A Dwindling Twinkle

As my plane was descending down

into the greater New York area this past Thursday night,

I was struck by how beautiful all the glimmering lights of Queens looked from above.

The grid of gold and white lights of the borough looked like little diamonds from the sky.

'Reverse sky,' I thought to myself.

And as I sat waiting for my flight to board on Sunday,

catching up on some reading,

I learned that by the year 2020, only 10% of the US population

will have a view of the night sky- due to light pollution.

Windmill Factory

The same lights that looked so regal from 10,000 feet above,

will cause the constellations to vanish from the naked eye.

Thank goodness for the Windmill Factory.

Illuminating the issue at Pier 49 with solar- powered LEDs,

which mimic the patterns of our starry skies.

Lady Libs

Stand tall and proud Lady Liberty.

The light of your torch shines bright this weekend,

and always....

image is my own, taken from my dad's office 

Wishing love and peace,

from sea to shining sea.

xo

Thoughts on Flowers...

My older sister freelances in a field

that bestows, what I imagine is, a very special

and intimate sense of satisfaction and fulfillment.

She works with flowers and  in turn,

is indirectly involved in the sweetest of sentiments

on wedding days, birthdays, and promotions.

Almost always we associate flowers with the happiest of go lucky occasions.

But, I forget that, with sympathy, comes flowers too.

And my heart beats a little bluer for her because,

it must weigh heavily on her thorn scratched fingers,

to make arrangements for the greyest of days.

Thinking of you...

xo

Golden Birthday

On the eve of my golden birthday,

simple are my wishes three:

More days ending with skin peppered by freckles

 and salt from the sea.

And campfire nights,

spent watching a big ol' moon, 

rising above a redwood tree.

image

To continue to find joy

in the simplest of pleasures.

It's a wink or a giggle,

the smallest of gestures that I treasure.

Here's to twenty-nine

being filled with more whimsy and wonder!

xo

A Quote. For Tuesday.

"Don’t listen to anyone.

Trust what gives you pleasure.

Trust the emotions.

 If you love something but can’t explain why, that’s enough."

~ Calice Becker ~

image

The Comfort of Carrots & Zuc

Because I'd had a long,

somewhat tedious day of work,

and because the marine layer rolled in after work,

cloaking the city in a cold, damp fog,

and comfort food consisting of anything cheese dipped or fried 

sounded far too heavy and unappetizing.

image

Because of all these things,

I decided to make myself a dinner of

buttered carrots and zucchini,

with a side of peppered brussel sprouts.

There is nothing more simple and  delicious,

as farm fresh produce,

buttered and salted in pan on the stove.

Rethink your comfort food friends!

This was oh so pleasing after a tiresome day by the bay.

xo

Empire State of Mind

I realize now that my love for New York is truer than the ocean is blue.

Being back on east coast soil this past week has been the tops. 

It's difficult to articulate

just how perfect everything has been.

And I know it's not for lack of trying by my family and by my friends.

I love that on any given night, you can walk out of work and into a Broadway show.  

I love that a friend is always free for dinner, and an evening stroll.

I love commuting with my dad,

meeting my sister on the sidewalk.

I...I forgot how much I loved walking home

to decompress after being in the office all day.

I forgot how magical Gramercy Park is-

and Madison Square Park and Flatiron:

I love you!  I love you!  I can't say it enough!

image is my own

I forgot how much I loved seeing men in suits,

and forgot about babies and nannies on Park Avenue.

I forgot about flocks of friends heading to happy hour.

And how everyone in this muggy haze of August, shares a knowing smile on the subway.

The camaraderie of New Yorkers.

How? How could I forget all of this?

New York, my heart never swayed ...but my memory got foggy.

And for that I am actually grateful.

Because it's made this trip so very special.

To rediscover the things I used to take for granted.

I thought for a moment there, that I'd lost my inner New York compass...

my first day or so, I was clumsy, confused.

But, it's there.

It's always there,

tethered to my heart.

Pointing east, from west.

xo