Trip to New York City--part 3

Friday, July 26th - NYC

We took an early subway and ferry past the Statue of Liberty to Ellis Island where we spent

The family with the Statue of Liberty

most of the day.  It is a fascinating place to see where immigrants landed and were examined carefully before they were allowed in the country. If you were not healthy enough, you were given a return ticket to your homeland. The large hall where they waited to talk to the Registrar and to begin the inspection process was intimidating. Later Dirk and I got time on a computer to find our ancestors. Dirk found his easily, but my only ancestor who might have come

Ellis Island

through Ellis Island was Kristine Amalia Mortensen who came in April of 1907, but I could find no record of her. When I got back to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, I found her immigration record—she came in through Boston, not New York. showed her correct age, that she was traveling from Denmark to Brigham, Utah where she would meet her brother, Peter Hendrickson. I was excited to see the record because no one else had located it before.

Not a big deal if it is not airconditioned, and you are in the bottom
especially during rush hour traffic

We got a Hop-On/Hop-Off pass there at Ellis Island, but it was brutally hot and the bus that came had no seats below and no air conditioning, so we roasted as we traveled through traffic back to the closest stop to our hotel available due to rush-hour traffic blocking.

You would think we would give up on the Hop-On Hop-Off tours, but most of the family took a nighttime tour on them to Brooklyn and back.

Saturday, July 27, 2019: NYC

Trinity Church on 1 Wallstreet

We visited Times Square and then the VanderMeydens saw a matinee of “Waitress” on Broadway.

I took the Hop on-hop off bus to lower Manhattan where I got off at Trinity Church, where Wall Street begins. This church (which was under massive reconstruction) is where Ed’s Dutch ancestors had rented the land for the Church before the Revolutionary War. After the war, there was a dispute about ownership and Ed’s ancestors lost the land which even six generations later would be unbelievably expensive.

I then took the Hop on/Hop off bus to upper Manhattan where I saw Central Park, and many other noted places. I know many people think Hop On/Hop Off buses are a cop-out, but Ed and I have gone on them all over the world, and I think they can give you an overview of a city, as well as a chance to stop at various places and then get on and continue the tour.

Frozen the play

That night Jenni, Dirk, James and I saw “Frozen” and Athena and Emma went to “Mean Girls” on Broadway. I was disappointed a bit in “Frozen” as it appeared to be an excuse to make a Broadway show from the film. Most of the music was new, however, and I especially liked the song “Hygga” about the Scandinavian word for good things.

SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2019: NYC

Family at the Manhattan Church Building

We got up early and took the subway to the Manhattan building where Church meetings and the Temple are. We enjoyed Sacrament Meeting, visited with Jenni’s friends from Layton before we walked around and got something to eat and headed toward the Natural History Museum friends from Layton.

Me and the metro system 

Jenni & I

Now, I must admit I struggled walking 10,000 to 20,000 steps a day during our time in New York, especially since my right knee rebuild was less than five months past and I’d torn my left rotator cuff the week before. Jenni got to be my assistant and would help me go slower. This time, I suggested taking the subway to the Natural History Museum, while the rest walked (or as it appeared to me, double-timed). Well, Jenni and I got on the wrong train, then the stop we needed to get out on was blocked for repair, Jenni and I got off, two stops from when we’d gotten on. ONLY, the train hadn’t gone parallel to the direction of the museum, but at a left angle, so we were fortunate to have gotten off when we did, or we would have been further away from the museum than we already were! They called us to ask us where we were, and we were trekking along the long blocks New York is famous for, instead of the short blocks that are easy. Dirk came to meet us, and we finally arrived at the museum a long time after everyone else had.

The Museum, which is the site of “Night of the Museum” movies, is a fabulous place, but I was overwhelmed and overtired. The rest zipped through all of the Museum afraid to miss a thing while I took my time and enjoyed the exhibits that I did see, before heading back to the entrance before it closed.

You’d think with the day I had had, I would have been too tired, but Jenni and I took the Hop On/Hop Off night tour which was really a delight.

