My one week vacation in Manhattan was lovely. I rested, read the New York Times a lot, got through a couple of books and visited with a few friends. The city is not as busy as usual. You can find several empty seats on the subway. Traffic is light for Manhattan. People are careful and mindful of each other's safety for the most part.
I walked along the Hudson and on Broadway each day to clock up my 5.5 miles. I watered my friends' balcony plants every couple of days but stayed mostly inside because of the heat and humidity.
I got to visit with my friend Lewis twice. He lives at the edge between Chelsea and Hudson Yards. On my way home from one of those visits I discovered a vegan gelato shop on 23rd Street. New York has it all, of course; why was I (pleasantly) surprised?
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| Vacation in Manhattan. From top left, clockwise: a vegan gelato shop in Chelsea; sampling the merchandise for science's sake; planting of zinnias near the apartment block where I stayed; my friend Lewis having lunch al fresco (only option available in NYC nowadays); me and Lewis on an art gallery crawl in Chelsea. |
But all good things come to an end. When I returned home, I had to go into quarantine to protect my brothers. I also got a Covid-19 test the second day of my return but the results may not come in for 6-10 days. By then, I'll be close to done with the quarantine anyway. I wear a mask in communal spaces. I eat my meals in another room. I sit in the back of the church. Strangly, it feels lonelier than when I was on my own in Manhattan. It's different to be alone in a space than to be separate in a space inhabited by friends.
It reminds me of the Rule of St Benedict where such treatment is suggested for unrepentant monks who've been troublesome. Of course, this is not a punishment but I can feel what such a punishment would be like.
I do get interactions with individual brothers of course, but at a distance. On Monday, I went hiking (socially distanced) on the Appalachian Trail in Lagrangeville with Br. Aidan. We hiked to a nice overlook on the Western side of the Hudson Valley and back.
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| Back home. From top, clockwise: the Paula Trader cargo ship letting its river pilot off (smaller boat) while waiting for the next one: Br. Aidan enjoying a sandwich on our hike on the Appalachian trail; Br. Bernard with his mouth full of homemade granola bar (yum - thank you, Aidan). |
I can't wait to sit back in choir and chant and to join the communal table at meals. Another week to go.
Stay safe, wear a mask, save lives!
2 comments:
Though my life in Lancaster, PA, has no contiguous lines connected to your vacation in Manhattan, your account was a pleasure to read and reflect upon, particularly thinking of choices and consequences and living with both. Thank you for this.
Thank you for sharing your vacation with us. Yes, the City is a little saner, but still wonderful. The greatest, in fact. Your quarantine will pass quickly, and you will look back on it as a wonderful time of solitude, rather than isolation or loneliness. Denise
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