a last central park hoopla

i've been in a bit of a post nyc move molt- perhaps borderline depressive molt.
what finer way to battle a molt than to reminisce.
the last few days we were in nyc we spent the majority of our time packing- blah... the worst.
when we weren't packing we spent our time wandering around central park.
it's the place i am going to miss most in nyc.
one day we took mid morning and early afternoon to wander around and cross things off the bucket list.
aka get loose with our pocket book.
on the list:
1. row boats on the lake
2. get our picture drawn in the mall
3. go on a carriage ride
here's some pics from our grand central park adventure.
there's no place i would rather spend my last moments in new york city.
the greatest park.
in the greatest city.

when we wandered by our favorite sheep's meadow we just happened to be at the first gate they opened- so we were the only people in all the meadow for a short while. 

it was the greatest gift nyc could have given me. 

 that teeny life jacket

 mares loves wildlife

so we took the boat right on over to this pair of turtles

 she really wanted to help row....

 i really wanted her to just snuggle with her mama

 then there was this view

and i died a little inside knowing we were leaving

green aquatic toddler 

 our man power

 then we went to the mall

i sat for a photo drawing.... should have taken a picture of it

it looked like a 10 year old girl with a long narrow face

nothing like me... 

so we skipped out-

we couldn't pay $15 for some drawing no one would even think was me

 next a long awaited horse carriage ride.

mary's favorite city activity is going to c.p. and watching the horses

so our grand finale needed this. 

 pink "velvet" was a must

 it was pretty awesome 

(even though it's outrageously expensive- outrageously)

 when mary has too much central park fun...

this is my favorite of her sleeping positions. 

that moment when we were riding rowboats on the lake in central park felt like i was in a movie.
moments like that just don't happen that often.
passing under that epic bridge and seeing the city skyline via the lake was one of my greatest nyc memories.
then we tried to do the cliche portrait deal- that was a nice humor filled addition to my nyc life.
i so wish we would have taken a picture because i looked at it and could not even remotely pull myself out of it.... it was a nice picture- but did not look like me.
it was interesting to watch peoples reactions as they walked by while he was drawing me.
the shock and awe look.
the ok look.
the what the hell look.
the nice picture look.
i saw the full ledger of looks come my way-
i knew something must be up.
so we deserted the portrait thing depressingly, but hey maybe some other time.
then that horse carriage ride-
there's rumor they may get ride of the horses in central park.
it really was a must do on our bucket list.
it was the shortest ride of my life for the most money ever;
but seeing that look on mary's face when we stepped into that carriage- i'd do it twenty times over.
i really couldn't have asked for a greater finale to the most epic year of my life.
i miss nyc terribly bad.
it's the saddest i've ever been to leave a place.
i felt like i had so many unfinished experiences- plus the holidays in nyc....
oh the holidays-
no.
one.
does them better-
no.
one.
i hope this parting will only be momentarily.
i love nyc.
it's the closest i've felt to home away from my childhood home.
which is awful strange because nyc and loa could not be any more opposite.
so farewell for now nyc.
you
are
the
greatest
city
in
the
world.