MONDAY, JULY 29, 2019: 9-11 Museum & home.

Our family outside  9-11 Museum

We checked out of our hotel but stored our luggage there before we headed out to what I thought was a real highlight of our trip—the 9-11 Memorial, commemorating the day in September 2002 when terrorists fly planes into the Twin Towers buildings in Manhattan. There is the outer memorial, a footprint of the one tower which is now a pool, with names of the deceased on a frame around the water. You could see where people had placed flowers on the names of loved ones for their birthdays, or other reasons. It was very humbling.

Inside the Museum, it was exhibit after exhibit showing that famous day and things affected

Painting of 9-11

by the attack. The neatest exhibit was one where you couldn’t take photos but it chronologized that infamous day! I felt as I did when I visited Gettysburg battlefield or the Auschwitz Concentration Camp in Germany—overcome with sorrow at the loss of life.

We went back to the hotel and picked up our bags to go to JFK Airport. I was extremely tired, so I paid for Jenni and me to take the hotel shuttle to the airport, while the rest of the family took the by-then familiar subway. What a mistake that was!

The shuttle made one stop at the airport and then called for all individuals going to the 2^nd Terminal to get out. If he’d added, go upside and take the AirTran to the Delta Terminal, we’d have

Our walk from terminal to terminal

been fine, but he had just dropped us off at the 4^th terminal and left us there on the sidewalk. We began our infinitely long walk along the outside of the terminals (which are not close together) to get to the right terminal, with our bags. Athena kept calling to find out where we were since they were there waiting! Finally, when we arrived at the terminal, Athena was waiting with a wheelchair and we zipped through security (since we had a TSA pre-check). It was an amazingly short walk from the security to our gate, but I appreciated the break I’d had after my long walk. I still feel embarrassed to have had a wheelchair there in the terminal.

Looking back, I really think I should have had a sign on my head, saying, “GPS needed; she always gets lost,” because I swear if there were two ways to go anywhere—I’d take the long way. Even when I got on the subway when I was by myself, I headed to Brooklyn instead of Times Square, until someone set me right. But I must admit, I got my steps in walking in the city.

The other thing I disliked about New York City was that it was humid that no matter what I

The only good shot of my hair in New York--at the Temple

did with my hair, it stayed straight and limp.

We had a late flight home, but I had a window seat, so I watched as the big cities below, lit up with lights, paraded before my eyes. I did see several movies on the plane, including “Peterloo,” based on the Peterloo Massacre of 1819 in England when the aristocratic leaders of England thought the public meeting in Lancashire was the beginning of the

A scene from my plan window

masses revolting like the French for a new England. Of course, it wasn’t but men, women, and children died for the fears of the aristocrats. I had read a lot about it, so it was interesting, though I don’t know how truthful.

We finally arrived back home where Emma’s boyfriend’s family met us and drove us home. It was a fun trip—with variation from Church sites to Baseball Museums to Vermont (where we got maple syrup) to a historical family home, and lots of NYC. 

Trip to New York--Part 2

AUBURN

We couldn’t find Jenni’s friend in Auburn, New York so we had dinner and then

drove to Fayetteville, New York, Jenni’s last place she served on her mission.

SUNDAY, JULY 21ST, 2019: FAYETTEVILLE

We attended the Fayetteville Ward by 10:30 A.M. and afterward visited with the Morrisons, a family Jenni was close to. We had lunch with them and then played some games and enjoyed their family.

We visited two other families who Jenni had been close to, and then traveled to Niagara Falls (162 miles from Syracuse, NY....2 hours 37 minutes).

MONDAY, JULY 22ND, 2019: NIAGARA FALLS

Niagara Falls

We enjoyed seeing Niagara Falls and got thoroughly wet (despite the rain ponchos and wet shoes we wore). We climbed on endless stairs at the Cave of the Winds tour of the bottom and sides of the falls.

Then we went on the Maid of the Mist Boat Tour where the boat took us close to the

On the Maid of the Mist boat

foot of the Horseshoe Falls, part of which are in America and part in Canada. We were able to see the Canadian Falls, but we got even wetter.

