by Donna Swagerty Shreve
For Mom’s 80th birthday, we gave her a birthday reception in the club house where she lived. Many relatives and friends of long standing attended. Mom was thrilled and had a grand time. Now her 81st birthday was coming up and the year was 2000. Mom had mentioned that she really wanted to see the musical Lion King that had been playing on Broadway since 1997. Lion King was quite special with many new theatre innovations especially with the use of puppets that were adopted from the story made into the1994 Disney animated movie.
I had been visiting New York City, where I stayed with my childhood friend Ann, for several years. I started investigating the possibility of taking Mom to NYC for her birthday present. I had money limitations so staying with Ann in her apartment would be fun and save me a lot of money. Ann had a membership in the William’s Club which was a place to put up guests at a reduced rate. In the year 2000, the rate was only $200 a night. For two women to split the cost would be a fabulous deal. It was a private club for alumni of 35 affiliate institutions including all of the schools in the NESCAC conference. It had nine stories and 35 well-appointed overnight rooms. There were many activities available but the main thing was a reasonable rate, excellent location, and it gave a feeling of safety.
Using Southwest airlines we were limited to hopping across country and ending up in Islip at the end of Long Island. We then had to take a short bus to the train station and ended up in Penn Station. The three of us grabbed our suitcases and started our gauntlet through the station to a queue of waiting cabs. Jane lead and put her New York mode in high gear creating a wedge for us to follow. Mom was second and had to push herself to keep up. I took up the rear so Mom did not get left behind. We must have arrived at rush hour or it was just culture shock to be in the midst of so many people all in a hurry.
We then got a cab and headed to Ann’s apartment. I left my luggage and then we settled Mom and Jane at the William’s Club. We had a small rest period before Ann took us to dinner.
Ann had her doorman hail us a cab and off we went to another of Ann’s private clubs. This one was located right along side of Central Park in an old mansion converted into a fine dining and art club. Various art works were displayed on the walls and were for sale. The club’s membership served as mentors to up and coming artists. Mom, Jane and I had agreed ahead of time to treat Ann to dinner. When the menu’s arrived, minus any prices, we realized money did not exchange hands. The bill would be added to Ann’s account. We would have to wait our opportunity. The meal was wonderful and we went back to our accommodations ready to collapse and recover.
The next day Ann was working but the three of us headed to Central Park where we had reservations at the Tavern Green. It was another experience that Mom wanted while in the Big Apple. I had requested the garden room and we had a beautiful view of the park. After a lovely girls’ lunch we returned to our rooms. We had a big night ahead.
I had done research on restaurants that were near the theatre we were going to that night. I found Chez Josephine. I had always been fascinated by Josephine Baker and this restaurant was owned by her son. She had adopted a dozen children that she called her Rainbow Tribe. This restaurant had been in operation since 1986 so I took a chance. It did not disappoint.
The decor alone was worth spending time in the restaurant. The walls were covered with posters, pictures and artifacts of Josephine Baker. The food was French cuisine and was delicious. Ann and I had both taken French in high school and we enjoyed the French influence in the atmosphere. I took a bathroom break while in the restaurant and had to go up some narrow stairs to a set of two bathrooms. There was a line by each door. They were labeled men and women and the women’s line was, of course, longer but ours had the distinction of having a man waiting in our line.
I was about the third in line and fortunately it was moving quickly enough until the man went in. It is never a good sign when someone takes a long time in the bathroom. Our line was becoming restless as the man was taking his time. Finally he emerged except now it was a woman who emerged. Well, welcome to New York City!
I return to my table and had a delicious dessert. Then we were off to the theatre to see “Lion King!” The theatre experience was all we wanted and more. Our sensory experience was overloaded. We floated back to our residence with quite a thrilling evening behind us.
We then flew home and stopped at Arizona to drop off Jane before we headed back to Stockton. Mom and Jane decided I needed an upgrade to a new outfit for my upcoming birthday. They took me shopping to the many wonderful stores in Scottsdale shopping areas. They seemed to have fun dressing me all up in a very stylish outfit for the year 2000. We realized we rarely spent time as a trio and the trip was deemed a roaring success. Mom’s comment at the end of the trip was, “Well, I can hardly wait until my 82nd birthday!” We assured her we would not be trying to outdo the New York trip.
In 2004 we took her to Boise, Idaho to visit the grave of her mother and to visit a just found first cousin. She had another grand time but I don’t think we were ever able to top the 2000 trip to New York City. Unknown to us, Mom’s dementia was starting and in 2007 she succumbed to cancer. I am so grateful we took the opportunity while she was still able to do a few items on her bucket list.
Swagerty-Aldrich Family Web Site 