The Empire State Building

Nicknames are quizzical things and their interest builds when you discover the reasons behind them."Stilts" (our friend who goes by his nickname—he's the tall, blue fellow) suggested the entire Troop visit New York's nickname building: the Empire State Building!

As we exited the elevator on the 86th floor and climbed upon the guard rail, Silas yelled, "You can all call me Batman!" Stilts quietly corrected him, "You can't give yourself a nickname. A nickname is given to you by somebody—like a friend—that has known you since your beginning or for a very long time." Silas grumbled and remained upside down.

Problems, like the world, look very different when you see them from above or from a distance.

Sometimes it takes standing on shoulders to see something close-up.

Being so high up and close to the buildings, Pascal recalled the 1933 film of King Kong while Penny thought about the possibilites of being in the Macy's Day Parade. Silas just looked below at all the tiny people and began singing, "Birdie, birdie in the sky..."

Did you know The Empire State Building was the tallest building in the world in 1931? Can you find all the hidden Troopers on the tops of the building?

Did you know the tower lights have meaning? Did you know they turn off every night/morning at 2:00 a.m.?

With our tail feathers to the masses, peering over the edge, The Twins spotted two faces in the crowd that appeared somewhat familiar. "It's her... and him!" said the Upper Twin; "No, it's not them. They don't live here," debated the Under Twin. The matter settled when the faces got up and close. There—on top of the world—were The Cliff and The Mexican!

There is an incredible magic that happens when you run into a friend in an unlikely place; there is an unmistakeable feeling you feel sitting in the hands of a friend that has supported you from a great distance—especially when you're 1,250 feet above the ground.

There is a perspective you see when you spend time with someone that has been there since your beginning.

Time sped ahead. They had to leave and we had to go, so we made plans for pizza the next day. Seeing them was something unexpected and splendid—kinda like a rainbow without rain.

J. T. Time with T. J.

Magnus and Yvette were in cahoots planning a trip between two bookend holidays in July: Independence Day and Bastille Day. Magnus wanted to recite the Declaration of Independence in an all-American place, but Yvette wanted something with a French flair. They put their minds together, roped in some recruits and stormed The Jefferson Memorial !

Yvette and Edward took 14 minutes (for le quatorze juillet) discussing the Ionic columns. "Surely they wouldn't be as great without the egg-and-dart ornamentals," Yvette mused. "Perhaps," paused Edward, "but I still prefer Corinthian." A wide-eyed Silus shook his head and mumbled something about being imprisoned.

Roman and Magnus were struck by its similarities to The Pantheon and The Rotunda. Penny found a precarious place and thought about the balance between independence and freedom.

Yvette swoons for T. J. because he was a minister to France; Penny has a weakness for polymaths, in general.

Caught in the coffers above T. J., the boys thought about "tyranny over the mind of man."

Did you know that T. J. is considered the author of The Declaration of Independence?

Did you know that T. J. was governor of Virginia, U.S. minister to France, Secretary of State (under Washington), Vice President (under Adams), and President of the United States? Did you know he was also the Father of The University of Virginia ? Did you know T. J. was a botanist, an architect, and started the Library of Congress with his own collection of books?

The colonnade was perfect for Huckle Buckle Beanstalk and rounds of Frère Jacques.

Magnus thought it would be better to hear The Declaration of Independence recited by its author than by him. The others agreed. So, T. J. recited the entire thing, right there in the memorial. Of course, Magnus mouthed the entire thing – just to prove a point.

Roman and Edward tried identifying the typeface used on the wall panels throughout the memorial. Do you know what it is?

To avoid another world war, the girls took their squabbling — about who T. J. liked more — outdoors. They conceded to share liking privileges, which granted them each cooing rights whenever they visited. T. J. approved of their resolution method: good debate and discussion backed with reason.

As the Troop made its final rounds around the memorial, they felt T. J.'s firework-phrasing sink in. Maybe it was an unseen jet stream or maybe it was the timely, echoing words, but the flight home seemed less strenuous and more like a pursuit of happiness. 

Red Fred & Yvette See The Invisible Dog

Yvette has been missing her Monmartre balcony and "It misses me, too," she said, "We have a very unique relationship." While she was trying to explain it, we came upon a curious art gallery on Bergen Street: The Invisible Dog. "Sounds like a dangerous place for a couple of birds," I said. Yvette pulled me in mumbling something about "no appreciation for art."

We entered into a star-conspiracy of sorts because we were greeted by a cardinal-looking fellow floating on a dog leash. "Bonjour! My name is Pascal Effloresce and this is The Invisible Dog." I blinked a few times, trying to see the dog. Yvette seemed to recognize it immediately.

Pascal started showing us around the art center. I couldn't help thinking: seeing and understanding art can sometimes appear to be an obstacle. "Seeing takes more than your eyes," Pascal mused.

