Owen's First Gay Pride Parade

We're back from New York, and Owen survived. Or rather, Taylor and I survived without having to suffer too much whining from our 5-year-old suburban child who doesn't like walking. Owen did better than we thought, walking dozens of blocks each day and "humping" his own backpack. 

We traveled up to NYC early Friday on the Bolt Bus, an affordable and pleasant journey, which I highly recommend. Going by train has its advantages--the cafe car, the fold-down tables--but I think we'll be taking the bus from now on and using the cash we save on better things, like an extra night in the hotel or an extra dinner out. The bus was comfy, odor-free, and equipped with outlets and wi-fi.  You can't ask for more.

When we arrived near Madison Square Garden that afternoon, we still had several hours before check-in time. We schlepped to the hotel first anyway, to stow our one piece of luggage. Since we last stayed at the Gershwin Hotel, it had changed a bit; now large horn-like sculptures made from fiberglass and wire decorate its front. The quirky furniture is still there, and Owen loved to hang out in the back lounge and dance under the disco ball. We left the Gershwin and walked to FAO Schwartz, stopping once at the Disney store so that Owen could use their restroom. I was glad that he didn't want to browse; I can only take so much Disney. At FAO we quickly made our way to the top level where all the good stuff lives, like Legos and PlayMobil. 

From FAO we walked to Heckscher Park in Central Park, where we had such a good time last year. Cleverly, Taylor had this time brought Owen's swimming trunks so that he could enjoy a good splash in the water without being doomed to a soggy walk back to the hotel. My favourite moment at Heckscher was when Owen stripped down to get into his trunks and we discovered that that morning Owen had put his clean underwear over his dirty ones. The kid had been wearing two pairs of underpants all day. No, wait, my absolute favourite moment at Heckscher was when I spotted Ally Sheedy, and Taylor dashed back like a giddy schoolboy to catch a glimpse of her. (It turns out that he had a huge crush on her around the time she was scratching dandruff from her scalp.) 

Day Two in New York marked my Day One, meaning my period started that morning. Major drag to be bloated and a bit crampy on holiday. But you know me, . . . stiff upper lip. We took the subway to the Children's Museum of Manhattan. Owen's favourite exhibit was the one on Greek Gods and Goddesses, where you could play in a Trojan Horse and pretend to be Odysseus making his way home after the battle. Taylor and I, however, preferred the fascinating video of a tiny camera travelling down through some poor bastard's GI tract. Owen flinched and turned away from this exhibit. We were on our way back to Central Park when we were caught in our first of three rainstorms. We walked briskly instead to the nearby American Museum of Natural History.

to be continued . . . 

Comments

[Maisha]

Can't wait to hear the rest. Tony and I will be going to NYC labor day weekend. We're thinking of taking the Bolt up there. Good to hear you gave it thumbs up. Take care.

[ceri]

Hi, Maisha. The Bolt Bus was so cheap, and then you don't have to worry about parking a car. Do you know what stuff you want to do when you are in NYC? Any shows or clubs?

[sian]

I'm always talking bout your upper lip!
xo