Beginning of the End

It's the beginning of the end of my life as a New Yorker. I have a series of commutes planned between The City and Floriday this fall. In the winter, Mom will use our new apartment in Delray Beach, while we prepare to sell the Queens apartment. By April, 2007, I'll be a citizen of Florida. I'm might nervous.

In preparation for the big change in my life, there are things I have to do - sort and discard things, plan for commutes, adjust to the idea of being without Bill for the days I'm in New York, since he won't need to commute with me. But mostly, I have to say goodby to New York, where I've lived all my 57 years, where I greet each morning's trip outside with the wonder of a constant tourist. I am making a list of places to see and things to do, since so much remains. I haven't visited a botanical garden as an adult, nor have I ever gone to Ellis Island, Governor's Island, nor, till yesterday, Welfare Island.

Welfare Island, now Roosevelt Island, can be reached by Tram, F train, and the Welfare Island Bridge, on foot or by car. The Tram was also on my to-do list. Bill and I drove to Long Island City and walked the bridge, walked around the southern part of the Island, and took the tram to The City. We took that train back into the Island and stopped for coffee and a blackandwhite before we walked back through the town and across the bridge to our car. So, we didn't see the whole island (we'll take our bikes in, soon), but we did use every pathway in, and got a sense of what it's like. The views from the tram have no parallel - the are unique perspectives. We took pictures of each other, and they'll go in my album.

In less than two weeks, we're going on a cruise. I plan to wear sexy tops without a bra - a thing I am pleased to say I can do without looking foolish, even at my age. I will allow myself one or two occasions of drunkenness, which Bill loves. I expect to gain weight. And when I return, I will make it my priority to go once more to Fort Tryon Park in Autumn, and to the Cloisters to see the Unicorn Tapestries.