Sorry, this is out of order; I'm feeling lazy, though, so I am just slapping everything up. It's late. I'm tired.

Man, it’s hard to write a blog while watching “Bring it On”. This is why I don’t do much writing when I’m not on the road.

The days are flying by here in DC. I’ve been to more museums than I can count, and dodged millions of raving 8th graders. I’ve sat on the laps of many bronze leaders of our nation, and walked the only mall that doesn’t quite drive me to tears. It’s been fun.

But the real fun is just about to begin. Right now, millions of women are pouring into the city in droves. Feminists, families, baby dykes, knitters, and politicians, the variety and sheer amount is astounding. Em just came back in from a coke (sorry, that’s Coke, not coke, Em would like to point out) run, looking a little stunned. She had just recognized the prominent feminist author who had broken her dollar.

Last night I had a reunion with one of the girls from the hostel in Minneapolis. We mixed it up, had a grand time, and early the next morning I was off to pick up my sister and Em. My days of sleeping lonely in my truck are over, at least for a few weeks. I am drinking up the company, and havin’ a ball.

Yesterday morning I wandered into the National Cathedral, and ended up wandering out roughly 3 hours later. That place is insane! You can explore everything, from the crypts and glittering mosaics in the basements to the tops of the gargoyles heads in the observation room of the tower. I’ve always been frustrated in cathedrals by the ropes cordoning off the really cool shit that only the monks get to see. Here, it seems like you get to poke your head everywhere.

The gargoyles are fascinating, ranging from the traditional to Darth Vader. The stained glass windows have a similar range, scenes from Christ’s death vying for attention with moon rocks set into outer space scenes and Colonial heroes.

It’s all cool, in a patriotic, national way.

Friday, April 30, 2004

Yep, I heart NY too!

The same feeling I got on the subway has continued throughout the rest of my wanderings. New York has its own mythology that is almost overwhelming, and every other corner you come to is familiar, an icon of some sort. I found myself rambling, not really doing or buying anything, just wandering and saying, “Holy shit, I’m in Greenwich Village, this is the Village! Holy shit, it’s the Hudson River! That’s the Bethesda fountain, holy shit! I’m in Central Park!” Everything was familiar, even though it’s not like any place else.

Tuesday was our guided tour of the city. Em was amazing, showing us all the sights. We got off the subway at Battery Park (even though we weren’t desperately seeking anything), then hopped a ferry, of course, to Lady Liberty. She’s an all right gal. I guess I always knew she was walking, but it was kind of a trip to see her foot peeking perkily out the back of her robes.

The next stop was the East Village, which... is very hard to describe. It’s just... New York. Walking down the streets just made me think, yeah, this is what I expected. The mix is amazing. In San Francisco you’ve got a lot of strange folks, but they are all confined to their own little area. In the East Village, you see every type of person imaginable, and they all have some sort of style. No one wears just jeans and a T, except for silly boring tourists from California.

That night we met Cari, and Rachael was like a giggly school girl. Those three together are so cute! You couldn’t be anywhere near them and not pick up some of the fun they were having; it was infectious.

The next day was their big yarn excursion. I’m a knitter. I like to knit. I like yarn. I like yarn stores. But these people take it to another level completely. They’re a little bit insane, but in a really good, fibrous way. Anyway, since we had a knitting group that night, an afternoon at Knit New York, and 2 days at the sheep and wool festival, I decided that I could forego this trip.

So I wandered. All over, to all the places I already knew, but had never been to. It was great. I spent the entire afternoon completely lost inside the Met. I was thrilled to see exhibits that I had read about in the New Yorker. How freaking exciting is that? I saw the Christo exhibit, as well as the Byzantine art. They were as fabulous as I expected, as was the miles and miles and miles of everything else.

I had several New York moments. The pigeons in Central Park scattering in front of me. The sun was setting when I got to Brooklyn, and I peeked down a street to see a dead end with a pick-up basketball game going on. Brooklyn, baby. I was in Brooklyn. Have no fear, Brooklyn is here!

More wandering the next day, this time with Rachael, all through Central Park, to Tiffany’s, and back through the East Village. What can I say? It was all fabulous.

Now we are back on the Dragon bus to DC. I’m glad to be seeing Tach again, and looking forward to everything that’s ahead of us, but I’m so sad to leave New York. I know I will be back, again and again. Even on this trip, I know I’m coming back to Brooklyn; We never got to Coney Island to play some skeeball! So I’ll be back soon...

And yes, Kara, I had several tequila shots for you.

Comments

[Kathleen]

Bethany, I am so glad to hear you loved NY so very well. I love NY. I have lived so many other different places and it is home. It sounds like you are having an incredible experience. If you go to Coney Island-you have to ride the Cyclone. Scary but incredibly fun! Glad you are getting back to Tach. Where are your Stripes pics though? And so happy to hear about the trip back home. :)