ANYTHING

Last full day of the trip. I woke up about as fouled-mooded as I can get, but just tried to stay quiet. This was always going to be a tough week, I knew that. When you are dead tired and overwhelmed on top of it, it just doesn't make things better. There was nothing I could really do about it.

As we rode from New Jersey back into Manhattan, I slumped against the bus window, trying to push down a rising tide of morose, and the sky caught my eye. It was the prettiest puff pattern of clouds, so uniform,with the sun glowing right through the middle. I stared at it for awhile, looking way up as the bus rumbled past the strip malls and diners and big box stores and motels and the Meadowlands. I don't know if I had ever seen anything quite like it, but it did please me and I took a picture of it.

The day got better when a man named Laurent, a very sort of Alan Arkin type guy, boarded our bus and acted as our Manhattan tour guide for a couple of hours. He was funny and smart, and knew his city well, although he did get John Lennon's death date wrong. I did not correct him, as it seemed like if I did I would get the NYC-style stink eye. It's OK. Dates aren't important, really; the impact of the event was the point.

After a bit, Laurent had the bus pull over at a very nice, quiet, and manicured spot in Central Park on the Upper East Side. We all took a potty break, and let the kids run around for a bit. I decided to run too, to pretend for a little time like I was a jogger in Central Park. It felt good. It just felt good to move, despite my sore feet and pink purse banging on my side.

Went on the ferry over to Ellis Island (yes, I had to stand in more lines, but they were not so bad this time, nyah) ambled around looking at the exhibits, watched a movie there, went back and plotzed around Battery Park while talking to poor KT, many blocks away, nursing a cold and a cat bite on her hand. Mr11 asked if he could man the cannon and I told him the National Park Ranger standing nearby would not be all that happy about it.

Uptown again for a Korean buffet, then to Times Square, where I motored Mr11 around the very crowded streets like I MEAN BUISNESS, stopped at a terrible gift store which means great because it was so cheesy, and let the kid buy a NYC baseball hat that was probably made by a 5-year-old in Malaysia. Ran back to the New Amsterdam Theater to see the production of Mary Poppins. We had seats almost to the top of the house. It was a fun show with lots of energy and some pretty cool sets n' stuff. At the end, Mary flew right up to the ceiling, right in front of us nosebleeders, where I could see her twinkling eyes as she disappeared into the rafters. I personally would have to be paid a shitload of money to be on any damn wires up that high. I am sure the actress is making a fine salary.

New York City reminds me, anything can happen if you let it. So much is choice, and we are so often our own worst enemies. Don't waste any time. Respect it.

So much energy and power and creativity and fulfillment around, to be seen and felt.

[MARY POPPINS]
Anything can happen if you let it
Sometimes things are difficult but you can bet it
Doesn't have to be so

[JANE]
Changes can be made

[MICHAEL]
You can move a mountain if you use a larger spade

[MARY POPPINS]
Anything can happen, it's a marvel

[MICHAEL]
You can be a butterfly

[JANE]
Or just stay larval

[JANE & MICHAEL]
Stretch your mind beyond fantastic
Dreams are made of strong elastic

[MARY POPPINS]
Take some sound advice and don't forget it

[WINIFRED, JANE & MICHAEL]
Anything can happen if you let it

[WINIFRED]
I wonder...

[ALL]
Anything can happen if you let it

[WINIFRED]
You won't know a challenge until you've met it

[MICHAEL]
No one does it for you

[WINIFRED]
No one but yourself
Vacillating violets get left up on the shelf
Anything can happen, just imagine

[MARY POPPINS]
That should be epitaph
I wear the badge in
Hhonour of this world's free thinkers

[WINIFRED]
Those who see beyond their blinkers

[JANE & MICHAEL]
Jelly isn't jelly

[WINIFRED, JANE & MICHAEL]
'Til you set it
Anything can happen if you let it

[MARY POPPINS]
Anything can happen if you let it
What good is a whistle

[BERT]
Unless you whet it

[MARY POPPINS & BERT]
Broaden your horizons

[BERT]
Open different doors

[MARY POPPINS & BERT]
You may find a you there that you never knew was yours

[BERT & MRS CORRY]
Anything can happen

[MRS CORRY]
Raise the curtain
Things you though impossible

[BERT & MRS CORRY]
Will soon seem certain
Thought at first it may sound clownish
See the world more upside-downish
Turn it on its head then pirouette it

[BERT, MRS CORRY & LAMP-LIGHTERS]
Anything can happen if you let it

[MARY POPPINS]
If you reach for the stars
All you get are the stars
But we've found a whole new spin
If you reach for the heavens
You get the stars thrown in

[ALL]
You get the stars thrown in

If you reach for the stars
All you get are the stars
But we've found a whole new spin
If you reach for the heavens
You get the stars thrown in

Anything can happen if you let it
Life is out there waiting so go and get it
Grab it by the collar, seize it by the scruff
Once you've started living life you just can't get enough

Anything can happen, it's official
You can choose the super or the superficial
Sally forth the way we're steering
Obstacles start disappearing
Go and chase your dreams you won't regret it
Anything can happen
(Anything can happen)
Anything can happen

[MARY POPPINS, JANE & MICHAEL]
Anything can happen

[ALL]
If you let it

Original Broadway Cast, Mary Poppins -- "Anything Can Happen"