Take Me to Sea!

My River runs to thee--
Blue Sea! Wilt welcome me?
My River waits reply--
Oh Sea--look graciously--
I'll fetch three Brooks
From spotted nooks--
Say--Sea--Take Me!

Emily Dickinson, 162

It was delightful to be by the river & the sea once again--to walk along the East River on the Promenade & feel the breeze coming in off the water! To look out over the Hudson from breathtaking Ft. Tryon & watch the vessels skip on the water! Until you're away from bodies of water such as the ocean, or surrounded by rivers as you especially are in Lower Manhattan, you don't realize how lovely it makes a place. Emily Dickinson's poem captures that feeling--freedom & adventure--that such a landscape inevitably elicits.

And then there are the bridges--creating a wonder all their own! They are strong, seemingly supporting the city in all its weight, their glory outshining that of the buildings structurally. Brooklyn Bridge Park is positioned in such a way that these are the main attraction, after which the skyline is taken into account. Even the bridges in Kansas City, Charleston, & Boston are marvels which people take time to examine & admire.

This familiar feeling of freedom & adventure took over as soon as I spotted the Williamsburg Bank clock tower & Ft. Greene Park from the window of the plane. I could not help but be elated! Our flight came in at sunset on a brilliantly lit spring evening. The excitement was present all week as I explored the city, visited with family & friends, & was reminded why New York is home.

Some highlights from my trip include:
*the Brooklyn Museum with my dad--there was an excellent Egyptian art exhibit
*learning about the work the Association & Graffiti are doing
*staying with my cousin
*spending a lot of time with friends
*visiting new neighborhoods & sites
*being in five different parks during my trip--including Ft. Tryon & Tompkins Square
*being a part of the Volunteer Appreciation lunch & seeing so many other people who were visiting Graffiti
*meeting new people & getting to know some acquaintances better
*walking throughout the city

A full summer lies ahead of me in Kansas City--filled with work & school, yes, but with time to see some museums, historic sites, & parks here.

Freedom & Adventure! :)