Elmo As Evidence

 

This picture right here is evidence of a getaway David and I made last weekend to NYC.  Yes, we escaped at an insane time in the term with papers needing to be graded and candidates needing to be hosted and university intrigue needing to be stirred up and classes needing to be planned and talks needing to be written... and then of course, there were kids needing to be tended at home and chores needing to be addressed BUT in spite of all that need, what we didn't know is that we actually NEEDED to escape and absolutely all of those things were better able to be dealt with upon our return.  (I am not even going to think about that convoluted syntax right there.)

So this picture here is evidence of how we got away to celebrate Chris and Jenn's 40th birthdays in New York City.  They met us in Brooklyn and we brunched in Dumbo and shopped for sweet treats at Jacques Torres--D's favorite chocolate!  We saw the fabulous Abstract Expressionist exhibit at the MOMA and enjoyed drinks at Campbell's Apartment inside Grand Central.  And we had cocktails and cornhole before an amazing seven course sushi tasting in Williamsburg hosted by Chris and Jenn.  Most of all, we got to toast Jenn and Chris over Bloody Marys, Prohibition Punch, Bourbon Fizzles, Sake, beers, and some things I may be forgetting.  And most of all, we got to visit with Jenn and Chris and celebrate how dear they are, so dear, and so funny!  And so this picture is our only tangible evidence of this special special celebration.

So this picture here is also evidence of how Rebecca Habel hosted us like a champ, the very best mother duck, leading her bumpkin ducklings through the city with nary a hitch.  Tour guide extraordinaire, she picked the best spots and showed us the best time.  And this picture is our evidence of our deep gratitude.

So this picture here is also evidence of how Kirb and Rick hosted us.  They wined us and dined us Friday evening with an astonishing array of goodness at Saul's on Smith Street.  We got to hug the Spadaro parents and wonder over the perfection of Luca and Theo.  We got to admire the Sydney Place masterpiece, their home in progress.  And most of all, we got to watch Kirb trying to figure out what was going to come out of Rick's mouth next and how exactly she was going to react to it.  And then, we had to figure out how in the world we got such a good buddy as Kirb to take us through a traffic jam to the airport on Sunday.  And this picture doesn't even come close to capturing her everlasting friendship.

So this picture here is also evidence of the weekend Elsie and Kit spent with GranAnn and Pop Roy where they were spoiled perfectly and where they behaved--or so it is reported--fairly decently.  With visits to the park and lots of outside fun, they enjoyed almost as much fun as we did.... but they didn't sleep in like we did.   So this picture represents our profound thanks for this opportunity.

And this picture does represent, how, even in New York, with David and Chris expressing delight at being free of kids (turdless), they still hustled up to Elmo knowing how excited they would be to share their proximity with those girls who were far away but always always so close.