Happy Birthday! Please Join Me For A Day In New York City....

...but not just any day in New York! No, not for MY 51st birthday! I plan to take you to the New York City of 1956. October 26th, 1956 to be exact. I am so glad you were all able to come. I do hope your train tickets arrived early enough. And, for those of you from overseas, yes, I DO see you Sophie..there in the back! Welcome! Were your flights comfy? Pan Am has the best reputation! They gave me such a good deal! Oooh! I am just so glad to see you all! Andi and Brenda and Teresa and Tammy! I am thrilled you are here. Cheryl and the 3 girls!! Rhoda...you are here! Sweet Pea!! And there is Sheila and her daughter Lisa from Chicago and Sheila from Canada! And dear Sheila, you brought Blue, Deb and Kate with you as well! Valerie!! I KNEW you would come. Melissa AND Anna Marie! Kat, Kim and Donna!! Did you arrive together? Terri!! So glad you are here...Susie! Jolene! Cassie! Connie! Mari-Nanci! I am so glad you made it! Corrine! Ginny...I love seeing you all! Pam! Paula! And here is Sharon Kay! Anna, I do hope you are feeling better! There is Kim and Claire! Heather and Jacki and I think even our Gretchen is here. Ms. Greenie Garden and our Mom2Fur too! Ms. Strawberry Lane rode all the way here on her horse Royal! Janet! Cindy and Cherry too! Dear Charlotte and Cassandra were able to come! Hi Barbara and, wait! Do I spy a sweet Brown English Muffin?? Hi Michelle and Kayla! Rosie and Sandy! Welcome to you all! To all the Sues, Susie Qs and Sioux...I am so glad to see you! Why even Andrea was able to come along! Hi Diane! Hi Chris! Wendy! Ooh! It's Pat! And there is Rosemary and Karla! There is Robin...oh and Alice too! Carolyn and Betty Jo! Marie and Lidy and Manuela! Lynn and Mama P! Lisa and Jill! There's Missy! Jen with Emily! Dawn AND Jayla!! You DID come after all! I see Sandi and Kari, Penny and Mary...you all look so pretty! Gee, please forgive me...I just can't call out all of your names! I have run out of breath! So many of you! I am looking and I see ALL my dear blogging friends have come here to New York!! I see all of your smiling faces and I know we will have the best time. You all look positively radiant! Do you all have your white gloves? Oh, silly me. I need not have asked that! So, let's go. Grace and I have so much to show you today!

Isn't the city just amazing? If you listen closely you can almost hear it breathe...listen... Oops! Here come our limousines! You did not think I would let all of you ride in just any old vehicle now did you? Here we are on top of the Empire State Building! Isn't it just beautiful?

What a view! Here we are! The Plaza! This will be your home away from home today. Your every need will be met of that I can assure you! You have only to ask! Be on guard now, we just might run into a mischievous little girl named Eloise. I hear she lives at The Plaza and causes all sorts of havoc! Grace is looking forward to catching up with her...we will have to keep our little girls close to us so no trouble ensues. VALERIE! I did not think I had to worry about the adults too!! You march right back here and behave yourself! Tsk Tsk... Gather in now...it is time for tea! And where else would we meet than The Palm Court right here at the Plaza!

From the lovely harpist in her glittering gown to the waiters' impeccable service, from the gilt-edged marble columns to the crystal chandeliers, from the towering palm trees to the pink azaleas blooming all year long, the setting is simply magical here at the hotel's Palm Court.

The finger sandwiches are delicate and crustless, with cucumber sliced so thin it offers just a whisper of a crunch. Do remember to keep your pinkie up just so! The scones go so perfectly with the clotted cream that no jam is needed, but who can resist sampling the tiny jars of orange marmalade and blackberry preserves? Not me! Of course we will also have the most splendiferous birthday cake absolutely ever! May I offer you a slice? Oh! Two! My, you ARE hungry! I hope you enjoyed your lunch...that ride over was fun! I think I spied Joe DiMaggio and Yogi Berra! You did too? Wow! Do you see where you are? The heart of the theater district. Broadway! How I do love it so. I have, through a very secret source which I simply MUST keep private, been able to purchase tickets for ALL of us to this afternoon's performance of the smashing new hit, My Fair Lady! I hear that Julie Andrews may be a huge star! That Rex Harrison is pretty dashing as well. It should be quite enjoyable! And now for some serious shopping! Don't worry, just have your purchases added to my tab! Anything for you! There is Macy's and Gimble's, Bloomingdale's and Sak's Fifth Avenue. I simply must get one of those new pill box hats everyone is talking about! I think I shall look for one with a little veil. How about you? Central Park in the Fall. Is anything more beautiful? I have arranged to have dozens of Hansom cabs waiting for us at the park's entrance. The horses will all be young, high stepping, shiny coated and ever so peppy! Each of the drivers will be suitable attired in red jackets and a jaunty plaid cap and will have hot tea and chocolates for each of you. Oh the stories they will regale you with! Oh, and do go around the park a second and third time...I don't know about you but I am simply famished again! And I see that our carriages have arrived in front of Tavern On The Green! I have reserved the crystal room just for us! Do order whatever your heart's delight may be! It will be so magical watching the sun set and the millions of twinkling lights come to life...ooh...did you see that man at the door? I do believe it's Frank Sinatra! I see that he is being told we have the room all to ourselves this evening. What do you think? Should we invite him to join us? What are you having? Lobster? Yummy! Now, what better way to end our absolutely smashing day in New York City then with a nightcap at Birdland. We will have the place all to ourselves tonight and the management has promised me that the great Sarah Vaughn will sing for us. What an amazing end to an even more amazing day! Hmm...is anyone up for a late snack at the Carnegie Deli? You are? I will race you! Now, let's see...is anyone thinking what I am? It is SO late and we are all exhausted. We could stay over and tomorrow we can go to Radio City and dance with the Rockettes!! No problem. Your rooms are ready at the Plaza. Sleep well dear friends! Thank you so much for sharing my birthday with me...I loved being with all of you!