OBSTACLE by STEVEN AND WILLIAM LADD

Yvette saw some extraordinary textile lamps. She flew around them like a fairy reciting Helen Keller:

We differ, blind and seeing, one from another, not in our senses, but in the use we make of them, in the imagination and courage which we seek wisdom beyond our senses.

TEXTILE LAMPS by STEVEN AND WILLIAM LADD

Did you know this chandelier was made from found buckles left behind in the factory? Did you know chandelier is a French would that means "something that holds candles"?

MINI CHANDELIER by STEVEN AND WILLIAM LADD

This artist saw a universe made of canvas belts. What do you see the universe in?

FABRIC OF COSMOS by IAN TRASK

The distance from Purgatory to Heaven seemed more realistic when Pascal flew to the top of the industrial elevator shaft and began reading verses from Divine Comedy. Yvette and I agreed: Mr Alighieri would have enjoyed this.

CHARON by GIUSEPPE STAMPONE

We must have channeled Nino Frank because we saw a perfect opportunity to re-create a film noir scene in the basement. Two boys just can't pass up the chance to make a girl cry.

Once Yvette recovered, we flew back up to the main level to a sea of books. We took a few minutes thinking about the amount of art created from texts, poems, and books. Do you think writers are like muses for artists? Yvette shared another quote, this time by Annie Dillard:

She read books as one would breathe air, to fill up and live. She read books as one would breathe ether, to sink in and die.

JOB CREATION IN A BAD ECONOMY by ANTONIA WRIGHT AND RUBEN MILLARES [DETAIL]

How often do we misunderstand something because we don't see it from both sides?

TELPERION by ETHAN LONG [DETAIL]

Aren't you glad the French love their gardens?

When we swept back through the exhibit to see anything we missed, I realized I had gained a better understanding of art and of seeing. Sometimes seeing the invisible is important. Sometimes seeing things differently opens your eyes to providence.

 I asked Pascal whom he would bring to the gallery if time and circumstance didn't matter. "My mother, (she passed away in 2003) just to have coffee with her everyday at 11:00am." As my eyes teared, they opened and the most magical / strange thing happened: I could see The Invisible Dog with Yvette and Pascal. "Let's get moving," called Pascal, "the croissants are calling!"

The Invisible Doga

51 Bergen Street

Brooklyn NY 11201

www.theinvisibledog.org

The Jolly Troop Visits Blue Marble Ice Cream

It's been awhile since the entire Troop has been able to do something together. So when Magnus informed us that Silas Savoye had decided to join The Jolly Troop and was meeting us at Blue Marble Ice Cream, we figured this was the perfect time and the perfect place to get together.

As we lifted each other up to see through the shop window, The Twins asked, "But is it

really the perfect time and the perfect place? What is the perfect time and perfect place?  Or more to the point, what is the perfect world ?

There were as many opinions as there were birds.

The lines, the order and the options reminded us of Sir Thomas Moore's Utopia. "If Utopia had a flavor, it would be Blue Marble's strawberry ice-cream," drooled Penny.

The blue sprinkles made Algernon and Roman think of their tall, gangly-legged pal, Stilts. "Which path to Moksha are the sprinkles on?"

Did you know the name blue marble is another name for Earth? Did you know tile has been used for over 4000 years in order to make things more beautiful?

Edward surprised us when he dove head first into a little boy's ice-cream cone. I guess he loses all scruples when he sees chocolate chocolate chip ice-cream. What's amazing is that the boy just let him eat. Black Jack witnessed the whole thing and couldn't help but wonder: maybe Brooklyn IS the best place on Earth... We sat on some of Blue Marble's biodegradable containers and thought about ways to keep our planet perfect.

When some of the Troop fancied a beautiful photograph, they all stopped for a moment. They learned it was a photograph of Rwandan countryside. When they inquired about Rwanda being connected to this ice-cream shop, they heard and saw the most amazing story. Stilled and quiet after watching, all Magnus could say was, "Elysian Fields." Yvette turned to him, quizzically and whispered, "I love it too, but now is not the time to be thinking of my favorite shopping street in Paris!"

When the line slimmed down, we gave our order to Eddie. He recommended the a scoop of coconut almond and a scoop of cookies and cream.

Just then, Silas flew in! It was a frenzy of feathers as we talked about his flight, Rwandan ice-cream, and our neighborhood haunts. Maybe the perfect world is new friends meeting old friends over ice-cream. Maybe the perfect world is right here, right now. And maybe the perfect world will melt unless you enjoy it immediately.

As The Jolly Troop flew out the door, Black Jack hung back with me for a few split seconds. Seeing our friends dizzy with happiness and ice-cream bellies was the perfect dessert.

Blue Marble Ice-Cream

196 Court Street

Brooklyn, NY

bluemarbleicecream.com