Before we left, we saw the aquarium and a sea lion and penguin show.

Then we had to travel part way to Henderson (near Watertown). We tried to stay closer to Henderson, as it got later, we had trouble finding accommodations but finally stayed about an hour away from Henderson.  (Traveled 220.2 miles, close to 4 hours).

TUESDAY, JULY 23RD, 2019: HENDERSON

We arrived at Henderson, New York, site of the Orson Bates Home at 10:00, our

appointment time. The owner, although not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or a relative of my husband, Ed Dayley’s ancestor, Orson Bates, he had been the city historian for many years and studied the history of the home.

The two-hundred-year-old house 

He showed us the outer and inside of the home, which was built in 1820, so is almost 200 years old. The house has been restored a great bit and made livable for him and his family, it had not been fully restored to its original condition. It was fun to see the entry to the house through the base through the outside storm shelter doors, the original basement, and different cupboards and things that were still original. We went to the gravesite of Orson Parley Bates’ grandfather, Cyrus Bates, and his great grandfather Oliver Bates. However, Orson’s father, Ormus Bates, who had lived in the house, had joined the Church, where it was used as a meeting place for the “Mormons” before he and his family moved to Nauvoo in 1843, later moving West with the Saints.

I was especially pleased because our host mentioned 30,000 records of the people of

The Memorial plate for the house

Henderson that he’d scanned in from an old antique box he’d found during his tenure as a historian. He gave them townspeople digital copies of the scans, but they weren’t interested in doing anything with them, so he said he was going to send me CDs of them when he’d made a copy so I could donate them to the Family History Library where I serve as a missionary to be indexed and published.

After our time at the historic Bates House, we drove to Plattsburgh NY (177 miles 3 hours 28 minutes) where my granddaughter Jenni had served on her mission.

After checking into the hotel in Plattsburgh, the family went to visit with Jenni’s friends in Plattsburg and even ate dinner with one of them.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 24^TH, 2019: PLATTSBURG, NY

Athena at the War of 1812 museum

We visited the War of 1812 Museum in Plattsburg, which was very interesting. I hadn’t realized what a historic contribution Plattsburg made during the war for Canada in 1812.

We had a lot of time, so we drove into Vermont (which was right across the river) and traveled several hours to the Ben & Jerry ice cream factory. It was fun to see how ice cream was made and we feasted on a Vermontster Ice Cream Bowl that was fun.

Us trying to eat the Vermonster Ice Cream Bowl

Then we drove back to Plattsburg and on to Cooperstown, NY (204.20 miles - 3 hours 34 minutes). From Plattsburg to Cooperstown, we were directed by the GPS through tiny mountain roads in the Catskill Mountains. I really felt like we’d gone back in time and were driving in the 1950s.

THURSDAY, JULY 25TH, 2019: COOPERSTOWN

Dirk loves baseball, and on his bucket list was a trip to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. Athena drove them to the Museum, while I relaxed and slept in. After we picked them up, we drove back-tracked through the Catskills for what seemed like hours, but it wasn’t nearly as scary as it had been the night before. The trip from Cooperstown to Newark Airport where we returned our rental van was 199.9 miles 3 hours 35 minutes.

After returning the car, we caught the train and subway from Newark Airport to Penn Station and to the Tryp Hotel in Times Square area where we had a suite reserved. We were all glad to say good-by to traveling by car.

We are all glad to say good-by to the car!

Trip to New York --Part 1

When my daughter Athena started talking about going to New York after her daughter

Jenni returned from her mission there, I was really excited. The closer it came to going, the more frightened and hesitant I was. I had had knee replacement rebuild surgery four months before, and I was still having problems. I tore my rotator cuff in my left shoulder a week before. I had injured my left lower back and it was really bothering me. How could I at 75 years old do NYC?

THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2019: PLANE

Jenni & Emma on the plane

Our plane in Salt Lake City was delayed due to the abnormally hot New York City, which was enduring a heatwave. They felt if they delayed it until it arrived in New York it would be cooler, and the plane wouldn’t be so heavy.

