Knowing I have wanted to go to New York my entire life, as my Christmas present last year, my son surprised (shocked) me with a mother-son adventure, including flights to NYC and tickets to “Phantom of the Opera” on Broadway. About a month ago, we picked our dates and splurged on a non-refundable Airbnb.

 

Several days before our trip, my son got a cold, and on the morning of our trip, he was worse with swollen, painful tonsils. We had to concede that he couldn’t possibly travel. I wasn't sure what to do. I hadn't bought travel insurance, and I hated to let that beautiful room and the Broadway seats sit empty.

 

I called a close friend early that morning and asked if she’d like to go to New York with me … in six hours. 

 

She told me her inner dialogue immediately said, “This is the part where you usually say no. This is your opportunity to create memories and seize the moment, which is something you specifically want to get better at. SAY YES.” And she did! I was sad and happy all at once.

 

New York City, the Broadway show and Times Square were beyond anything I could have imagined. I loved all of it! We only had two full days there, so we had to be very selective about how to use our time. Perhaps later I’ll share more about the trip and all the gifts that showed up along the way, but let me jump to the art experience we had and the life lessons that brought. 

 

While I would have loved to go to the Met and MoMA (The Museum of Modern Art), time was limited and I chose to explore the galleries in Chelsea, a concentrated art district that spans from 18th to 28th Streets, across 10Th and 11Th Avenues.

 

An uber dropped us off at the intersection of 19th and 10th, and we plotted to see as much art as possible. As we rounded W. 20th Avenue, we came to a tall set of steps adjacent to a building that went up three flights to a walkway filled with greenery. There was a posted sign that said "The High Line" and something about a park. I thought, how could there be a park up there? Does it go over and in between the buildings?

We were intrigued, but hesitant. We had already walked our buns off for the last 36 hours, so by then, I was reluctant to take any unnecessary steps, especially three flights of steps up and then right back down (in shoes that are cute, but all wrong for New York).

 

Something said do it anyway, and we let curiosity win. Desire pulled us up those steps, and we were greatly rewarded for our effort. 

When we reached the top, the energy changed. Everything seemed to change. The walkway was brimming with life, from people to trees to plants. It was like being transported to a tropical jungle, while remaining right in the middle of NYC.

 

We could only see a little of the winding path at a time, so we were compelled to keep going around each next bend. We decided we would follow it until 28th street, and then start the gallery tour working our way back from the other end.

 

We couldn’t have planned a more perfect art outing, starting with the meticulous gardens in repurposed railroad track sections, and the up close study of New York's creative architecture. We saw art that day from the outside in.

Gardens planted in old railroad tracks.

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