My first view of the Big Apple from our 30th floor hotel room on 40th Street. I was intimated at first when we arrived at confusing Penn Station. Next, as I gazed out the window, I was impressed. Finally I became excited and anxious to get out onto the streets and start discovering all the wonderful things I had read and heard about the city. Television and movies just cannot give you the thrill of actually becoming part of the pedestrian traffic of that high energy place. And my short adventure was just beginning.

As the red cap led us to our car he asked if we wanted a "quiet car". We accepted after finding out in was a space when cell phones and noisy electronics were not allowed. Even conversation had to be kept to a very low non-annoying volume. The instructions were to treat the area as a "library". What heaven. What peace. Quiet time to reflect and enjoy the passing beautiful scenery or to just wile away the hours reading and napping. Such a pleasant trip permits one to arrive fresh and rested before diving into the overwhelming culture shock of NYC. And, believe me, it was culture shock coming from tiny little isolated Eastport, Maine.

Earlier this month I took my first trip to New York City. To make the adventure more exciting we traveled by train. As we boarded in Boston I was reminded of so many old movies I had seen of train station settings in Europe and felt as though I was joining an old tradition - train travel. I had never been on a train trip before either. The service was quite classy, red caps and all. I felt privileged and spoiled. The train was the Amtrak Acela when can run at 150 miles an hour and the accommodations were very nice - plush.

Well, it seems almost a year has past since I've made any entries here. Lazy? I guess so. Sometimes I think it is an unfortunate mode one falls into and things appear to lose their attraction. But today I feel like "getting back into it".
This morning I awakened early and went downstairs to open the blinds and allow the light of the glorious day to come into the house. To my pleasure and amazement there were six deer returning from the water and heading to the wooded area across the street from me. There they were standing in the vacant lot and in our driveway enjoying the beautiful morning. They appeared very calm and were leisurely strolling past my window. Of course, before I thought to grab my camera, I just stood in awe and absorbed the wonder before my eyes. Again I was made acutely aware of what an enchanting and very special place this is. I am so glad I live here.