Brooklyn Botanical Garden - Cherry Blossom Festival

Unfortunately the Cherry Blossoms were not in bloom for the festival but either way it was a beautiful day to be outside and spend time in the Brooklyn Borough.

This was finally the opportunity for my dear high school friend Jenn and her sister Lisa to meet Noah. Thank gosh Lisa's boyfriend drove us there - it saved a lot of time.

Traveling with a baby requires well thought out planning especially considering everything I need to bring for the 'just in case' moments.

This was my first time at the BBG. I imagined it to be in a far away place from Manhattan but in fact I have been much closer to it when I visited BAM. In anycase, the weather was cooperative and I got a crash course in flora and fauna of the garden.

The 200 cherry blossoms if in bloom would have been spectacular and is appropriately named the Cherry Esplanade.

There were outdoor tents with entertainment ranging from J-Pop music, samuri dancing and Japanese theatre. My only complaint of the experience was that the food was not authentic sushi, as a matter of facts it was catered. I should have known from the packaging.

>> I wonder how many other people picked up on this misleading cuisine no-no<<

John met up with us later on. We had a chance to walk around ourselves and look at the flower arrangements, a common Japanese art. Fortunately, the tulips were brilliantly showing off their colors.

Below is Noah nestled between the original sushi pillows. His Tita Jenn bought him the salmon roll one on the left. I wonder how he was propped up like that?

 

gotta love a beautiful day in central park with good company, chinese food and limitless people watching.

I was always curious who lived below us. The former tenants told us about Sandra from Guyana -- older woman about my height who was remarkably friendly with us from the moment we moved into our new apartment. I did not know she was looking after the woman pictured above. Her name is Bess and is surprisingly 101 years old. You would not think it for a moment if you met her. She is as sharp as a woman half her age and is quite witty.

John met her a couple weeks and I had to witness her myself. Who knows how long she has been living in her current apartment. It is that of a time warp with appliances that seem like they are from the 50's.ly Unfortunately it also seems like she is living on very little. My first sight was of her bed room - a small t.v. dinner tray beside her bed and opposite a bureau lined with black and white photos and colored photos of what seemed to be Sandra's grandchildren. I did not get a great look but Bess was quick to tell me that the next time I visit she would tell me about each photo.

Bess was very enthused to see Noah and I did not hesitate to let her hold him -- though with my hand and Sandra's to help her balance him. She asked for his name and her response was 'No-ah do you No-ah?' I cracked a smile immediately!

Sandra as mentioned before has always been helpful and very thoughtful. Anytime she ran into me in the hall she would offer to help me carry anything I had in my hands. She always commented, with her Guyanan accent how fit I looked and how charming Noah was. She even slipped a Christmas card for us under our door. At one point John and I were getting rid of a heap of clothes and other unneccessary things. She brought all of the boxes and bags down to the garbage and notified me later that she kept some stuff. Since then I have made it a point to set items aside that I think she could use as well as Bess. Eases the pain of having to lug it to Goodwill although have been doing so anyhow.

As for Bess, I know she has many stories to tell and if I had a chance to stay longer she would have had me sitting for hours. I am looking forward to visiting her again.