Dear Will. ...... Once the plane set down and I got my bag and a taxi (after 3 1/2 hours sleep on the plane) all the anxiety left and I was in travel happy brain. I had a big day!
Love, Kake
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I started this entry on September 14th and am finishing it on September 29th. I reported in short bursts on the Book of Faces. In spite of all my anxiety and panic attacks before the trip, I did very well, staying up late, enjoying myself, being safe and aware when necessary, basically enjoying the energy and crowds of "greatest City in the World."
I carried Will with me in the form of the little doll and also traveled with Beary Fox, my usual companion.
I walked and walked for hours and hours, both on sidewalks and in museums. On Stacey's recommendation, on Wednesday morning, after visiting the super ugly exhibit at The Gagosian (blech ... two other galleries had ugly art as well) I walked the last 10 blocks of the High Line because it was suddenly there on 23rd street and even though it was raining and I was tired, I walked it up to Macy's and then enjoyed the Subway back to Times Square from there. I'd forgotten to pack my yellow slicker so I was happy to not be soaked.
I wound doing everything I wanted to do this particular trip. I saw six shows, seven if you count my hour of Episcopal bells and smells at St Thomas on 5th Ave. I loved each show I saw. On Sunday, I enjoyed seeing Elizabeth McGovern in her play, Secret Conversations in the afternoon, and then going to the hour and a half long set of bangin' tunes called SIX. In between shows I walked through MOMA, once again thinking the fifth floor has one of the most lovely collections I've ever seen.
My Monday museum experiences were the Museum of Broadway (fantastic use of objet AND posterboard histories) and the "Superfine" (Black Male Dandyism) exhibit at the Metroopolitan Museum of Art. The Broadway History Mueum offered many options for selfies and "you-take-ities".
On Monday night I enjoyed that huge production that is The Great Gatsby, with it's millions in sets and costumes and wonderful dance sets. Sadly, the lyrics weren't great and it's not quite cricket to make Daisy so nice as she was an absolute bitch who destroyed those around her. But it was super fun to watch and I bought a $70 hoody from the show that says on the back, "Where's the party and can you take me there?"
My other museum experience was visiting the American Natural History Museum on Tuesday after a walk up the bridal path of Central Park and talking with dogs. What I really wanted to see was the great concrete "underground" createed as an architectural showpiece in the insect area. It was well worth the visit to New York all by itself. Standing inside the structure is so different than seeing pictures of it. It's really awe inspiring.
On Tuesday afternoon I visited with old married couple and long time friends Lee and Jay. I've been very EType4 envious of them having apartments in Provincetown and New York (and now a house in Palm Springs). But after visiting their little space, which was very warm after my half-hour walk from the museum to 96th Street and very loud because they'd opened the windows rather than turn on the air conditioner and sirens were pretty regular. But these guys are used to living near sirens. But I was no longer envious. I discovered that having space to live in is actually more important than living near 24/7 excitement. Good to know.
I finished up Tuesday with the event that sparked my decision to go to NYC -- Seeing Bill and Ted as Vladimer and Estragon. They actually seemed a little stiff at the beginning, perhaps because we were the first packed preview house. But they loosened up during the second act. Before the show I had a seat in the Ambassador club (poorly spent money but well spent because of my neighbor). I was settled next to another single woman, a Russian psychoanalyst called Tatiana. At one point, after I'd told her I was a widow she waved her beringed hand at me and said, "He is here with you now." That was worth the ridiculous cost of the pre-show hang-out.
Then Wednesday afternoon I saw Hadestown (stunning retelling of the Orpheus and Eurydice story as jazz fable) and Operation Mincemeat (utterly brilliant Brit musical about the famous Man Who Wasn't There of WWII with five actors rotating through 82 different roles.).
My hotel room was a wonderful part of my trip, as I was on the 22 floor of a Marriott on Broadway and 54th Street. I spent plenty of time just RearWindowing. Never turned on the tv.
All in all, it was a great trip and I'm now doing my best to keep the energy of the city in my heart.
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