Hello hello!
It is officially one week past due for this post. So much excitement, love and joy has occurred and my blog has not quite caught up! I suppose I should start from the beginning…
Last Thursday night Braydon flew into New York City for an Easter weekend visit. Late Thursday night Braydon met me at NYU Medical Center on my break for a few minutes to say hello. He handed me a plastic easter egg detailing our first holiday (Memorial day) together, I gave him a hug and was back to my job. Friday morning Braydon picked me up from work and shared breakfast with me on the East River. We watched helicopters come and go, ships sail by and people scurrying off to work. Throughout the day on Friday Braydon surprised me with easter eggs outlining each holiday we’ve spent together. On Friday evening we rode a subway to Grand Central Station, walked through Bryant Park and Times Square and arrived at the Hudson River’s Pier 81 on the west side of Manhattan. The weather was beautiful; 65 degrees, clear blue skies with a soft breeze. We were a little early for our scheduled dinner cruise so we strolled along the pier together. Out of (seemingly) nowhere, Braydon asked me what I would think if he talked to my dad about marrying me. I looked at him and said, “Well, you haven’t…” Braydon quickly corrected and shared with me his time spent with my dad the previous weekend. They toured the new Target Twin’s Field and had lunch together. Long story short, my dad gave Braydon permission to marry me and become his son-in-law. On Pier 81, Braydon whispered a few ‘sweet-nothings,’ handed me one last easter egg with a paper stating, “Easter weekend 2010, we got engaged!” He knelt on one knee and showed me the most beautiful ring I have ever seen. With shock and awe, I quickly said yes while he placed the ring on my finger. We were on a quiet pier together when one man walked by with his dog and said, “congratulations,” it was the perfect acknowledgement.
Newly engaged, Braydon and I boarded the World Yacht Cruise, we planned to have only a cocktail on board, but to my surprise we had the ‘premiere’ yacht experience. The front of boat greeted us with a table for two, complete with a waterfront view and a full course menu including champagne. During the three-hour waterway excursion we wined and dined on delicious fare and viewed the whole shoreline of Manhattan. We called our parents from the top of the boat while we cruised under the Brooklyn Bridge and sailed by the Statue of Liberty. It was undoubtedly a night we will never forget.
The rest of Easter weekend was just as memorable. Saturday morning we ran along the river (on the shore we sailed by the previous night), and during the afternoon we traveled to the Chelsea neighborhood. We lunched at the Chelsea Market and walked along the ‘Highline,’ a restored railroad track turned into a public park. For dinner we ate at my favorite Mexican restaurant and enjoyed the NCAA basketball game too. Sunday we woke up early to attend the 7am Easter service at St Patrick’s Cathedral. We had Easter breakfast at Norma’s restaurant at Le Parker Meridian and took a stroll through Central Park. Sunday we joined all my New York family for dinner to share our excitement and joy. Our fairytale weekend came to a close but the enchantment continues. Braydon and I could not be more excited to start this new adventure together and are so blessed to share this happiness with so many family members, friends and loved ones.
Love and Peace
Braydon picking me up from work and enjoying breakfast on the river.
I'm pretty sure spring blossomed while I was sleeping last night. After days and days of rain, I walked outside and to my delighted surprise the lilies in front of my apartment building and the cherry blossoms lining the street all bloomed. Its sunny and 65 degrees and is supposed to stay this way through the weekend :) ....I'm very excited to say the least.
Well its about past time to update this blog, whew time certainly flies by. I just came back from a long run along the river and it was such a beautiful time. The sky were crystal clear blue, the temperature about 50 degrees and a perfect breeze swept over the river. I actually moved my bed over near my window and now I can see boats passing down the river as I fall asleep each night (and morning). I returned back from Minnesota a couple days ago and as usual had a wonderful time visiting my family and friends. One of the highlights was seeing my Grandma Audrey. After seeing Braydon's Grandpa a few weeks ago and Grandma Audrey this past weekend, I am reminded what a special place grandparents have in our life. Their wisdom, character and experiences provide so much insight and inspiration to live a life to the full. Visiting with these two special people I was also reminded of my Grandma Barbara who passed away about 7 years ago, her death was so sudden and rocked my family. She still holds a special place within me and I attribute so much of my loving nature, joy and peacefulness to her. I hope one day I can be as wise, thoughtful and influential as Davedaddy, Grandma Audrey and Grandma Barb.
