Casa Brillig spent half of last week's School Vacation Week in New York City. Our trip was planned (spelled p-a-i-d-i-n-a-d-v-a-n-c-e) exactly two days before K1 tore the meniscus in her left knee, leaving her on crutches. We weren't sure what to expect, and were pleasantly surprised. Follow me below the dingledoodlesquiggliedKosagnocchidividerthingie fold after a word from our sponsor...
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We'd never taken a vacation where one of us was hobbling before, and previous trips to NYC had involved many, many blocks of walking. We didn't know whether getting around would be difficult, and we hoped desperately that the seats at the Broadway show we were attending would give her enough leg room.
I came home pleasantly surprised at the kindness of strangers.
We took the train down (Acela) and back (regular Amtrak), and in both cases friendly, helpful Amtrak employees were incredibly helpful in getting us to our trains (a) early, to avoid the last-minute rush; and (b) via elevator in Penn Station. Those few extra moments made all the difference.
We usually don't take taxis much when we're in NYC, but this trip by necessity was different. Every driver patiently gave us the time needed to get K2, K1 and her crutches in and out.
In both restaurants we ate in that were on an upper floor, employees quickly got us upstairs via elevator. Yes, I know they have to be accessible. They don't have to be gracious about it in the midst of hectic workdays. A special shoutout to the staff of the Shake Shack near the American Museum of Natural History - there was a long line to order and K1 desperately needed a restroom. Rather than make her trudge thru the crowd and downstairs, the "would you like a menu while you wait" staffer took K1 and I thru the employee corridor, down the elevator, and let her use the staff bathroom because "no one on crutches should have to wait to pee, too."
Speaking of the AMNH - We got there as it opened, and immediately borrowed a wheelchair. Best. Decision. Ever. For the cost of leaving my license in a locked box with the security guard, K1 did NOT have to trudge all over the expansive museum, and people were most helpful making room so that she could see all the exhibits.
Did you know the Central Park Zoo also has wheelchairs available to use? Easy to borrow, and the Zoo staff went out of their way to ensure K1 saw every animal possible to see, asking people to move over a bit if they'd been there for a while. No one seemed to mind.
Lastly, the Empire State Building. K2 surprised us both by saying he wanted to go up and look (he's nervous about high places), so we went. K1 was prepared to lean against us and wait in the line to get to the elevator, when a staffer saw us. "Hey, you guys come over here. You don't want her waiting in that line." And with that, he led us directly to the elevator. OK, there were a couple of envious faces for a minute, until they thought through how many other things would be affected in their trip even if they got to skip one line.
It really was a great trip, all of us had a fantastic time. Thank you, NYC (and Boston's South Station) for making it so. We'd recommend you to anyone.
Brillig's ObDisclaimer: The decision to publish each nomination lies with the evening's Diarist and/or Comment Formatter. My evenings at the helm, I try reeeeallllyy hard to publish everything
without regard to content. I really do, even when I disagree personally with any given nomination. "TopCommentness" lies in the eyes of the nominator and of you, the reader - I leave the decision to you. I do
not publish self-nominations (ie your own comments) and if I ruled the world, we'd all build community, supporting and uplifting instead of tearing our fellow Kossacks down.
From blueoregon:
I'd like to nominate this comment by Sandino, in Frederick Clarkson's diary AP Reports on Christian Right Child Sex Abuse Scandal.
Also nominating the following comment from Green Mother in BBQ Chicken Madness' diary Monsanto Buys Out Leading Bee Research Firm because she simply spells out why this is so bad, in layman's terms.
From koosah:
I found this perfect comment by IARXPHD in Kaili Joy Gray's [Ann Romney: 'I love the fact that there are women out there who don’t have a choice' diary] about Ann Romney's tone-deaf remark about working mothers raising kids. The comment absolutely hits the nail on the head, listing many examples of exactly why Ann Romney will never actually understand what being a mom, let alone a "working" mom, is really like.
From BeninSC:
I liked this comment from IARCXPHD on the importance of walking a mile in someone's shoes. The comment refers to challenges the poster faced when his spouse suffered a catastrophic brain injury, contrasted with the difficulties John Edwards has faced.
From Yours Truly, brillig:
This comment by allensl epitomizes dKos to me. From lightbulb's Confessions of a Retail Worker: Two more coworkers went hungry. We said, no more!.
(apologies for a sparse set of comment nominations from me. I'm feeling a bit under the weather at the moment, sigh)
Top Mojo for yesterday, April 23rd, first comments and tip jars excluded. Thank you
mik for the mojo magic!
1) Well, Thinkprogress by gchaucer2 — 152
2) What others? by newfie — 97
3) There's a hole in the wall Mexican Restaurant by FishOutofWater — 94
4) IANAL but ... by blue aardvark — 94
5) thanks, ken. Good piece. by david mizner — 91
6) I once had a goper who wouldn't believe by Back In Blue — 88
7) Rallying to banner of an advocate of repression by RFK Lives — 85
8) Carter Created More Jobs in 1 Term Than All 3 Trms by Gooserock — 83
9) Many will follow him by FishOutofWater — 81
10) stiglitz made the perfect analogy by Laurence Lewis — 68
11) You'll never hear this reported here in WI by macleme — 69
12) This is the look I just got from her majesty: by triciawyse — 67
13) sure it's worthwhile responding to them! by G2geek — 68
14) The big churches doing political stuff should be by roseeriter — 66
15) Sadly.. by Deep Harm — 65
16) The price of freedom is eternal vigilence by blue aardvark — 63
17) but we need sane Republicans. by G2geek — 60
18) Will others dare to follow... by Reinvented Daddy — 58
19) Amen. Sign me up. by blue jersey mom — 57
20) So, would you say that "Walker = No Jobs"? by noise of rain — 57
21) And We Liberals Are There to Lend a Helping Hand: by dmhlt 66 — 56
22) Don't read the Obituary too soon. . . by NM Ray — 56
23) It was a pleasure having a hand in creating this by weatherdude — 54
24) I am so so glad that you wrote this. by Smoh — 53
25) Is it "Lobbying" or "Corruption" When You Just by Gooserock — 53
26) May the stress cause him to plotz! n/t by JeffW — 53
27) Sure, we vote for Obama, but that isn't all by bronte17 — 52
28) This thing is a rightwing racist troll. by Geekesque — 52
29) Glad you're OK, but I'm gonna scold by Puddytat — 52
30) All kinds of offerings by Catte Nappe — 52
31) Thanks for the exciting report. Glad you & ... by peacestpete — 52
Top Pictures for yesterday, April 23rd. Click any image to be taken to the full comment. Thank you
jotter for the image magic!