A Moment at 1090 Madison Ave

The booths in Nector Coffee Shop and Diner in New York at 1090 Madison Ave and 82nd Street are beige and plastic. The table tops are light brown and the wait staff wear white uniforms as they dance around the small space. After a day of classic New York experiences, singing at church in Harlem, enjoying Central Park and then touring the Metropolitan Museum of Art we were thrilled to sit down, enjoy a bottle of wine and debrief on our adventures. My open roasted turkey sandwhich, had bread perfectly soaked with just the right amount of gravy. Watching the table next to us struggle with getting ketchup from a bottle then lead us to a lengthy conversation about the fine art of the perfect way to pour ketchup.

I looked across the table and smiled at my friend. Like many of the other New York moments on this trip, this trip to the diner had now become a part of the story of us. A split second on the journey that is our friendship. All friendships have their own unique paths. The moments and ways you met, the times your friendships were tested and the days you just laughed together in the sun. Like the New York PATH train after 11:00 p.m. not all friendships travel in the most direct route but sometimes the starts and stops, like the ride to Hobeken, are needed.  

Being away for a year I have missed a lot of stops on my friends lives. However this summer I have enjoyed catching up and adding new pieces to the stories of us. Together we are on a journey, though high school heart breaks, from first loves, to first wives, from fallback jobs, to careers, from babies to writing books. We paint new apartments together, take rides in new cars, embrace new adventures and quietly hold hands when someone we love dies. We are always in each others hearts even if we aren’t physically in each others lives. Friendship doesn’t come with an expiration date.

As we paid our bill and enjoyed a watermelon lollipop we smiled.  It was good to be a diner in New York. It has been great to catch up with friends this summer. To add more pages in the story of us.

“Old wine and friends improve with age.”

Italian Proverb