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6.15.2011

my manhattan: the one with my mother in it.


red and green

red brick

mother daughter

guggenheim

garden center

epistrophy

chocolate

black and white cookie

hanging flowers

little cupcake bakeshop

little italy

sorbet!

the best thing about having my mother in town are those moments when sailing in a cab up the westside highway she points out the pier where she and my father had their first date. and then launches into the story about how they thought it'd be a small private party but it ended up being six thousand people (six thousand very lush people). or when walking down madison avenue she notices the william greenberg bakery and suddenly she's a kid in a candy shop (or quite literally, bake shop) remembering how when she first married she took a baking class where they worked through mr. greenberg's recipes and the cinnamon buns! she surely remembered the candy that is those cinnamon buns! 

there are other good things too. little things. shared subway rides. lovely meals. a respite on a park bench. 

the problem is....well, when she leaves...or after my father has visited, or when i've spent some time at home in texas, or in coming back from a visit with my brother in boston...

the subway rides feels longer. the bags that i tote around all day feel heavier. work is a bit less important. everything feels just ever so much harder.

but that doesn't mean i'd trade the visits and respites and vacations for anything in the world. 

35 comments:

Jenni Austria Germany said...

oh. my. goodness.

do i know the feeling.

Jessica Holly said...

This makes me SO excited for my Mom to come in a few weeks! Looks like you had fun :)

The Michelle Show said...

Thank goodness my Mom lives only 20 minutes away!

becky said...

This is beautiful. (Are you at all bored of me saying that, yet? I say it on every single post. All truthfully, but still. I am sorry if that word ever bores you. Maybe I'll brush up on my positive adjectives).

Ashley said...

sounds like you and your mother had a lovely time together. Loving all the pictures as well..

After any sort of vacation I always feel depressed for at least a week afterwards. I was in New Zealand for 2 weeks a couple years ago and I was so down afterwards. It's weird how we get like that.

Anonymous said...

Family makes it all worth while. New and old memories meshed into one great place... Lovely! Thanks for sharing.

Summer Athena said...

this makes me so excited for my mother to come up in 2 weeks. i cannot wait to see her!

Anonymous said...

I've always found it hard to adjust after visits like that. It always feel liks such a let down, but I'm glad that you were able to enjoy the time with your mom!

Mackenzie said...

oh man, i am getting to know this feeling all too well. now that i'm firmly planted in boston, without a mom in sight i find comfort in finding my own little family of other city dwellers that also need a family. :) it makes the bags a little bit lighter.

Little Tree Vintage said...

it must be hard being so far away...i bet it makes the time you do spend all that much more special and important <3

D&D said...

so glad i'm going home to mama and papa this wknd.

Rachel Upshaw said...

Totally, totally summed up my feelings too. My mom lived here when she was about my age. I love thinking about similar experiences we've shared in this crazy, wonderful town. And boy oh boy do I get homesick more and more whenever I leave Austin. Maybe that means we're growing up?

jackie said...

i love hearing my parent's love story [even though they're not together anymore...]. moms do make everything better, a little bit lighter. thank god for the time you did get to spend with her, right?

kate said...

gorgeous manhattan as always! those treats have me wanting to enter into a sugar induced coma stat.

christine said...

What a lovely visit you're having. I'm a little jealous, 'cause it's hard for my mom to travel.

Enjoy!

thatjordangirl said...

Ah it's sounds like it was a wonderful time!

Erin {pughs' news} said...

Being away from family makes you appreciate them so much more, doesn't it? I hope you'll get to have another visit soon!

Anonymous said...

i know how you feel...i guess it all helps build the anticipation of the next visit.

(i'm also very intrigued as to how a date on a pier can turn into 6000 very lush people??)

Angelica said...

Nothing like mother-daughter time!...I completely understand what you mean. You've got me looking forward to seeing my family soon in a few weeks!

Audrey Gordon said...

sent this post to my family...we all feel it...

Reads like poetry. Amazing.

Brissa said...

what lovely pictures. quality mother-daughter time is priceless. looks like you had a wonderful time!

Jessica Lynn said...

Sometimes I wish that my mother didn't live so close so that seeing her was more of a treat.

Being with family is so comfortable, it's just a little better with them around.

sarah nicole said...

Oh, this made me tear up! My mama just visited and left and I felt the same way. :')

xo,

Sarah

colleen said...

i love all these photos. makes me fall in love with manhattan all over again.

Sara Downton said...

such a lovely post. i love when my mom comes to visit too, although it is rare that she is here alone. she doesn't have stories about my city, but i know the feeling of it taking a little too much time to return to normal after she goes.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

I have so been there...but the memories and experiences are definitely worth it every time.

Abby said...

Oh! You put it so well. I always feel that way when my parents visit, or when I go home for a while. It takes time to get used to life on my own again.

wishful nals said...

these photos are so cute. and make me really happy. ps. i love half moons!

angela hardison said...

great photos as usual. i need a trip to manhattan soon!

Kate said...

The pictures are wonderful, as usual. Especially the ones of the chocolate...

And that's what I love about hanging out with my parents, when they tell stories of themselves when they were younger. Before you were around.

Katness said...

Even I sometimes get tired of NYC and the crowds of people, seeing beautiful photos of it like yours makes me fall in love with it again.

Rachael said...

You have such a way with words! I know just how you feel... after my family leaves when everything feels like it's blanketed in gray moss.

Your mom is gorgeous, by the way. I can see where you got your looks from.

Joyous said...

my sister just left on monday... sigh...

Jenny McL said...

I feel the same and I always cry when they leave - but I suppose thats because my heart is not in the city I live it - It is in the city you live in. Walking the streets last month made me realise just how much I miss NYC - I was only there for a year at 19. It would mean moving to a country even further away from my family but I'd do that for New York. I love everyting about her especially her people, smells and sounds. Just walking her streets makes me feel like I am not alone even when I most definitely am. New York the cards are in your hands....