Cue Gilligan's Island Music

[wlotus]

Ready for Boarding

Yesterday my family and I went on the Circle Line for a 3-hour boat ride that circumnavigated Manhattan Island. We were blessed with beautiful weather. The boat was spacious enough that I was able to easily go from side to side and make photos throughout the trip.

Here's my favorite shot:

Lady Liberty

I feel awe every time I gaze on this statue. Even though my ancestors' arrival here was not filled with the joy of gazing on her and knowing they had finally arrived where they wanted to be--even if they passed through New York Harbor, they were most likely locked in the bottom of the ship as cargo--I still feel happy when I see her. (I want to explore why that is.)

A friend of mine has never been to Liberty Island, so we are planning to make a trip there and to Ellis Island (which I have never visited) when she returns from vacation. I'm looking forward to getting a closer look at the statue that day. I think the last time I was there was in the late eighties, when I graduated from high school.

Comments

[wlotus.livejournal.com]

I think...yeah, it's a struggle to understand what she stands for now, in light of the direction this country has gone in over the past seven years. Even back when Ellis Island was the first stop for immigrants, Lady Liberty's message was only given lip service; reality was far harsher to many of those who came here seeking a better life.