Free Stuff Always Tastes Good

Tonight I got to experience my first free concert in NYC! They happen all over the place in the summer here, and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra plays every year in Central Park. A few girls I know sent a Facebook invite out and the turn-out was a good size group--about 20 people or so, I'd guesstimate. As I mentioned in the last post, it's been raining a lot here lately, and today was no exception. We brought various forms of plastic to put down on the ground to keep our blankets from getting wet. Someone brought an extra shower curtain they happened to have lying around her apartment, I brought two large garbage bags and a few park/concert pads to sit on, and my friend Karene brought this huge plastic sheet thing she bought at Home Depot for $2! That turned out to be the life saver, as we had plenty of seats for everyone. The rain stopped long enough for the concert to happen, which included fireworks at the end of the performance! Everyone kinda chatted and socialized the whole time, because, ya know, we were in picnic-like form, and it was like the orchestra was providing background music. We were too far away from the stage to actually see the performance, but hearing was the important part, anyway. I forgot my camera, but I borrowed this image from elsewhere, and it is pretty much exactly what it looked like from where we were sitting:The NY Phil. sounded sooooo good. I learned from the program handed out that it's the oldest orchestra in the United States. Not surprising. And I think it said there are 108 members. For the last part of the performance they played some of the music from Romeo and Juliet, so I actually recognized some songs! That was cool. Yes, I like classical music and such, but I only recognize the popular stuff. Don't judge me. Needless to say, it was a lovely evening spent with lovely people in a lovely park with lovely music.

I Am An American

Upon pondering this holiday, I realized that I have never been more aware of my American citizen status than while living in New York City. In a city full of millions, I hear various languages being spoken on a daily basis, I see various cultures represented on a daily basis, I eat food of different nations any time I want to. All the while, my identity as a native of this country is ever present. I can't help but wonder about all these people, from all over the world, living here. Perhaps most of them were in search of some freedom, or at least their ancestors were. Maybe many have fled persecution. Some have probably come in search of family members and friends or jobs. Whatever it is, they are here for a reason, and there are lots of them! They come and they stay because this country IS, indeed, great and strong and was built on a God-given foundation. We sang The Star Spangled Banner in church today, while standing, and the last stanza hit me most:

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand,
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."

A lot of this country's people, as a whole, have moved further away from the God-trusting principles that the Founding Fathers had in their hearts. But I'm grateful to be reminded and know that these principles will be preserved, no matter how far off the path anyone tries to take it.

SNOW DAY!

Growing up in Las Vegas meant I never got to experience a "snow day"--where school gets canceled due to weather. But here in New York City, it's happened to me twice within a couple of weeks!
Well, I now know the joy children feel when they hear school is canceled due to the weather. This picture doesn't do it justice. I plan to visit Central Park some time tomorrow. Pictures to follow.