June 6, 2021
Family Bonding in Brooklyn
Today I ventured to Brooklyn to visit family members that were largely unfamiliar to me. What I feared might be a day of awkward, almost perfunctory small talk instead turned into a day of warmth, laughter and genuine family hugs.
New York City has an expanding network of bicycle lanes, but I chose to leave Vivien George in the hotel room and make use of tried and true city transportation: feet and the subway. I left my hotel near Penn station, took the E and A trains downtown to City Hall Park and after a brief stroll through the park found the entrance to the pedestrian/cycling walkway across the Brooklyn Bridge.
The Brooklyn Bridge connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn opened in May, 1883 and was the longest suspension bridge at that time. An elevated walkway for pedestrians and cyclists runs along the center of the bridge, 18 feet above the car lanes (no trucks are allowed on the bridge). At little more than a mile in length, the promenade is a fairly popular destination for commuters, tourists, and New Yorkers out for a Sunday morning stroll. Not surprisingly, the ramp up to the walkway was lined with merchants hawking T-shirts, hats, hot dogs and water.
I moseyed along toward the first of two stone towers, the city streets and East River dropping below. My neck was a swivel and I kept looking back to the ever-broadening expanse the lower Manhattan skyline. One of most prominent features was One World Trade Center, also known as Freedom Tower . The crowds thinned a bit after the first bridge tower - perhaps due to the blistering heat - but I found the stretch between the two towers the most spectacular. By the time I reached Brooklyn, I was dripping with sweat and sought refuge in the shaded Cadman Plaza Park located near the bridge terminus. Wiped down and cooled off, I headed off to my first family visit.
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My nephew JJ lives in the Dumbo section of Brooklyn with his wife Chelsea and their young two sons Knox and Kai. I hadn't seen JJ since we were both in Minneapolis last March and I was looking forward to spending time with Chelsea and the boys, whom I barely know. A potential fly in the plan was that JJ plays basketball and his presence here depended on how his team fared in the playoffs. Alas, he was in LA today for game 7 (his team lost) and I missed him. Nonetheless, I had the most delightful time with Chelsea, Knox and Kai - effortlessly connecting over books, ice cream and slime.
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My next family visit was to my second cousin, also named Susan, who lives near Prospect Park in Brooklyn. She had contacted me several years ago when she was researching family ancestry. We'd had only a few email exchanges since then, but I'd met her father many years ago and thought this trip might be an excellent time for a visit. I took an Uber to her tree-lined street and we spent more than two hours on her balcony discovering our shared past and present, looking through old pictures and family trees. My mother and her father were first cousins, living in Ironton, OH in the late 20's and early 30's. They were a close-knit group of cousins and playmates and those days remained among my mother's fondest memories.
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2 years ago
Susan walked me to the local subway station and I headed back to Manhattan. I had just settled in for the long ride uptown when she texted me that I had forgotten my computer!! Thankfully I'd only gone four stops, so I headed back to the Fort Hamilton station and met Susan with my computer and charger in tow. I finally made it back to the hotel around 6:30, hot, tired and hungry.
I opted for Thai take-out and spent the evening going through photos and reflecting on family - and the things we can and cannot control. I am thankful for fortune of good genes and health that keep me active as I grow older. I have cycled in many countries and delighted in the good will and support of strangers who sometimes became friends. Though I'm just starting on this tour, having biked a mere 0.5 miles, I realize that the deep-rooted connection of family is one I most cherish.
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2 years ago
2 years ago
Susan,
Love the picots of the kids! Glad you had such good visits and have had the opportunity to reflect on family.
2 years ago
2 years ago