More on New York, it stays with you always

Mom on the way to New York City May 7, 2012

Our cabbie was a great driver

The NBC Today Show Studio crawl

Me with the producer and her camera ladies...yay

Kate in the middle with her camera ladies

Mom enjoying the 360 degree View Restaurant, what a spectacular way to see New York

In New York, everything is big and tall

A view from "The View"

More views

And another view

A view once more

Things sure look small down there

Times Square

Times Square

Our first look at the city, arriving late into the evening

Mom and I have yet to take our little get away on Bainbridge Island, but we will soon.  It's just been a whacky time since we got back.  It took forever for me to even find photos because I had lost my cell phone at JFK airport.  Luckily I got it back.  Mom had severely bruised her tail bone getting into a cab that Tuesday and we spent all of Wed handling that.

As it turns out, mom had the ride of her life on a pedi-cab the day before the show.  She was in awful pain and finally we decided to go into a clinic.  Kate was such a gem helping us out with all of this, but getting there was crazy.

In New York they say take a cab everywhere.  Seems harmless....NOT. You can't catch a cab on smaller side streets, you have to walk to a busy corner.  My poor mom, walking around with me trying to find a cab.  So after one cabbie refused to take us...seriously.....this wonderful Irishman with bright blue eyes came up to us in his little pedi-cab and asked if we needed a ride.

I have to tell ya, I was not real confident in that, as the day before I saw pedi-cab race across four lanes of heavy traffic practically tipping the whole thing over.  Mom was excited.  We explained that she was in tremendous pain and that we were on our way to an urgent care clinic.  He promised me that he would go slow and take good care of my mom.  So we got in and held on...weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Mom laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed.  She said that was exactly what she needed.  It was also a great way to see the city.  I have a small video clip of our ride...........

It was a trip of a lifetime and we will never forget it.  Thank you Kathie Lee Gifford, Hoda Kotb and Kate for hosting us.  Thank you to David Friedman, Chandra Lee Schwartz, Davy Wild, and of course Kathie Lee Gifford for creating such a beautiful song "Strong Like You" from me to my mom.

Here it is over a month has gone by.  I go into the hospital tomorrow for my 4th round of chemotherapy desensitization.  I went chemo shopping today for soups, veggies, yogurt, etc etc etc.  Of course I forgot my colace and flax seeds.  I just want it over with.  Not looking forward to almost 10 days of bad nausea.

I have been sleeping 12 hours per day for a long time.

Mom has been in hospital twice since the trip.  Geeze.  She can't catch a break but looked great today.  She is just a real trooper.  She is all excited because her sister is coming out to visit.

My sweet sister is finally up and around again, the whole family dealing with whooping cough.  Can you imagine?

Several of our teal sisters have passed away this past month, and that is really hard.  I pray for their families and hope that they can keep the conversation going.

Every day can be rich with life, the little joys and the small smiles that really warm your heart....that is what we need to look for each day.  Can't worry too much about what may or may not come.

I have a beautiful and loving family, a kitty cat that just gives me pure joy and I think she is happy too.  I have really nice friends and most of all I have God.  We all have Him there to love us and carry our pains.

I love you all......................Denise