Jennifer Goble Ph.D

Rural Women Stoires

Rural Women ... Rural Stories

  • Home
  • Rural Women’s Stories
  • Blog
    • Counseling
    • Rural Stories
    • Rural Women
    • Dr. J’s personal stories
  • Newspaper
  • About Me
  • Book
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Blog / Walking, writing, and Aida

Walking, writing, and Aida

upper-west-side-2
Upper West Side

Walking North on 9th Avenue, a first, I found myself silently singing lyrics from my childhood Sunday school; “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight; Jesus loves the little children of the world.”

The Upper West Side, lying between Central Park and the Hudson River, buzzed with cultures of the world. It was like walking in Venice, Barcelona, Athens, and London at the same time. I felt comfortable with an unexpected humility.

I saw kids in school playgrounds and many women shopping with small ones in tow. There seemed to be a buddy system among women pushing strollers because there were often two women talking and laughing as they hurried through the streets with babies or toddlers snuggled under the sun canopies. I sensed many were caregivers and not parents.

In the evening I joined a Write-In group at Gotham Writers on 8th and 38th, a first. Eleven people sat at tables arranged in a square, and the instructor gave a prompt. We wrote for fifteen minutes and then read what we wrote.

The first prompt was, “Without a doubt.” My first line read, “Without a doubt I’m weird.” My last line was, “Hallelujah!” During comments, someone said, “I liked how you owned it.”

The instructor forgot to tell us our writing was suppose to be fiction. Oops.

After that, we had a break with a spread of snacks and wine. My kind of class. I visited with a woman who looked like Shirley MacLaine. She has lived in the city for forty years, and just finished a degree in Occupational Therapy. Impressive.

After the break, the process repeated.

The next prompt was, “Mull,” meaning, to think about something. I wrote about one of my favorite rural women, Lois. She was a Muller, and much more.

met-opera-intermission
Bronze on balcony- intermission

On Saturday, I went to the Metropolitan Opera House to see Aida. A first. I transformed into Alice in Wonderland. Passing through the front doors was exhilarating, the building was breathtakingly stunning. The beautiful people all showed up, and Champagne at the first intermission was elegant and gave me a chance to check out the balconies.

met-opera-house-2
Metropolitan Opera House

But, the opera was long and tedious. The Egyptian stage sets were incredible, some of the best I’ve ever seen, but I didn’t understand one word in the Italian songs, and with four acts, I had an impossible time staying awake.

I would do it again. I loved the experience, even if the story was obscure.

Two Months of Firsts – #2

Written on November 19, 2016

Filed Under: Blog, Dr. J's personal stories Tagged With: Aida, Gotham Writers, Metropolitan Opera, Upper West Side, Write-in

Comments

  1. Geri says

    November 20, 2016 at 5:16 am

    I felt the same way at the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow. A Beautiful Building, georgous sets, but the night we went was an opera, several hours of singing in Russian and I was ready for it to be over. I could not follow the story at all! But still an experience to be remembered.

    • Jennifer Goble says

      November 20, 2016 at 1:34 pm

      Geri, my thoughts exactly! Well said. An experience of extremes…glorious/tedious. It seemed everyone else was enthralled. Not a sound or movement (except from me – trying to stay awake) in the place. Funny:)

  2. Geri Gittings says

    November 20, 2016 at 5:22 pm

    Excellent Jennifer. I feel as if you’re taking me with you and I’m almost enjoying it as much as you are. Thank you! Have a great Sunday and anxious to hear more. Oh, and Aida, I ‘m sure I’d have the same problem as you. The music was most likely remarkable but if you can’t understand one word that’s being said it’s lost!

    • Jennifer Goble says

      November 20, 2016 at 9:47 pm

      Oh, good…I like that you feel you are here too:)

  3. Teena Schaefer says

    November 21, 2016 at 5:19 am

    I read this one out of order. Don’t know how I missed it. Hope you weren’t lonely without me! LOL

    • Jennifer Goble says

      November 21, 2016 at 5:14 pm

      Teena – you a blast to hang out with. We should have done this years ago! Hey, thanks for the follow:)

  4. Marva says

    November 21, 2016 at 7:26 am

    Sure sounds like a great day!

Have a question to ask or simply need some advice?

Dear Dr J

Jennifer Goble, Ph.D. is a rural mental heath therapist, author, columnist, and speaker. Her primary purpose in counseling and writing is to help women and families in rural communities.

Read More About Jennifer

My Clients ... My Teachers: the Noble Process of Psychotherapy" by Jennifer J. Goble Ph.D

Order my signed book today, only $15.00 plus tax and shipping.


  • Also available on Kindle, Nook, Ipad, and all your e-readers.

Recent Comments

  • Jennifer Goble on We want physical and mental health holding hands
  • Jennifer Goble on Join me in saying, ‘Kudos—you are stars’
  • Jennifer Goble on Know, understand, and repeat.
  • Jennifer Goble on It’s a ‘shake it off’ season
  • Jenene on It’s a ‘shake it off’ season

© 2025 · Jennifer Goble Ph.D. · Log in