NYC Thanksgiving

We were mocked by many for leaving our children behind at Thanksgiving to attend my cousin's wedding.  Nevertheless, our children had a blast WITHOUT us.  And we had fun exploring NYC and our old stomping grounds.  It was surprisingly emotional to see how many of those people and places evoke such happy memories for me.

Here are some of the highlights:

A trip to New York isn't complete without stopping in to see Ritika and her family

 On our way back from Ritika's we walked through Central Park and saw this hawk and squirrel playing hide and seek in the tree.  The hawk (or falcon?) finally gave up and flew away after 10 minutes.

 It always amazes me to realize what a huge place Central Park is and that it sits right in the middle of the city.

 We managed to not get trampled to death in the crowds of people that came to view the balloons being inflated for the Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The view from our hotel window was interesting on Thanksgiving morning as the police had side streets blocked off and the only city traffic came on foot or by taxi.  3.5 million people watched the parade.  We gave up after 10 minutes.

 Kermit was one of the things we saw in our few minutes of standing with the millions.

 I thought this bird and tree was beautiful.

 We walked across the Brooklyn Bridge for part of our Thanksgiving fun.  We spent the day with my parents and my sister and her husband.

 An unexpectedly cool thing to see was the World Trade Center Memorial.  There were two of these pools, the size of the tower foundations, with the names of all the 9/11 victims printed around the perimeter.  I always feel emotional at the Trade Center because I took the subway there multiple times and even stood on top of the one with the observation tower.  It seems so unreal that something so huge could crumble to the ground and take thousands of people with it.

 Thanksgiving Dinner was a pastrami on rye at Katz Deli (photo taken by Katz himself).

 I know it's a worldwide church, but it always gives me a shock when I see something like this!  This billboard was in Times Square, and I also saw it on the side of a bus.

 This was the crowd at 10am in Macy's on Black Friday.

 Lee couldn't resist trying to climb the rock in Glen Rock -- even in his suit.

Bride and father of the bride.  My uncle has always been so good to my little family.  Many happy times have been spent with him and his family as I grew up AND since I got married.

 View toward lower Manhattan from the reception in Liberty State Park.

 Our apartment complex in Morristown.

 The road up to the civil war fort behind our apartment -- recently blocked by lots of trees from the storm.

 The view toward Manhattan (World Trade tower in the distance) that we used to enjoy on picnics before Sam was born.