It Doesn't Get Better Than This, In New York, or Anywhere

Andres

Yesterday was the last day of my 5 month temp assignment. It was a flurry of paper and lists and running around trying to clean the desk, get ready for the usual person to come back after being away for five months. The day before, Mindy had spilled the beans that they had a thank you evening planned for me. When I asked if Graham could come, she said, "He is already coming." Apparently, he is a GOOD KEEPER OF SECRETS! I had NO IDEA! Turns out, that was just the tip of the iceberg of surprises.

It ended up being one of those magical New York nights, where everything is beautiful and perfect. When I was lead into Central Park, and to my utter shock and DELIGHT to the doors of the Boathouse Restaurant, I literally almost started crying. For those of you who don't know, the Boathouse is a FANCY SCHMANCY restaurant that overlooks the pond in Central Park. It is a beautiful and magestic place of iconic status. I have said to Graham if anything REALLY BIG happens--like either of us gets a book published, or we get married, or the world is about to end, we had to splurge and eat there. It turns out, all I needed to do was be a good employee for some of the sweetest co-workers on the planet, because we waltzed right in and sat with the open deck looking upon the green pond, turtles swimming, weeping willows weeping, and all! Do you ever get that feeling upon seeing something utterly beautiful or special, and it almost DOESN'T SEEM REAL? That is what it was like for me to sit down and look out upon the water and the trees and the buildings beyond the park. Everyone at the table looked wonderful. It was a humid, thick evening, with a thunderstorm in the forcast, but we were all so happy to be in this beautiful place. We ordered drinks and an ice cold cosmoplitan never tasted so delicious. We toasted. We all ordered different fish dishes, with sides of polenta and mozzeral fries and steamed spinach. I ate and laughed just kept saying to myself :take this in take this in. I said to my friend Andres, who has lived in new york his entire life, "It doesn't get much better than this in New York, or anywhere." He looked around and said, "It's true. We need reminders of that." He meant living in New York, how it can get so crazy and sometimes get you down. I agree, but I think it's also true no matter where you are. You need to look out upon the water, take in the beauty of where you actually are.

Then the storm came in. They slid the glass windows shut, and suddenly we were an audience to the most spectacular electrical storm, shooting bolts above the now dark buildings. The rain came down in a shout pockmarking the pond's surface and we were awed at it all. We ordered another round of drinks. I raised my glass and thanked them all for this happy surprise--which wasn't just the dinner and the location and the occasion, but who these people were to me. I have been in New York ten months, and I feel lucky to know Andres, Mindy, Erika, and Michele. Then, as if it wasn't enough, they gave me gifts and Mindy had gone to the Magnolia Bakery and gotten cupcakes. How good could this NIGHT BE?? Gift certificate to my favorite bookstore, wonderful card, Bruce Springseen, and the best cupcakes on the planet!

Afterwards, we all split up to head home. Michele, Graham, and I walked out of Central Park, under our umbrellas, the rain pouring down, and the path illuminated by flashes of lightening. The park was utterly empty and quiet. I'll never get tired of it.

Friends, this is one of the best nights that I've had in my little ol'life. A total surprise and delight. Thank you for making me feel so loved and appreciated. You are the real happy surprise.