed to the window, I snapped picture after picture. The blending of colors, created by the movement of the train, reminded me of a delicate impressionistic painting.
Nature surrounded us all day as we ate lunch in Marian and Jim's tree-lined backyard, hiked 3 miles in Flanders Nature Center, and reminisced over scrapbook pages at the kitchen table (while nosey shrubs peeked through windows.) Jim's father, whose wife recently died, joined us in the sunshine.
Photos from our walk, combined with the simplicity of a poem*, speak to me of a day that was truly a gift.
scent of pine
trickle of water
warmth of sunshine
on an upturned face
heal
refresh
celebrate
We returned to the city as quickly as we left, but this time. . . I forgot to look at my watch.
*©2011 Twylla Alexander
Again, thank you for your post. I must tell you who I am. I am Jamie's mother-in-law. Jamie is married to our daughter Ashley. I began reading your interesting blog when Marian suggested it. I like what you write about.
ReplyDeleteColleen
I just discovered the connection over the weekend. I'm delighted to know who you are. Hopefully, our paths will cross in person sometime. The Levines have been friends for many years; we loved getting to spend time with them last weekend. Again, thanks for reading!
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the poem and pictures. They definitely look like some we saw in the MET :-) Sounds like you had a wonderful weekend - hiking, relaxing with friends, picturesque. How fun for both of you!
ReplyDeleteYes, having just seen those beautiful Monets at the MET on Friday sparked the connection to what appeared on my camera as we sped by. A camera lens gives us a whole new perspective sometimes, as you well know!
ReplyDeleteMom,
ReplyDeleteI love this post, especially the poem at the end, and the subtle little fact that even though you returned home as quickly as you left, you forgot to check your watch. The pictures you took on the train as it zoomed along are really great--Van Gogh-like. You have quite a few fans out there. Several of them let me know how much they enjoy your mosts via Facebook. Keep up the good work..
Love,
Katherine
'posts' not 'mosts'. Sorry. Although, I'm sure they love your posts the most. :-)
ReplyDeleteKatherine,
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you like it! Connecting the pictures to the writing is something I really enjoy doing. That last line seemed to come from "out of the blue," which is the best kind. :-) Thanks SO much for keeping up with my blog and for letting me know that others are reading it too, especially since I'm not a Facebook person.
Love,
Mom