What I Needed Was a Change of Scenery

For the last few weeks, I have been plagued with an inertia that has affected my writing. My problem has never been “writer’s block.”I always have had plenty of ideas about what to write. Now, when I sat In front of a computer or even with a pad and pen in hand, I’d start a story only to leave it unfinished.

What I didn’t know was what I needed was a change of scenery.

My daughter, middle grandson, and I left for New York City four days before Christmas. We couldn’t pass up a last minute invitation to enjoy free use of a friend’s apartment in Hell’s Kitchen. Plus, I could redeem an unused plane ticket for an aborted trip to NYC during the onset of COVID. Timing was perfect.

The apartment we stayed at was in a relatively new building designed by a Portuguese architect, Alvaro Siza–his first building in the US.

This model was in the lobby. The front desk lady told us visitors often walked in and asked to be taken on a tour. The upper part of the building had a “penthouse” on each level. Unlike the 7th floor were we stayed surrounded by other apartment units, the upper floors (see the narrow section on the model) had only one apartment on each level. The highest level had a two-floor penthouse. Since it hadn’t sold as yet, we were allowed to go up one evening to take in the view.

The only familiar building I spotted was the Empire State.

The next morning, knowing that Rockefeller Center attracts hoards of attention, we left the apartment early to get a look at the ice skating rink and the Christmas tree. We took a bus rather than deal with the subway because the view from the bus gave us exposure to the neighborhoods. A lot had changed since I last visited Rockefeller Center years ago. The best place to take pictures of the tree and rink was now roped off allowing only paying picture takers to enter.

We left Rockefeller Center, passing the glitter and sparkle of Sacks Fifth Avenue’s windows decorated for Christmas, and hopped a bus to Metropolitan Museum of Art. Thanks to our hosts, we used their membership cards to enter and enjoy lunch in the upscale member restaurant at the MET with a view of Central Park.

The second day, we not only walked the NYC neighborhoods but visited DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass in Brooklyn), a side trip planned by my 20-year-old grandson and striving photographer so he could stand at the perfect site to take a picture of the Manhattan Bridge. A first for me. And another first was traveling by ferry back to NYC.

In the packed two days that I played tourist, I felt the warm company of my daughter and grandson, revisited memories with an old friend, took in unique sights and sounds and unfamiliar experiences. I returned home with a renewed sense of commitment and interest in pursing my creative endeavors. I didn’t know all I needed was a change in scenery.

Bryant Park