We all had reasons, whatever they were

There were four of them posed at the top of the stairs for a photo — young, cute, dressed enough alike in their jackets and winter hats to indicate they had the same taste but no so much alike that they looked like clones.

Being there looked … easy … for them, like getting the girls together to head to the resort for the weekend was something they just did. Maybe it was … a series of messages in the group text to coordinate and then they all just went.

Or maybe not. Maybe they hadn’t seen each other in years.

A bit too close to home

It was a hard-won battle not to be petrified of gondolas, and it took my from childhood until my late 30s and a trip to Montmorency Falls in Quebec for it to happen.

When we were in Switzerland, the gondola was the fastest way to the town where we were meeting friends for dinner, but we weren’t able to take it, and I was actually mildly disappointed.

Instead, we took Switzerland’s fabulous trains.

Back in New York: Final thoughts

It ended with fireworks.

Our last activity on our trip to New York was venturing out to Coney Island in Brooklyn to see the Cyclones play Hudson Valley, and the fireworks began almost immediately after the last out.

It’s quite a scene at Maimonides Park, with the amusement park visible beyond the outfield fence, especially once it gets dark and all the lights are on.

Back in New York: Different strokes

The scene could have been a piece of modern art itself — a group of people huddled in one spot, but what are they looking at?

Just write a label describing the artist (in this case, me) in a way no one can understand, and then speculate as to the motive to the piece.

Is it a commentary about how people will queue up for a a mere glimpse if something is popular? Does it even matter if they know what it is, or will they gather around just because they see other people there?

Back in New York: An old fan and a young one

My cousin Gary used to manage a shoe store in a mall near where I grew up.

One day, when my mom and I were visiting, I saw a poster on the wall above. It was of my favorite player, Don Mattingly, dressed in a white pinstriped suit, like his Yankee uniform, holding his bat like a machine gun.

“HIT MAN,” it said, and I wanted it.

Back in New York: Just getting started

“Camelot” at Lincoln Center was excellent.

Phillipa Soo was excellent. The whole cast was excellent. It was just a really nice evening.

By the time we left the theater, it was probably a few minutes after 10, and then we headed back to our hotel. It was a short walk, probably no more than 15 minutes.

Back in New York: Expanding

Hills never agreed with me that much, but they really don’t agree with me now — not at 51, not needing to lose more than a couple pounds.

So about halfway up the hill, my legs were feeling it and I was out of breath. But where we were headed was up the hill, so after a stop, I got my legs back underneath and pushed the rest of the way up.

It was worth it.

Back in New York: They’re trying to tell you something

We’ve done OK so far — also known as “Suzi eventually figures it out — but navigating the New York subways has been slightly confusing at times.

At least they’re very clear if you are looking to leave in a place where you are not intended to leave.

Back in New York: Nothing scary about it

The game was a weird one — New York beating Phoenix by 18 in a game that was both a comfortable win and oddly closer than it had any right to be — but the atmosphere was the best part of the day.

We’d seen lots of games from the Barclays Center on TV, but it was our first time going. It’s a beautiful arena, worth all the hype we’ve seen about it.

The fans played their part — plentiful, loud and enthusiastic — and the arena knows how to put on a show. You want people to go to the games, and come back? Give them something to see and show them a good time.

Back in New York: The gathering places

As someone who infuriated all the people in front of me in a cab line by hailing a passing taxi when none of them moved, I should have respected the game needed to grab the open table at the Shake Shack, even though I had been doing the wait-and-lurk longer.

Instead, I was mildly miffed, but even worse, once Suzi came out with the burgers, fries and shakes, we had no place to sit.

Fortunately, Central Park was just a few blocks away, which as backup plans go, isn’t a bad one.