The Ala Mode by Sherrie in 2005

From: Sherrie  (Original Message)

Sent: 13/07/2005 12:59 p.m.

Dear Family,   So relieved to read on the website that Darryn and Julie are okay over in London. Also, a real treat to see Courtney all dressed up with her proud papa. She's such a sweet, bubbly young lady and so much fun. Happy birthday to Aunty Ruby, who made such an impression on me at the reunion, such a sweet lady. It's hard to believe that I've already been in New York for 4 weeks. Every day has been an adventure, with so many kinds of people, a melting pot which all are welcome to blend into, and all of us with the shared concerns of a pedestrian society: comfortable shoes, and trying not to buy anything heavy that you will have to carry far. Dress in light layers for the likely transition from sauna-like subway platforms, to an air conditioned rail car, and then out into intense sunshine or sudden summer thunderstorms (usually late in the afternoon.) On days when the temperature is high, or the energy low, the commute can be tiring. But overall, the weather is mild for this time of year and air quality clean, compared to the west coast. It's beautiful here!        There are so many museums to see here, although I find the richest cultural treasure to be in the people themselves. Everywhere I turn to find another cameo of the rider on the subway, the musician in the terminal or on the street, the little shoe cobbler above Queensboro Station (he makes the most whimsical, expensive and pointy-toed creations), the Greek coffee baristas who run the little cart outside of my transportation center... so many snapshots of the wonderful people here. Every day I see the most eclectic assortment of businessmen, transit and construction workers, civil service people crowded together in a collage that is a cross-section of this working city. There are young mothers-to-be, madonna-like, often clutching the hand of another child while they hold onto the subway rail, standing strong in the crowd as there are often no seats for them. Young men crowding around newspapers looking important, and groups of girls giggling together, sightseeing students out on the town with one 'protector' male.        On the museum side, the Metropolitan Art Museum was impressive with its eight square blocks of space and multiple levels of exhibits. Many of the halls are immense and feature actual architectural treasures, like the temple ruins in the Egyptian exhibit. It is on the scale of a Hollywood production, like walking though a giant stage set. Back here in Brooklyn, the Brooklyn Information Center was a surprisingly well-done time capsule of the past 400 years of life and work (with a war thrown in here and there) right here in Brooklyn. Another nice attraction was the Frick Museum near Central Park, housed in the namesake's mansion and featuring many famous works, paintings and sculptures from the 1600's and onward. The building is designed around a beautiful atrium in the center, with a high vaulted glass dome ceiling. Running the length of the room is a raised pond with tiered waaterfalls in the center, and water-spouting frogs at each end, all surrounded by lush plants and trees, and flanked by benches to relax on.The effect is of rainfall in a forest, and the faces of patrons surrounding this feature reflected contemplation and peace. It is the one spot where I have really noticed people taking out notepads and writing. What an inspiring setting. When Roger visits me here, we will probably visit this museum, to give him more ideas for designing the house we want to build.         This whole city is steeped in such ornate history. The subways evoke the glamour of days past. Grand Central Station is unbelievable for the breathtaking architecture, both for scale and for sheer elegance. Parts of that terminal are reminiscent of a luxury ocean liner for airy openness, grand staircases, rich wood paneling, cathedral windows, palatial pillars and extravagant crown molding. It holds a huge variety of shops of all descriptions, and of course restaurants, truly a 'city within a city.' The tunnels of the Long Island Railway line up elegantly and endlessly, their  brass-trimmed ticket windows adjacent to each portal of departure, beckoning travelers to Pennsylvania, Connecticut or the Hamptons in luxury style.        I have discovered several pockets of shopping along the subway lines, often by accident when I have gotten off in the wrong place, for example. You emerge to the street level to find a village of sorts with quaint and varied shops. Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn are dotted with these small townships, and then of course there is China Town and Little Italy (near Washington Square and Greenwich Village), more shops still! For cosmopolitan shopping, just ride uptown to mid-Manhattan, where you will find the Lincoln Center Shopping Mall, right next to Trump International, then walk throuygh Central Park to the west side for 5th Avenue and Trump Tower (where a glass of wine at the Trump Bar will set you back a cool $10.00.), Tiffanys, and many other upscale stores. Central Park is absolutely beautiful, with its rolling hills, lakes, castles and old-style gas lights lining quaint walking paths. Horse-drawn carriages or pedaled tricycles will take you around in style, if your feet get too sore to go on. It is no wonder to me now, that so many movies and television shows are set in New York, with its rich and dense architecture, so many icons from the past mingling with modern touches. I am so lucky to be in Brooklyn, where they have preserved the older buildings with their gargoyles, floral motifs, angels and legendary Greek/Roman figures trimming porches and walls, and every porch railing another unique work of art in iron.        The work at the transportation center is coming along, and in fact I am in the process of writing my reasearch paper on traffic management. I had no idea that some engineering programs include an emphasis on transportation. I mean to look into tha when I go back to school this fall, unless of course I can manage to go to work instead. I think that working for the Dept of Transportation would provide lots of possibilities for interesting work, and ways to make a difference. Roger tells me that his 4th of July party for the family was a great success, and in fact my parents and sisters have all praised his wonderful hospitality. He even made trifle, to go with the smorgasbord of barbecued and baked foods. The fireworks show was spectacular, and accompanied as in the past by a music mix put together by brother-in-law Larry. I wathched fireworks over the East River from the promenade right here in Brooklyn, and dialed Roger, Rangi and the girls to share my 'New York pyrotechnic moment' with them, since we are three hours ahead of the west coast here.        I finally went out with River, the other DOT intern based here in Brooklyn. She is in her 20's and has been going to the Lincoln Center by Central Park, for outdoor dancing. It was Tango night, and the assortment of people assembled for the dancing was the cutest thing I have seen in a long time. Little old Jewish men, and little older ladies with their hair slicked back into tight buns, stuffed into ballroom gowns and impossibly high-heeled dancing shoes, their makeup applied heavily to dramatic effect. Then the middle aged dancers and younger, some of the young men looking more like rock performers with their baggy pants and long hair. River was a hit, both because she is a good dancer, plus she is Asian and a petite size for the little men. In fact, I was really surprised at the number of Asian women who are involved in ballroom dancing. They look so diminutive in their costumes, and I marveled at how they managed to keep up with some of the taller, lankier partners. I have to say that the older ladies, many of them, obviously had danced professionally, and were in really good shape, chiseled calves and great balance. I was glad to be in jeans, rather than any of the high-slit leg-revealing skirts I saw. There were many more women than men, and often the women paired up to practice. In fact, poor River grabbed me two or three times and tried to teach me the Tango. It was my least favorite in dance class, so hard to pause between beats and wait... and wait... such a loss of control. Actually, a good challenge for me! Relax!! She kept saying. I was relieved whenever a partner headed our way to sweep her onto the dance floor. So that was 'A Midsummer Night's Swing,' at Lincoln Center. I have learned that there is another dance venue on one of the piers in Manhattan, also outdoors. If Roger wants to, we can go over there when he comes out to visit and dance under the stars with the lights of Manhattan all around.         I can hardly wait to see my boys, and Rangi is due to fly in this Thursday, just two days away! I'm going to want to hug him for an hour when he gets here. And Rog -- I've been in withdrawals without him. Just knowing that is is scheduled to get over here has been a real lifeline emotionally, that and his phone calls.Thank heavens my cell phone has nation-wide coverage! I visited the beautiful Presbyterian church nearby the hoted, and the preacher spoke about all the threads of life getting tangled up, and finding the 'strange thread' when that happens, the thread which centers us in life, because God has the other end of it. He said (speaking of London, and ongoing events in Africa), that we should never allow the events in our life to make us their prisoner, whatever they are. Then the choirs voices swelled with old Southern spirituals, soaring high and low throughout the place, and it was uplifting. I have been missing that spiritual piece. One more surprise --- my sister Yvonne and our Mom are actually flying over here as well, the weekend after Roger!! This is incredible, and I am so excited, both for them to have an adventure and for me to get to share it.       Dear Family, take care of yourselves and each other. Lots of love from New York.   Sherrie