A funny thing happened going through security. Suddenly my carry-on bag starting buzzing! We looked all through my bag, and finally, I discovered my electronic toothbrush in its plastic bag had been hit just right and turned on. I was glad when we found it and turned it off.

Example of going through security

The flight was smooth except for some thunderstorms which bumped us around. At one time I looked out my window and saw thunderclouds from above—it was really spooky.

NEWARK

We took the AirTran to the land transportation site where we rented a car and went to our hotel in Newark. James was determined to eat dinner at restaurants that were not available in Utah, so we just ordered in pizza.

FRIDAY, JULY 19TH, 2019: OAKLAND TOWNSHIP & PALMYRA

First thing in the morning we drove to Oakland Township and the Priesthood Restoration Site. (164 miles, 2 hours 35 minutes)

HARMONY—SUSQUEHANNA RIVER

Athena & Dirk by the Susquehanna River

It is on a narrow strip of land in Harmony, Pennsylvania where Joseph Smith and his wife Emma lived on property belonging to Emma’s brother Jesse, and South of the land where Emma’s parents lived. It was there in Harmony in 1828, while Joseph and Oliver Cowdry were translating the Book of Mormon, that they came upon a passage that described baptism. It was on May 15, 1829 that they went to the Northern wooded part of the Hale farm and prayed about baptism.

The following information is from “Where Was the Priesthood Restored,” by Mark L. Staker and Curtis Ashton:

“Historical accounts show that Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery had been praying in the woods, ‘aside from the abodes of men,’ when John the Baptist appeared to them. (See Oliver Cowdery, “Dear Brother,” Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate, vol. 1, no. 1 (Oct. 1834), 15; see also Joseph Smith—History 1:68.)The most likely wooded area on Joseph’s farm was on the north side of the property, where the sugar maples grew. Because of heavy boat traffic on the river and the lack of tree cover on the plowed part of the land, any other part of the farm might not have given the men the seclusion they sought as they asked the Lord about the authority to baptize.( For a more detailed presentation of this argument, see Staker, “Where was the Aaronic Priesthood Restored?” 142–59.)

“Oliver Cowdery described the answer they received to their prayer. ‘The voice of the

Redeemer spake peace to us,’ he recalled, ‘while the veil was parted and the angel of God came down clothed with glory, and delivered the anxiously looked for message.’ ( Joseph Smith—History 1:71, note; Oliver Cowdery, “Dear Brother,” 15.) The angel introduced himself and conferred the Aaronic Priesthood, explaining that it holds ‘the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins.’ (Doctrine and Covenants 13:1.) He then commanded the two men to ‘go and be baptized.’( Joseph Smith—History 1:70) They made their way to the flooded Susquehanna River, choosing a moment when the heavy boat traffic would least disturb them as they followed the angel’s instructions. After baptizing each other, they ordained each other to the Aaronic Priesthood. These ordinations may have taken place on the banks of the flooded river or back inside the house.”

Susquehanna River

It was very humbling to stand on the banks of the Susquehanna River where Joseph was baptized. It was interesting that while we were there, a family from Jenni’s mission brought their daughter to be baptized at the same spot, and then confirmed in the Restoration Site building. It made it more real somehow to see a baptism there.

We were all dressed in Sunday clothes for the baptism, but I laughed at Jenni’s fancy high heels that she wore in that dusty, dirty riverbank.

Jenni & her high heels

PRIESTHOOD RESTORATION SITE

After the baptism, we explored the Priesthood Restoration Site, where Joseph Smith received the Melchizadek Priesthood, and the house Emma and Joseph were living in during this time. No one knows the exact day or place that Peter, James, and John conferred the Melchizadek Priesthood on Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdry, but it was after May 15, 1829, in the Harmony, Pennsylvania area. It was also here in Harmony that Emma and Joseph lost their first child. 

From there we drove to Palmyra, New York - (142 miles, 2 hours 32 minutes).

