Sunday, May 07, 2006

Molly, Gucci, Tiffany, and a nice surprise from Waldorf

Molly is her name. She's about 16.5 hands, wears a coat of white and has a broad chest to match her broad haunches. Her mane is long, her nose soft and her eyes dark. Our coach driver told us that Molly is quite the lady, a great horse. Molly pulled our white carriage through Central Park, past the skating rink and the carousel, around the hill by the dairy, past all the tulips and daffodils, and down the path across from the homes on the Upper East Side. A clear and sunny Sunday afternoon in New York, and everyone it seems went to the park. Not only did we enjoy watching the roller skaters and bike riders, the sun bathers, the children on the swingsets, people walking their dogs and the couples strolling together, but we relished being part of the scene itself. Mom smiled and pointed out certain spots she recalled from her childhood while we hung on her every word feeling lucky she was sharing her memories, and that we had our own personal tour guide.

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The cab driver that drove us to Tavern on the Green read the newspaper WHILE HE DROVE. This time it was my turn to be sitting in the front seat fearful for my life. I don't know what Mom was doing but I'm sure she was holding on tight just because she knows what cab rides are like in this city. Sharon found a pair of Gucci sunglasses in the back seat and was too busy nodding to her good luck to be aware of the danger that we were in. The sunglasses she found ROCK in the way that only Gucci can do, which is to say with bling, but an understated, sophisticated bling. Sharon has found three things on this trip: a dime, a dollar bill, and the Gucci sunglasses.

At Tavern on the Green, we were seated on the patio at a table beneath an enormous Sycamore tree with planters of tulips at its base. I couldn't believe that we got that table from reservations made on the internet but there we were sitting outside with the sun shining down on us and our Mimosas. We were as giddy as the group of girlfriends at the table next to us and as happy as the little girl we gave our balloons to when we left the restaurant later in the afternoon.

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After brunch of Eggs Benedict and Mimosas, we took a cab to Tiffany's and wandered three of the five floors with about five hundred other people and two elevator operators, a job that just yesterday Sharon and I discussed as being one of the most boring jobs someone could have. Well, that and toll booth operators. The operator in one of the elevators was a woman who had a handkerchief in her gloved hand and when she pushed the buttons, she used the handkerchief to cover her hand, though I'm not sure why. She didn't seem to be too happy a person but then again it could be her job.

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When we got back to our hotel, what we were quite surprised and very pleased to find waiting for us was a bottle of champagne on ice, a plate of chocolate covered strawberries and a birthday card to Mom on behalf of the Waldorf Staff. Perfect and apropos, as has this trip been.

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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

that does seem like a boring job, doesnt it? i think id rather do that than say work in the sewers of new york. what with the alligators an all.