I'm In a New York State Of Mind

So here's a bit less lame of a post, chock full of pictures from my Memorial Day weekend in Nueva York (I'm from here, did you know that?). It felt really nice to be back at my second home and spend time with the grandma.

The 5 hour plane ride there (on Thursday) wasn't so bad, especially with a view like this.

Friday was spent with my grandma, just running errands and being together. Then I met my cousins, Caroline and Michelle (below). Which reminds me, allow me to digress for just a second.

My grandpa died when my father was 19. My grandma had already been divorced from him and then remarried her second husband about 35 years ago. I can't lie: he was not the friendliest man in the world, and many people were aware of this. He had two sons, one who remained present in my grandma's life and the other who did not. My grandma's husband passed away recently and ironically, this brought his second son back into the picture. This is such a blessing, especially because of his 2 girls who are (take a guess!) Caroline (12 years old) and Michelle (14).

Are we all caught up? Okay then.

We all got along swimmingly, as you can see.

Saturday was Jewish day. We all headed to the Bat Mitzvah service (as mentioned, a lovely 3 hour one). Grandma wasn't a fan of my outfit. She insisted on buying me "one of those peasant skirts and a pair of flats" but I told her I'd just look like a midget gypsy and that it would be a waste. So that idea was gone pretty quickly.

By the way, that woman is 86 years old. I know, nobody else can believe it either.

After the service (which was surprisingly not brutal), we had about 3 hours to recoup and get ready for the party that evening. The restaurant where it was held was so beautiful outside. The garden reminded me of a Midsummer Night's Dream.

Grandma liked this dress much more. I still don't really understand, oh well.

The party was so lovely. Not over the top, but not...under it either.

Lots of dancing, lots of food and lots of Hava Nagilah. Good times.

Sunday morning, I went out for breakfast with one of my oldest friends, Meredith. We've known each other since we were 4. She used to seriously bully me (but then again, I was a chubby girl with a boy haircut...I really can't blame her). It was so amazing catching up with her. I'm bummed I didn't get a picture. Tough life.

Then my grandma and I headed over to her stepson's and hung out with his family on their patio in the gorgeous weather, where we shmoozed and had mango tart. And because they're just so perfect, they gave me a beautiful lariat necklace for my birthday. I don't have a picture of it, but it looks more of less like this, minus the pearl.

Caroline got a hold of my camera and got a tad picture happy, but I'll spare you all of those. I'm just posting my favorite one with my new favorite ladies.

A sidenote: Caroline (left) is 12. Michelle (right) is 14. And I (middle) am 23. But I feel like had I not mentioned this, nobody would be able to tell. In other words, I look like I'm an adolescent. Lovely.

It really was just a relaxing trip that I definitely needed.

And now, back to work. Sigh...