The above photo is the World Famous *BOB* and I’s fantasy kayak. Except that ours would have copious amounts of glitter, sequins and Swarovski crystals.
Yes. It’s true. I am the LEAST inclined sports person in the world. But when the international burlesque goddess, the World Famous *BOB* (and yes, that’s her legal name) calls and asks if you would like to be part of her “Babes on the Water” program and kayak on the Hudson River – you say yes! I was absolutely intrigued by kayaking on the river famously known for being the place where the mafia dumped their hits, and I was thrilled by the danger of it all – I mean, one wrong move and you are in the Hudson. And that’s well…. terrifying.
The day started looking rainy and gloomy. I put on my false eyelashes and clipped my white rose in my hair and thought – it will not rain, it will not rain. I got out of the subway to walk to the pier – and it was pouring. The second I walked up to the pier to see *BOB* and her friend, Ricky, waiting – the rain stopped and the sun came out. I knew it was going to be a great day.
Chris, the volunteer at the dock, told us about how he once had a studio in the building of Irving Klaw, the famed pin-up photographer who did most of the Bettie Page photos. At one point, the floor was giving away by the closet, and they took away the floor to reveal vintage magazines of Bettie Page. One magazine had a picture of her in the actual closet that they took the floor out of and found the magazines in! What history! The studio was on 14th street and 3rd avenue.
All this before we got into the kayaks! That’s why I love living in New York City…everybody’s got great stories…and if you are looking to be entertained all you have to do is open your eyes!
The three of us got on the water and had a great time paddling around. I shared some of my tour guide stories about the buildings across the water that I remembered from back in the days when I first got to New York and made a living working on those double decker buses. Being on the water in a small kayak and seeing the Statue of Liberty in the distance was really cool. The freedom of being on this little kayak on the Hudson with the skyline of the city all around us was an unbelievable experience. I will never stop being amazed by this city. I waited for years to get here, I dreamed of it forever, and many days I have to pinch myself that I’m actually here and doing what I love in my life. I try to rate my life by my inner 8 year old…if my 8 year old self would be proud of me, then I’m on the right track. And today she was definitely thrilled.
The day can best be summed up by a huge billboard we saw painted on the side of the pier that said, “The Good Life” to which *BOB* said, “Yes, thank you! We’ll have one of those each!”
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Happy Father’s Day to all you dads out there. I started off with one fantastic Dad and now I’m proud to have four of them – my awesome SD, Mark – and Burke’s two dads, Bob and Francis that treat me as one of their own. I am grateful every day for all four of them. I am one lucky daughter!
Much love always…