NYC PART 2: BATTERY PARK

After lunch in Washington Square Park and Dominique Ansel Bakery, we took an Uber down to Battery Park. I have been there before but it didn't woo me like it did on this particular day. It almost felt like we had been transplanted to another planet - something about the warm and muggy air, splashes of the waves, bright green foliage contrasted against the old and new buildings in concert together, made the experience feel dreamlike.

You can't see it at all in these photos, but from where we stood, we could see the Statue of Liberty off in the distance. When I saw it, hazy underneath the bright sun, I felt incredibly moved. The part of me that had pretty much laid down in exhaustion and discouragement because of the recent events in the news and election, was moved to sit up. IS America great? I had found myself wondering over and over again.  But that glimpse of the statue of Liberty fortified something in me. The statue that symbolized hope for so many of the weary and heavy-hearted: this is the sort of thing that makes America great.

I wanted a photo with Sloane here to remember how peaceful I felt in this moment.

Also, Logan's sleeping face.

The main reason I wanted to come down to Battery Park was to check out the Sea Glass Carousel there with Sloane. It was as ethereal and lovely as I had hoped. Sloane and I rode one together in happy awe and appreciation.

Afterwards, we had a little snack on the bench. Grilled cheese for Sloane, butternut squash packet for Logan and a shandy for me.

We were right next to the Pier A Harbor House, the restaurant where we were meeting family for dinner that night and realized that it was also in full view of the Freedom Tower, or the One World Trade Center. The last time I was here it wasn't completed yet, so it was my first time beholding it all in its finished state.

We had a truly lovely evening with dinner and drinks here that night, celebrating Sharon and Paul, meeting family members and friends, and marveling at the joy of togetherness.