We had a great week with perfect fall weather on our annual trip to New York.

We had an easy trip up where Laura and her Mark had arrived before us. Straight up to our home away from home for the week, to catch breath, unpack. Travel day room service dinner, just the thing.

The next day is midtown shopping. I have my agenda. Kayla absolutely has hers. And we do a good job with Laura as companion and JR, bless him, as Sherpa. We meet Jason, Kat and Griffin at the Lego store to start things off.

Fun for all!

Then it’s off for girl shopping. A long, satisfying day, lots of steps banked. Lots of hang out time, lots of play time for Griffin. A parade to avoid on Sunday, but I have my target and a work-around, meet up with Laura.

Bull’s eye!

A visit from Kat’s triplet nephews and niece and their moms for the evening. Always fun to see them.

Kayla and JR are booked to see Gracie Abrams at Rock Center. All dressed, excited—and she had to cancel. Big disappointment.

BUT! She’s able to reschedule for a couple days after we’re due to leave. So we figure it out. They’ll stay on when we go, train home, car service here to where JR’s car is, drive to their home, scramble and drive back to college.

They’re young, they can handle it. (And they did!)

Monday is downtown. More shopping, then pizza at Lombardi’s. Just yummy as always.

Meanwhile we’re rooting for the Mets as Mark and Laura are lifelong fans. I am not a National League girl, but I make an exception. Plus, despite the O’s crushing defeat by the Mets in ‘69 (I hold a grudge) I will always go for the Mets over the Yankees. Even though our sweet JR is a Yankee’s fan. (I don’t hold it against him.)

Tuesday is our fall foundation meeting, and it goes smoothly. We all put our foundation business hats on and get her done. As a reward we head to Serendipity III up town. Jason, JR and I walk, the rest take the subway. I want that hot fudge sundae so only order some fries while most get lunch.

My favorite of all? Griffin wanted vanilla ice cream with rainbow sprinkles. His eyes nearly popped out when they brought that parfait dish out for him. For myself, I did a decent job on my sundae, and BW—knowing I wouldn’t finish—took over and polished it off.

The same group walked back.

We planned for the Central Park zoo on Wednesday, and to everyone’s surprise, they were closed for a special event. So we contented ourselves with the carousel, and hit FAO Schwarz. Griffin’s bd’s coming up, and there’s Christmas. Plus he loves the rocket ship they have, and he and I went into outer space for some time. Then he discovered the floor piano keys. He, Jason and I played a few tunes.

He was such a good kid in this toy heaven. (In fact, he was gold all week.)  Held my hand, or Jason’s or Kat’s. Picked out a dragon for Nana, and gave me good ideas for a few gifts. Kat made the biggest haul, so they shipped stuff home.

Laura and Mark have tickets for the game, and we watched, hoping to spot them. Nope, but the Met’s clinched their division, so happy time.

I meet up with my friends—agent and editor—on Thursday. Always so great to see them, to spend the day. We have a light lunch at MoMa as we have early dinner reservations and theater tickets.

And a breeze through MoMa’s gift shop bags more Christmas! I’m very nearly done.

I learn Stevie Nicks is in the other triplex—she’s doing SNL. Cool!

A nice walk to dinner, and we have a happy chatty table including Amy and Leslie’s husbands. Also always great to see them.

The play is just fantastic. Once Upon A Mattress is nothing but pure fun and happy. We couldn’t have had a better time. I think we all let out a week’s worth of laughs in under two hours.

I learned after that Candice Bergman was in our row. Wish I’d known!

Then a really lovely evening walk home.

Another, this time successful, walk to the zoo on Friday. Jason, Griffin, Kayla, JR and me. It’s the first time Jason and I haven’t taken him that he didn’t want to spend the rest of his life on the big rope spider web. He enjoyed it, then moved on. He really liked the dinosaur egg kids can sit in. And the stone rabbits they (Kayla, too) crouch down so their face is under the ears. I have a picture somewhere of her and Logan doing this as Griffin’s age.

The penguins are the biggest hit, as they should be. A really fun day, a stop for lunch at the zoo cafe where Griffin claimed to want nothing, then ate all of Kayla’s fries because he decided they were yum.

We stopped on the way back at the Microsoft store. They have a floor where you can do gaming—which Kayla and JR did—and a big screen where you can project yourself as a Minecraft creature. We did that one for a long time, and it didn’t get old.

Home again for our last night. Laura’s daughter and her fiancé flew in from LA. They’re all going to Laura’s son and daughter-in-law’s on Saturday for her granddaughter’s first birthday. I have to add the kid is a Laura mini me, down to facial expressions. *

Loved seeing Clare and meeting her Nate, seeing the ring in person. Gorgeous!

Turns out they’re gamers as are Kayla and JR. They spoke that language to each other. **

Then it’s time to pack up, load up. Kayla and JR will move into the main hotel for the rest of their stay. JR’s parents are coming in from Connecticut for the day, meeting them for lunch. And Laura and Mark will be in NY several more days.

So we’re packed up, loaded up, and hug goodbye before we start off in the huge party bus for the trip home.

A busy, happy, fun week for all. I don’t think any of us missed a trick.

Am pleased to report Kayla and JR had a good time for the next couple of days, enjoyed the concert, caught the way before dawn train, got here to pick up JR’s car, drove to NC. ***

We actually had a huge tree come down across the lane the day before they got here. But got it cleared up before they did.

So all good, all around.

And we’re already looking forward to next year!

Nora

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Notes from Laura: All in all, Mark and I were 1-2 for sporting events. It was a bit of delirious fun to watch the Mets win the division.

We already planned to see the MNF Jets game with our friend Sarah and her husband, Jack who are Bills fans (they left happy, we did not). Then we were offered tickets for the Met’s NLCS game on Oct. 16 so we took them. (Again, we left a bit sad.) Will see what tonight brings as the Mets and Jets play at the same time.

*My sweet granddaughter DOES look like me, but her parents have requested a media blackout so you’ll have to take our word for it. Or, just believe me when I share this photo of me at age 4.

**Nate’s the gamer in the engaged couple. Kayla noted the 100 Thieves logo on his jacket and asked about it. Suddenly Kayla, JR and Nate were in a serious discussion about e-sports, characters, games and many other terms that flew over the rest of our heads. Wish I thought to take a photo of them.

***The proof-of-health photo I took Sunday night at dinner with Kayla and JR. Nora thought when I said “kids” I meant Clare and Nate — but they headed back to LA 38 hours after landing in NYC.