Mother's Day Weekend

Dear Mom,

I knew Mother's Day weekend might be hard...but it ended up being so special. Amanda had been trying to find a weekend to come up and visit. Neither of us remembered the holiday when we booked it, but it worked out just perfectly! A chance for her to get a break from mommy duty, and a perfect distraction for me.

She got in late on Friday, and we stayed up entirely too long talking. She brought her 1994 Europe scrapbook! That will definitely be a topic for a future post.

Saturday we headed out and met Kathleen in Central Park for lunch at the Boathouse. The park is gorgeous these days. Everything is in full bloom! I took this snapshot when I went for a walk last Tuesday and thought how much you would have loved being with me.

We got a great table...close to where we sat when we went there in the summer of 2011.

Then we strolled over to the Met for the Costume Institute's exhibit featuring the "legendary couturier" Charles James. I'd never even heard of him! It was fascinating, and they had a really cool multimedia approach, with graphic renderings of the construction of the dresses. There was a lot of engineering going on! It was also really interesting to see photos of 50s socialites like Augustine Hearst...

You would have found the whole thing quite intriguing...worthy of an afternoon of googling on your trusty iPad! Our friends with similar interests can read more about the exhibit on the Met website. 

It was raining when we tried to exit, so we detoured to the cafe and treated ourselves to tea.

Then we headed home and rested a bit before meeting Adam and his friend Hiroyo for the new musical If/Then with Idina Menzel.



It was entertaining, and it was pretty amazing to hear her in person. What a voice!! The plot is a bit schmaltzy at times, but we were all glad to have seen it. And that whole "what if I'd done this instead of that?" is certainly right up my bellybutton-examining alley! (Though I must admit...I can't say I have any regrets about any decisions I've made...other than MAYBE one I made in the summer of 2002, but I know you thought I did the right thing.)

We had some late night al fresco nibbles with Adam on 9th Avenue after the show. Naturally he brought Amanda some Fresh products. Such a cutie!! He is off to Ojai, California, for work travel this week. Not a bad destination!

Sunday morning, we hit my favorite bakery (Amy's Bread) for pastries, then walked on the High Line.

We had a blast getting an impromptu lunch at Chelsea Market...pork belly banh mi and a crepe with brie and apples.

The time flew by! We walked by Neil and Nate's apartment, and I looked at my watch. It was 1:55. Oops! Time for us to hustle to midtown for our 3 p.m. Wicked matinee. We took one quick pic on the Hudson River Park and scooted by my old building for a fast peek. 

Wicked was AMAZING! I'd seen it in Charlotte, but I'd forgotten much of it, and we had crappy balcony seats. I got us orchestra seats with partial view, which was a bit annoying at times, but I still think that's a better way to roll, as you can actually see people's expressions. And...we were on the end of the row, which was perfect, as we had to scoot out right before curtain call, as Amanda's flight from LaGuardia took off at 7:20.

The costumes in the Oz scenes were amazing...


And I definitely had a few cathartic tears as they sang "For Good":
I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you. 
...
It well may be
That we will never meet againIn this lifetime.So, let me say before we part:So much of meIs made of what I learned from you.You'll be with meLike a handprint on my heart.And now whatever way our stories endI know you'll have rewritten mineBy being my friend.



We literally ran down 9th Avenue, which was basically a parking lot, grabbed Amanda's suitcase from the doorman, and sweated bullets flagging a cab and hoping she'd make it to LaGuardia in time. But she did! And the show was an unforgettable experience I think we will always treasure...for many reasons, including our Quincy Music Theatre experience under Miss Suzie's direction in 1990. That was a rough year, as you and Dad were working out your separation. I'd like to think I was cast to play the Wicked Witch because of my talent, but I can't help thinking SJ knew I needed an extra-special creative outlet that year.

We took a pic for her as we waited for the show to begin.

So, all in all, a special, perfect weekend. I think it was just what you would have ordered up for me. That Luce is something else! I was also so touched by how many people went out of their way to send notes that they were thinking of Leigh Ann and me and knew it wouldn't be the easiest day.

I miss you, and there is nothing like sharing this stuff with you. But I feel like I am honoring your memory and making you proud when I am out there doing new and interesting things, just like you taught me to do.

Saudade,

Lynsley