PALMYRA, NEW YORK  

Before going to the Hill Cumorah Visitors Center, we stopped by the Book of Mormon Publication Site in downtown Palmyra. It was interesting to see the publication process and the sacrifices made by members of the Church to see the Book of Mormon published.

THE SACRED GROVE

Sacred Grove

From there we went to the Sacred Grove, and the home of Joseph Smith when he was a boy. It was here in their Palmyra home when Joseph Smith was 15 years old that he had the First Vision found in Joseph Smith—History 1:15–20.

"On the morning of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring" of 1820, young Joseph went into these woods to pray, to a place where he "had previously designed to go." Here, God the Father and His resurrected Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph Smith to commence the Restoration of the gospel in the latter days.

First Vision

The Hill Cumorah is a beautifully peaceful place where I truly felt the spirit of the Lord testify that it was here Joseph Smith’s first vision occurred. No one knows exactly where in the 10-acre wood area that it happened, but it is truly a sacred place. Later in the evening, after the pageant, we came back to see the fireflies alight in the grove.

I visited the farmhouse where on the night of September 21, 1823, the angel, Moroni, appeared to Joseph Smith and told him about the golden plates that were buried in a stone box a few miles from Joseph’s home. Joseph said that the same angel visited him various times over the course of the next six years. It was so interesting

Replica of Joseph Smith's bedroom

to see the location of the bed where Joseph had been when the angel Moroni had visited him.  Like those around Paul and Alma and the sons of Mosiah, when they had their visions, no one around them could hear or see the vision. Even though Joseph Smith shared his room with his brothers, only he saw the angel Moroni.

HILL CUMORAH & PALMYRA PAGEANT

At the foot of the Hill Cumorah, where Joseph retrieved the gold plates that contained the writings of the ancient prophets, which he translated and which became the Book of Mormon, we watched a pageant of the history of those ancient people. Before the show, the actors in costume wandered among the audience, and it was fun to imagine they were not actors, but ancient Nephites and Lamanites.

The Palmyra Temple

SATURDAY, JULY 20TH, 2019: PALMYRA TEMPLE & HILL CUMORAH

Early the next morning, we went to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Palmyra

and did family names. It is a small temple and you must make a reservation to attend. It was another sacred and special event on our tour.

After the temple we visited the top of the Hill Cumorah (others walked, I went by car).

Leave Palmyra and go to Auburn (42.7 miles - 50 minutes).

Family at the Palmyra Temple

Funny Folletto

 Our family was discussing elves and imps and fairies and I was reminded of "Folletti," Italian elves I learned about while we lived in Northern Italy in the 1980s. My Conversational Italian teacher, Angela, told us about folletti, a Northern Italian legend she learned about growing up in the Veneto. Years ago, I wrote this children's story about "The Funny Folletto." 

Un Folletto 

          "Mama, I can't find my special assignment," Marisa called from her room.

          "Where did you leave it," Mother asked patiently.

          "It was right here on my desk. I was working on it last night, and now it has disappeared." Marisa and Mother were looking all around the desk, on the floor, even under the bed but they couldn't find it.

          "Vroom, vroom," two-year-old Michele ran into the room holding a shoebox high and pretending it was a plane. When he saw Marisa and Mother searching on the floor, he joined them in the new game.

          "What am I going to do, Mom? I must turn it in today. What could have happened to it?"

          "It must be a pesky folletto," Nonna (grandmother) came in to join the search. "They can make anything disappear faster than that," she said snapping her fingers.

          "Oh, Nonna, you don't really believe in folletti, do you?" Marisa asked.

          "Why not? I believe in electricity, which I can't see, and radio waves, and even 'microwaves' which seem mysterious somehow. Why shouldn't I believe in folletti when my dear mama from Padua told me about them. And she never lied either, even about whether she dyed her hair or not!"

          "Oh, Nonna, you're silly," Marisa stopped searching long enough to give her a hug. "And was her hair as dark and silky as yours?"

          "Of course not, "Caro" (dear) she never dyed it, you know. But she knew all about folletti."

          "Lap, lap," Michele had stopped crawling on the floor and had come to Nonna, who picked him and held him.

