Gemini Loop: Ellis Island and Lady Liberty

Friday night we went to dinner with our friends Jerry and Jenny from Sweetgrass. Jerry's cousin is assistant manager at Gramercy Tavern. He had suggested that we might enjoy an evening out at his restaurant. I didn't take my camera with me because we had dressed up as best we could and I didn't think my satchel bag would fit the occasion. As soon as we got to the neighborhood, I was wishing I had brought it anyway. Gramercy Park is a beautiful area. The park is fenced with sculptures and gorgeous plants. The houses are the kind with beautifully crafted details that they don't do anymore.

The restaurant itself was amazing. There were fresh flowers and live plants everywhere. The food was maybe the best I've ever had. The wait staff was exceptional. We ordered the three course option, but it was actually five! Dinner was an event! After dinner and dessert, they gave us fabulous handmade chocolates and coffeecake muffins for breakfast the next day. We sure are glad to know Jerry and Jenny!

Now for Saturday: all we can say is, "Wow." What kind of courage (or desperation) does it take for someone to leave their old life behind, sometimes spending everything they have to board a ship, and go to a new country on the HOPE that life will be better? For those who had plenty of money, it wasn't as big a deal - even though it may have been traumatic. For those who didn't, it was a last chance in crowded and filthy conditions to create a new life for themselves and their families.

You may be able to tell that we visited Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty yesterday. Although neither of us had a relative that came through there (that we know of) it was an amazing experience. We walked through the rooms they walked through reading about the various steps of the process, any one of which could send them back where they came from. There were displays of their belongings: clothing, religious objects, musical instruments. One family begged a suitcase to carry, empty, so that no one would know how poor they were.

The tickets to tour the inside of the Statue of Liberty were sold out for June, so we just went over and walked around the island. There were people of every color and nationality there, speaking many different languages. All of them seemed very excited to be there with the statue. They were taking picture dids and explaining the sights to their children. It was obvious to me that she is so much more than a statue - she is a cherished dream that means no less today than it did a hundred years ago.

After we got back, I rested and Steve took Ryder to get a new "do". She was getting pretty scruffy. As usual, she came back beautiful! We left her on the boat and rode the bikes to do our grocery shopping. Last night we took the ferry about 50 feet to the other side of the canal and walked to a sidewalk bistro (Amelia's) for dinner. They brought out chickpeas and garlic in a mortar and pestle for us to grind our own hummus for our bread. Very cool. We walked back to the ferry landing, only to find that the weekend hours were different and we had missed the last one. We walked back again to the restaurant to call a cab, and the manager insisted that one of his staff take us back. Apparently his restaurant delivers and he had a driver - although the driver had no food to deliver. We have met such nice people here!

Today I did laundry and Steve washed the boat. We will be leaving in the morning to head up the Hudson. If all goes well, our friends the Harwells will join us Monday or Tuesday.

A very happy Father's Day to all you dads. I was blessed with one of the best and so were my children and so is Olivia! We have Daddys and Papas and Pappys and Grampys! I love you guys!