New York's Secret Garden
Where Memories Bloom Amidst the City's Bustle
This Mother’s Day, I’ll be spending time at St. Luke’s in the Fields Garden, a hidden oasis tucked between the brownstones of the West Village. You’ll find me at the bench that honors our two children, Christopher and Avellina, who left us too soon.
When we first donated the commemorative bench, our apartment was just a few blocks away, and the garden served as a respite from the chaos of the city. The entrance was along the path of my daily commute. I would stop in each morning, sit on the bench, and enjoy a few sips of coffee before continuing my walk downtown.
One morning in 2018, I contemplated a difficult conversation I had to have with my boss later that day. It was February, and a hot coffee cup warmed my hands; its aroma comforted me and reminded me of childhood mornings when the first smell in our house was always from my mom’s Farberware percolator pot. The tranquility of the garden clarified the approach I planned to take at the meeting—although I still hadn’t convinced myself that I was making the right decision. As I rose to leave, I silently asked my babies for a sign, reassurance that I was on the right path.
At the time, our gestational carrier, Marissa, was pregnant with our child. When she and her husband visited New York for the embryo transfer, we made them dinner at home. We served cannoli from our local Italian bakery for dessert. They had never experienced the rapture of crunch and sweet ricotta cream. Smitten, they packed the leftovers to enjoy for breakfast the following day. That evening, we nicknamed our unborn baby “the little cannoli.”
As I continued my morning trek, passing the familiar Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin-Robbins, a new window sign caught my attention: Cannoli Be with You—their latest flavor of the month. At that moment, I knew our babies had sent me a sign, a gentle nudge, that I was on the right path.
If you find yourself in the West Village, I invite you to visit our magical bench at St. Luke's in the Fields Garden, located on the corner of Hudson and Barrow Streets. One note about visiting—while the garden has set opening hours, they don't always adhere to the schedule—a charming quirk that adds to the garden's allure.
Image of the Week
The West Village was once a hub for marine-related businesses that supported ships along the Hudson River waterfront. This sign was installed between 1920 and 1984 when Meier & Oelhaf, a marine repair business, operated out of this Christopher street address. It is is one of many “ghost signs” across the city. They’re often hand-painted shop signs or faded ads painted directly on walls that have stood the test of time.
If you visit the garden, you can see this sign too. It’s just a couple of blocks away at 177 Christopher Street.
Words of the Week:
In 2022, singer-songwriter Toby Lightman released her album, "After All," which was inspired by her personal experience with infertility and pregnancy loss. Toby is now a mother of two; she knows, “It’s all right to let the water flow.” Please listen to the beautiful music and lyrics she wrote in her song, “Let the Water Flow.”
Sometimes, I wish there was an easy road
With no more hills to climb or wind to blow
Wish I could turn off the struggle, the pain
But then, this life just wouldn’t be the same
And it helps me to breathe
Yeah, it helps me to breathe
–Toby Lightman
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Thank you to all of my readers—especially those who read and reach out to me with their thoughts about what I wrote. Often, subscribers email me privately, so I wanted to share some recent thoughts (anonymously) below. Do any of them resonate with you?
"This is so beautiful. I am a true believer of such signs and messages. Whether on this side or the divine side, I believe we walk together. "
"I believe everyone that comes in to our lives are our teachers."
"I love this so much and am so looking forward to visiting this bench and garden! I walked nearby so many times but will make this a planned stop sometime soon"