Last Day in NYC

A friend once asked how I would spend my last day in New York City.

At the time, I said, “I’d walk through Central Park’s Ramble and then through Bethesda Terrace to admire its ceiling. I’d have a frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity, and make my way downtown to dine at my favorite eateries in the East Village, noshing at each one. I’d enjoy a light and dark pint at McSorleys, a game of chess in Washington Square, and play soccer in the Lower East Side. Then I’d journey back uptown to see the sunset from The Met’s rooftop and have dinner at my favorite Italian restaurant.” I remember thinking, “There’s just so much to soak in!”

And then in 2020, in some ways, my last day “living” in New York City arrived as I fled with my family during the pandemic. We left in a hurry without saying goodbye.

In 2015, my grandmother had her last day in New York City.

She chose not to dine at Le Bernardin, see a Broadway Show which she loved, or shop on Madison Avenue, but simply visited my new apartment for the first time.

She was excited to see how we were living and was glad to see we were enjoying ourselves.

At that stage in her life, she didn’t need to gallivant around the greatest city on earth.

She had done all that.

What mattered was simply seeing her grandson content.

That’s a great last day in any city.