Part of the reason that we have subjected the children to this trip is to give them time to say good-bye to Russia. Another large part is to help them to say hello to the US and help them re-connect with family here. We are hoping to weave our own family history back into the larger tapestry of extended family and those who have gone before us.
So, for the last few days we have been teaching the kids to say in creaky old voices "When I came to live in America, I traveled across the Atlantic by ship, sailing past the Statue of Liberty into New York Harbor and then I went to Ellis Island." We say this, tongue in cheek, though it is all technically true of them. But it is also the way their great-grandfather, Carl Daniels (aka Carol Danielski) arrived in the US and we tell his story to the kids often on this trip.
For this reason, we set our alarms and drag the kids out of their beds before dawn and up to the windy top deck of the ship. Actually, it's not that windy and in fact it's pretty warm, but it is still completely dark with only the faintest signs of light off in the East.
What we can see very clearly and very quickly looming ahead is the Veranzzano bridge. They have assured us that there is an ample 4 meters clearance between the highest point on the ship and the lowest point on the bridge. However, they have also informed us that they have been lightening the ship so that she will be ready to sail into the shallower waters of Boston Harbor, where she is heading tomorrow. There is also the matter of tides to take into account. I am not sure that they can be so certain of those 4 meters. As the ship approaches the bridge very quickly all on deck gasp and brace themselves for what seems to be the inevitable and horrible crashing sound of metal on metal, but it never happens and we glide smoothly by with what looks to me closer to 4 inches of clearance.It is still several minutes before we get our first glimpse of Lady Liberty. It is still dark, but we can see a big green column against the backdrop of the grey buildings and her lamp is lit to guide us back into the US. The ship is moving more slowly now, as we are in the harbor and so as the sun rises on the starboard side, we can gaze and gaze and gaze as we get closer, come alongside and finally pass the beautiful Statue on the port side. And oh, she is beautiful at sunrise. And oh, what a great first glimpse of the US, even though we are only returning from a stay away.
We finally tear ourselves away to run downstairs for our last breakfast as we have hours yet, before we are actually supposed to disembark. As we eat a leisurely breakfast served by white-jacketed waiters, I think back, not to Carl Daniels, but to his mother, Rose. She made this voyage when it took longer, without benefit of kids clubs or indoor pools with three small children on her way to meet a husband she hadn't seen in three years. So as we arrive back in NYC, hats off to Carl Daniels and others like him, who made this journey ahead of us so long ago. But BRAVO to his mother who deserves a medal as a true Hero of International Motherhood! She has my undying admiration and respect!
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