I’ve been home from my trip to New York since September 6th. I’ve spent the week processing the events. This is how I describe my trip.
Heaven:
Seeing my little sister. It’s been 6 years since we were in the same room and over 20 years since we got to spend any real quality time together.
Seeing other members of my family and connecting with them was good.
Meeting my sister’s fiancée. We got to get to know each other a bit and we hit it off. My sister chose a pretty good guy… I hope they have what I’ve found with my husband.
Walking and taking public transportation when I wanted to go somewhere. I missed the independence I had without needing a license to drive.
Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge.
Cyclebar NYC. My cycling community expanded so much the second I got off the elevator at the UES 67 location. Cycling was my link to my daily routine that I could keep during my time in NY.
Having my cyclebar family in Idaho support me through texts and messages. Literally was the lifeline I needed during the hard moments.
Being able to spend time with my grandmother and hearing her talk about grandpa. Those of us that were there got to hear their love story. (another blog post)
Hell:
Seeing my father struggle.
Having it out with my father and realizing that it is finally time to just say goodbye to the hope of the relationship I want. The father I knew and want doesn’t exist and I finally realized I can let him go and move on.
Seeing the extent of my grandmother’s decline.
Saying goodbye to my grandfather.
Watching the flooding from Hurricane Ida devastate my childhood neighborhoods.
Not being able to go to the WTC memorial and see the new tower. I just couldn’t be there so close to the anniversary.
In the end though, I’m glad went and was able to be there and witness all that I did.
Indomitable Bellatrix 