Blog Your Blessings Sunday

I got a wonderful gift when I looked over the week’s pile of mail: Matthew’s report card arrived while I was away. Once again, he got straight A’s!

Obviously, the ability to spend a week in New York City is, in and of itself, a huge blessing. But to be able to perform at Carnegie Hall was over the top. A once-in-a-lifetime experience that will never be forgotten or unappreciated.

Here is a photo of me with some of my fellow members of the Lodi Community Band, taken backstage just before the performance. On the left, in tails, is the conductor of the Stockton Concert Band (and Delta Winds, for this special performance), Arthur J. Holton, III. Immediately to my right in the photo is Bob Gross, who directs the Lodi Community Band.

Spending a week in Manhattan without a wonderful traveling companion would be mighty dull. Fortunately, my good friend of nearly 30 years, college roommate, and godmother to my kids decided to make the trip with me. She spent the week being known affectionately as “Barb the Band Groupie.” Here’s a photo of her that I snapped when we went to the Top of the Rock, 30 Rockefeller Center. I was up on the 70th floor observation deck, looking down at her on the 68th floor.

I will post more details about the Broadway shows we saw, restaurants where we dined, etc. but today I must share these pictures with you. On Monday morning, we took a tour that included a trip to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, Ground Zero, and around Manhattan. We were standing in line to get on the boat to head out into the harbor to the Statue when this gentleman came and set up his “shop.” We watched in amazement as tourist after tourist had his or her photo taken with him. He never said a word and did not have a posted price. Rather, he just accepted tips or donations for posing with the visitors.

It was our first morning in New York City and we quickly reminded that it is a place where you see all sorts of things that you can’t see anywhere else!