Day 256: Family of friends

So much laughter and warmth as six of us gather for dinner. Lively conversation. Openness, intimacy, frankness. Generosity.

These are people to count on. People to cherish. People I choose to be part of my life and who have chosen me as well. Some of us go back a long time...high school. Some go back as long but only became my friends a few years ago. All with integrity. And a great sense of humor.

Oh...and yet another fabulous culinary experience.

On the eve of my departure from New York, I count my blessings.

Day 255: Manicure

When I lived in Queens all those many (almost two decades) ago, I had a standing Saturday morning appointment to get my nails done. Hibiscus is the name of the polish I always chose and Sherry the name of the woman who always did my nails. Sherry, whose name, I found out only a few years ago, is really ShaoLi, is from China and did both my nails and my mother's (at my recommendation) for many, many years. Sherry called my mother MaMa and would introduce me to her colleagues and customers as her sister, "Same mother, different father," was her line. Sherry was invited and attended my mother's surprise 80th birthday party, visited her in the hospital, and even called me in Sweden because she was worried when she hadn't seen my mother in a while.

So you will understand how happy we both were when I showed up at the salon today to get my nails done. I always make it a point to do that when I am in NY and am always received with a huge hug and a smile, the best manicure ever accompanied by a long and luxurious hand massage (because she knows it's my favorite part of the manicure).

Day 254: Taken to task

Four chores and an errand lifted my spirits immeasurably. This might not be immediately evident to most, after all, who revels in doing chores or running errands? Not even I do. What makes these make my heart sing is being allowed to help a friend.

In my experience, many people have a hard time asking for help or even accepting help when it is freely offered. At first glance, it may seem that they do not want to feel obligated to the other. However, I believe that beneath that is a reluctance to admit that they would welcome help. People too often confuse "would welcome" with "need" and "need" is for them associated with weakness of character. They should be able to make it on their own.

What they fail to take into account is the pleasure they deprive the helper of. Which is ironic since they, themselves, need only look within to connect to the pleasure, joy and satisfaction they feel when their offer to help has been accepted by others.

So make someone happy today and say, "Yes, thanks. That would be terrific." Then let them re-pot your plant, or wash the dishes, or do the laundry, or take that package to the post office, etc.

Day 253: Symphonic Sondheim

Lincoln Center. Avery Fisher Hall. New York Philharmonic with Paul Geminiani at the helm. All Sondheim evening with Nathan Lane as host. Need I say more?

Best line of the evening: "It took a while longer for Steve to reach acclaim as a composer [than as lyricist]. Let's just say people needed time to improve their humming skills."

Listening to this music without the distraction of lyrics and played by an orchestra the size and caliber of the New York Philharmonic was pure joy. My favorite was Dances from Pacific Overtures...such delicacy and beauty. Naturally, Sweeney Todd was brilliant...it lends itself so well to philharmonic-size orchestration. But Pacific Overtures held surprises and I liked that.

Oh, and for the initiated, Monsieur was in the house applauding vigorously, so I take it the wrist has healed well.

Gotta love it!

Day 252: Home delivery

It's raining. I've been in bed all day as my cold gets worse rather than better. What's there to be happy about? I'll tell you...

I'm in NYC and you can get food delivered to your door. Any kind of food you want. And it tastes great. And it's not expensive. Well, you can get expensive food delivered too. But I didn't. Instead, I had eggplant Parmesan and fusilli from a local Italian place. Complete with salad, bread, butter and a little plastic bag of Parmesan cheese.

Ya gotta love NY!

Day 251: Reunion

Brunch at The Brasserie on East 53 Street

Had a wonderful brunch today with a friend from graduate school who I hadn't seen in some eight years. We have one of those relationships that picks up pretty much where it left off and I simply delight in the company of this vivacious, intelligent, no-nonsense, funny, warm and wise woman. Beautiful too. Our paths have diverged considerably since grad school, she getting married and raising a family and pursuing a career in our former field of study, and me staying single and switch fields (several times) and moving abroad. Still, there's never a lull in the conversation and I am loathe to part ways when our long brunch is over.

What a blessing to have such friends in my life.

Day 250: More culinary heaven...and nostalgia

Brunch: Eggs Benedict with spinach and avocado and crab cake. I ordered one, Mickey D ordered the other and we shared. Why can't you get eggs Benedict in Stockholm? What a great concept...and soooo delicious. Freshly squeezed orange juice and freshly brewed decaf (after the first cup of caffeinated) capped off the meal. And great conversation.

Then I took the train out to Forest Hills, the neighborhood I grew up in, to visit with two of my mother's neighbors who've since become my friends. We ate at a local Chinese restaurant where we were the only non-Chinese customers (always a good sign). It was a special feeling climbing up the subway stairs into my old stomping grounds. So many years. So many memories.

Another satisfying day in NYC.