Grandmas Still Go Wild Over New York City

When Robin, Stacy and I booked this year's trip it never crossed my mind that we have been doing this for FIVE years now. But this was our fifth Grandmas Gone Wild (GGW) trip...and it found us right back where it all began. New York City!

We arrived at the Warwick on the corner of Avenue of the Americas and West 54th Street just about 3 PM.  This is the same place that Robin and I stayed during our 'star-gazing' trip back in 2009 and it is still one of my absolute favorite places to stay!

The room was laid out a little differently from our last one, but it had a cozy fireplace in the corner which just makes me smile!

Since we had big dinner plans, we ordered in just a tidbit of refreshment before getting dressed for the evening's festivities. 

Seriously, can anyone resist champagne and chocolate covered strawberries to kick off their vacation?  I couldn't!  It was the perfect compliment to our Girl Time ahead.

We had early dinner reservations at the only place for three self-respecting Texas girls..."The Greatest Steakhouse in Manhattan", Sparks.  

Yes, this place was filled with tables of men...wheelin' and dealin' in their suits and ties.  But the staff made us feel right at home.  The food was excellent (I had their signature Prime Sirloin Steak -- MM MM!), but the personnel are what really sold me on this place.  Everyone was friendly and super courteous.  (The waiter even gave us a little bit of the story (as had been told to him) that happened out front on that cold December afternoon in 1985.)

After dinner, we caught a car over to see the Off Broadway hit Love, Loss and What I Wore at the Westside Theatre. 

From the website:
"Love, Loss, and What I Wore, an intimate collection of stories by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron is based on the best-selling book by Ilene Beckerman, as well as on the recollections of the Ephrons' friends...Like the popular book, Love, Loss and What I Wore uses clothing and accessories and the memories they trigger to tell funny and often poignant stories that all women can relate to."

This show was great fun, and yet at times, it was also heart wrenching.  It transported me back to special occasions (like proms and shopping for Easter dresses) and reminded me of more than a few events in my life that are closely tied (at least in my mind) to particular articles of clothing.  I'm not a big shopper and had not thought about many of those things in years...but it was a powerful experience.

This play, which has a rotating cast, will be closing at the end of this month.  We had the privilege of seeing Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Alexandra Silber (keep your eyes open for her!), Zuzanna Szadlkowski, Dawn Wells (of Gilligan's Island fame) and the very gracious and lovely, Robin Strasser.

Yes, she stopped, chatted and even agreed to take pictures...

...with all three of us!

Such a sweet lady.  She worried about us because we were not wearing our coats after the show!  In all honesty, we had taken a car everywhere we went our first night out because of the rain...and we had a car picking us up after the show...so we saw no reason to wear our coats.

And that may or may not be why Robin and I both have been fighting off a cold since returning home.  But, you know what they say...what happens on Grandmas Trip stays on Grandmas Trip!



Weekend Links: 3/2/12

Still no NYC pictures!!  I might just have to tell the stories with no pictures...but not today.  Today I need to get some work done, so I'll keep this short and sweet...just sharing a few links that you might want to read.

• We don't want your obligation - There is a bully in my life.  And I would venture a guess that he bullies you too.  Emily exposes him and shrinks him down to size in this 'must-read' post.
• Epic Fail - Once you name that bully, (in)courage has a wonderful guest post that will help you defeat him. 
• Because I don't want to go back to life as usual - Deidra took a chance last week that I have often contemplated but never followed through.  I may have to reconsider next year...or fly to Nebraska to attend with her and Michelle!

Okay, I need to get busy now!  See you all next week!

A Wake Up Call

Garth Brooks may sing that "some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers".  But let me tell you that today we are thanking God for "Answered Prayers".

During the early morning hours, as the sun was just beginning to let a tiny bit of light shine through the trees and our bedroom curtains, Jim's phone rang.  I heard bits and snatches of the conversation, and began thanking God from the bottom of my heart.  I was instantly remembering the very words I had spoken from my heart just a little over a month ago.

The person on the other end of that phone line was William. He and several friends had just been involved in a car accident that resulted in his friend's truck being totaled and the other truck being flipped.  Yet they were all walking away! 

The early report is that there are a few stitches needed and a possible concussion...but it appears that they all will be okay.  As for Will, he will not be playing in the Varsity tennis tournament tomorrow, but he has only suffered some bruising and abrasions where the seat belt caught him over the right shoulder. 

As Jim and I drove him home from school for a little ice, Advil and rest today...I told Will about my prayer for him on his birthday. 

I'll be honest and admit that I am not the best at praying for my children every, single day.  With five kids, three grandchildren, two sons-in-love and another in the making...plus the rest of our family, friends and employees...I usually hit the most pressing needs on any given day. 

And we do lift up our whole family and ask for safety nearly every time we pray over the meal together. 

BUT, on their birthdays I spend time praying over them and asking the Lord to show me how to pray for them.  I remember so clearly, on January 11, sitting on the chaise lounge in our home office with pen and paper in hand, wrapping up my prayer time.  God impressed an image in my mind of Will and his friends, riding down the road in a vehicle.  I was reminded that at 17 years young this was going to be the new 'normal' rather than the parents driving them everywhere.   

My brain works much more quickly than my pen...but as I envisioned the faces of those boys and asked the Lord to protect each of them as they began stretching their wings in fast moving vehicles...I wrote these words, which were answered today.

"Watch over him (Will) in the coming year.  Keep him safe -- physically, mentally and spiritually."

I truly understand that today could have ended much differently -- good and bad.  It could have been a close call that I never even heard about.  Or it could have ended in one of those boys being badly injured or worse.  But this measure of safety is what did happen...and I want to give God all the glory!  For answering my prayer...for impressing that need on my heart in the first place...for including the faces of those boys that are not mine...and for reminding me, in that split-second of a moment when I first heard it, of the prayer spoken specifically on January 11, 2012.

To God be the honor, the power and the glory -- forever and ever!  Amen!