Grateful After Sandy

Firefighters in chest high water putting out house fire in my coastal town on the south shore of Long Island during Sandy 10-29-12 Credit: Caryn Jenkin

One of my favorite circa homes in town 

Yep, my car is under that tree

My friend  Gail, from high school posted the following quote on Facebook last week  by Albert Clark.  “In our daily lives, we must see that it is not happiness that makes us grateful, but the gratefulness that makes us happy.”  Despite the unusual circumstances that many people have experienced in the Northeast, I am happy and it has to do with gratitude.

The last two weeks have been challenging, but in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy I have been blessed with overwhelming feeling of  gratitude. I am grateful that I no longer live in the house on the water that I resided in for eight years that took in three feet of saltwater and debris from the canal.  I am grateful that the big red oak tree on the corner fell on my car and not my house.  Speaking of my house, I am grateful that it didn’t go up in flames during the storm like three homes in my town and the 80 homes in Breezy Point in Queens.  I am grateful that I was only without power for a week compared to those families that still do not have power.  I am grateful that I live in a generous community that has reached out to so many in need which turned into a lesson for my son that didn’t require any traveling.

The first couple of days after the storm, I had no idea about how the storm affected neighboring communities in New York City and New Jersey.  Once the power and cable resumed I was shocked and saddened as I sat in front of the television and read stories online.  I quickly realized that many of the places that my son and I visited just this past summer like Coney Island, Atlantic City and Cape May were on the list of the devastated communities.  I also learned that the HMS Bounty, which we boarded on Memorial Day weekend sank in Sandy’s wrath in of all places off the coast of the Outer Banks where we spent a week only two months ago..

The crew of the HMS Bounty was so friendly and really made it fun to learn about maritime education.  Fourteen crew members were rescued, but sadly Claudene Christian was not rescued in time and neither was the captain, Robin Walbridge.

HMS Bounty in Greenport, New York (the tall ship’s home base) this past May.

These revelations definitely made me pause with sadness, but at the same time I realized  how grateful I was that we were able to experience these places before Sandy erased the historical charm of America’s first and longest boardwalk in Atlantic City or America’s First Amusement Park in Coney Island.  In addition, I  am truly grateful that the crew members that we met on the HMS Bounty were rescued after enduring what must have been an unbelievable frightening experience at sea.

The Atlantic City Boardwalk this summer.

Coney Island this past summer – grateful for the memory of such a happy day.

Coney Island after Sandy …all the electronics that made the Wonder Wheel go around sat under water.

I also look forward to Ellis Island and Lady Liberty opening again once the significant storm damage has been repaired.  The Statue of Liberty was once again illuminated this past Friday offering a beacon of hope to all those that literally are picking up the pieces of their lives.

Visiting Lady Liberty before she was closed for renovations and from super storm Sandy.

I pray for all those that were affected by what was ironically

dubbed as the “perfect storm”

and hope that they still can find something to be grateful about

and once again experience happiness.

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Yankee Stadium Tour

At Yankee Stadium

Major League Baseball never was a big part of my life growing up.  Mainly because New Orleans didn’t have a Major League Team.  Plus I grew up with all girls and a Dad that would rather be fishing than watching sports, unless it was the New Orleans Saints.  I first became a Yankee fan early in my sales career when I lived in NYC  and would go to games with clients.  In 1998, my world was turned around and I met my son’s father who worked for the Yankees.  I met him the day before opening day and was married a couple of weeks after the Yankees won the 1998 World Series in San Diego.  Although the marriage was short-lived, I have an awesome son and some pretty cool Yankee memories, like flying with the team on their private plane, victory parties with celebrities and riding in the ticker tape parade.

Of course my son was not around for all that excitement, so I am glad now that he is older he has had an opportunity to make his own memories of the New York Yankees. Since we still are fortunate to know people in the organization, my son has had the opportunity to experience the classic tour and the Inside Experience.  The classic tour is $20 per person which includes monument park and the museum. There is also a lunch option, so we enjoyed steak with our names branded on the bone at NYY Steak ($55 per person).   If you are not into steak, there is also the choice of the Hard Rock Cafe’.  The Inside Experience is a more costly tour at $600 per person which includes meeting a player.  Additional tours include the Twilight Tour & NYY Steak and the Party City Birthday Bash Tour.

Museum

Monument Park

If you are the ultimate Yankee fan or visiting New York City and taking in a game, adding a tour really turns a game day into an unforgettable experience.  Anyone who can quote NYY stats, trivia or history, will love the museum and monument park.  My son of course thought that watching batting practice and seeing his favorite players up close was icing on the cake before the main course which in this case was the game!

Autographs at batting practice.

Watching the game

My son’s friend impressed by the steak.

A Happy Yankee Fan

Have you ever toured the home of your favorite team?

If you are now singing “Take me out to the ball game” and want more information regarding touring the stadium, click on the following links:

 Stadium Tours or The Inside Experience

With Yankee pitcher David Robertson

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