New York!

I am writing this post from my hotel room near LaGuardia airport in New York City!  I arrived here this evening, and so far I love it.  I have always imagined myself going to New York, but it has never happened- until now.

Last year when I was recovering from cancer surgery and extremely hypothyroid, the annual BlogHer convention was occurring.  I was supposed to have gone with my good friend, Amy, but obviously cancer changed that.  Amy had found out that BlogHer ’10 was going to be in New York, and she entered us in a contest to win a trip to it.  We were finalists!

I was so touched, and had told my mom about the possibility of Amy and I winning the trip.  She told me I had to go to New York. She had been there several times in recent years for her job. She told me even if we didn’t win the trip, I had to go with Amy to New York this summer- she assured me I would love it.

My mom had asked me a few times to go with her, on her business trips, but I never did. I was too busy, or didn’t want to leave the boys, or it wasn’t a good time for me to go.  There was always a reason not to go.

I decided to boycott BlogHer ’10, after I had already obtained tickets because of their Nestle sponsorship.  But I had also been invited by the American Cancer Society (ACS), by the Blogger Advisory Council I serve on, to come to New York for a tour of their Hope Lodge, a meeting, and an event.  Amy decided to attend BlogHer, so our plans were set.

None of the flights would have given me enough time to arrive and be able to attend the ACS event tomorrow on time, so I came out today- by myself.  I was a little bit anxious about coming here alone, but I’ve been fine.  All the people who have helped me have been wonderful, and Amy is arriving tomorrow. I only have to get myself from this hotel to a hotel in Times Square, but I can handle that.  😉  The man I sat next to on the plane even gave me an app for the iPhone that shows all the subway routes, so I am feeling more confident about the subways too.

But all I could think about today was my mom.  I thought about how much I miss her and how much I regret never taking the time to come to New York with her.  As the plane was approaching New York, I touched my mom’s bracelet and I felt her presence- just a normal feeling- like she was sitting next to me.  the sun was setting and it was a gorgeous scene When we landed I got tears in my eyes.

My mom wanted me to come here.  She told me I should do whatever I could to get out here this summer.  My mom loved to travel, loved New York, and clearly she wanted me to experience this.  I got tears in my eyes because I get to do just that.

When I walked off the plane, I was calm-not nervous.  I was traveling alone to a huge city, but I didn’t feel alone.  I felt my mom’s presence with me, and I think- in that place where the sun shines off the clouds at sunset, painting vibrant colors- my mom is with me in New York.