friends & family

SUDDEN WONDER - to come upon an old friend in chance circumstance:   

December 2nd 
Union Square meetinghouse, Chelsea 
Annual CES Christmas Party 

Nearing the street-front entrance, we noticed others arriving. They also seemed lost. Most LDS churches in New York use doorbells. We rang, and waited, and the door swung open upon a grinning sister missionary, a familiar face - Janet Eldredge. Fifth Ward alums, we had not seen each other in years. Recognition dawned as other party-goers moved past us.

We left the old ward over a decade ago. Janet went to Utah. But now, we'er here in Manhattan and both serving missions. Janet explained that her service in the Employment Center would end soon. We talked more and then Stef and I continued upstairs to the holiday gathering.

Manhattan Ward meetinghouse

East 87th near Lexington

One month later we are meeting in an Upper East Side burger joint, and talked about older times, mission experiences, testimonies, New York and using cross-town buses.
Manhattan is addictive.
Change inexorable.
Family, & friends, are forever.





It's 10:00 pm. Do You know where your kids are? 

James, Lyssa and Kassidy flew in for Christmas.

We did Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum, Times Square, Broadway, Bryant Park, the New York Public Library, Fifth Avenue, Top of the Rock, Ground Zero, and of course, the Brooklyn Bridge.











We also took a dad-drive along the Gold Coast and other scenic parts of the island.
Historical commentary provided by: Dad.
Hey - it's free.

Lyssa's favorite drive-by? 

A beautiful gambrel-roofed home on Ocean Avenue in Amityville, 

just fifteen minutes south of our apartment. 

Yes, that Amityville. 

ALL IN ALL - A wonderfully memorable Christmas. 

"walking the bridge" - 17 degree wind chill