          "She claimed that at night when it's dark, tiny fairies or elves come out to count things, and sometimes they get so busy counting that they forget to put things back. Or they realize they've taken them and can't remember where they got them and you find them in a different place."

          "Marisa," Paolo called from the bathroom, "what is your homework doing in the clothes hamper?"

          Mother and Marisa ran to recover the assignment, while Nonna sang baby songs to Michele.

          "Mama, is Nonna serious about folletti?" Marisa asked as she put her coat on and gathered her things together.

          "Yes, she really believes in the little people," Mother laughed. "She always had little bowls of millet sitting around on all the night stands and tables so the folletti would count those all night and leave all our things alone."

          "Ciao, tutto (all)," Marisa blew kisses to everyone before she and Paolo left their apartment to walk to school.

          The church bells were tolling noontime when Paolo and Marisa came home from their school in the warm Italian sunshine to find Nonna all upset.

          "I can't find my glasses," Nonna was searching everywhere. "I laid them down for a minute after we came back from the market and they disappeared. Those pesky folletti are responsible, I know. And I can't read the letter from my sister which came in the mail."

          "Let's eat dinner, please, Nonna," Mom suggested. Maybe we'll find your glasses after 'il riposo' (rest time or siesta). If not, I'll read the letter to you if we can't find your glasses."

          "Va bene. (Okay) But I'm going to put out plenty of millet, whether you want me to or not, then, Luciana. I don't want those folletti to take anything else of mine."

          Marisa lay in her dark, shuttered room, listening to the birds tweeting outside in the autumn sun. She had just awakened from her rest and wondered what sound a Folletto made, whether he chirped or talked or what. She looked at Michele who was still sleeping in his crib in the corner, with his shoebox "plane" near him. Maybe a folletto talked baby talk like he did, she thought laughing.

          Finally, Marisa heard Nonna moving around in the next room and went in to her. Nonna was still upset over the loss of her glasses and could not be comforted.

          Father was getting ready to go back to his shop which opened again for the afternoon and tried to look for the glasses, but no one could find them. Nonna finally went off to the kitchen to have mother read the letter to her.

          "Father, do you really think a folletto took them?" Marisa asked.

          "Well, I don't know. It could also be a jay-bird. They steal bright shiny things and hide them in their nests, too."

          Just then Paolo let out a shout. "Where is my shoe? I took it off during riposo and it's gone!" He came hopping into the room with one shoe off and one shoe on, followed by Michele, who was rubbing his eyes and holding his shoebox tightly.

          "Have you looked under your bed?" father asked.

          "Of course, but it's not there. Only Michele's shoes are there." They all looked at Michele and his tightly held shoebox.

          "Mine," Michele said stubbornly, clasping his box and running from the room with everyone following him.

          Nonna and Mother coming from the kitchen grabbed the sturdy toddler and his box as he ran into them shouting, "Mine! Mine! Mine!" In the melee, the shoebox "plane" fell out of Michele's hands and onto the floor, disclosing Nonna's glasses, Paolo's shoe, mother's embroidery thread, Marisa's necklace, a toy boat and other miscellaneous things that he'd picked up from all over the house.

          "There's your folletto, Nonna," father laughed. "Right in your arms."

          Poor Michele was screaming at the loss of his treasures, which everyone was picking up and claiming, leaving him only the toy boat, looking lost in the big box.

          "It's all right, Bambino (child)," Mother crooned. "We'll find other treasures, that don't belong to other people."

          Nonna was happy to put her glasses on and return to her letter, but she still had the last word. Looking at Father she said emphatically, "I still believe in folletti! Say what you will, I'm leaving the millet out for them!" and she stomped out of the room.

          Marisa looked at Michele, who was still screaming over the loss of his treasures and at Father who was pinching his cheeks and calling him his "funny folletto," while mother laughing at them both. Marisa was still missing her best pen, and her secret pal ring, and she knew that Michele hadn't taken them. Maybe there really are two types of folletti, "funny folletti" and real ones!