1 peter 4:7-11

on sundays in nyc dads take their kids to the park. Aaron and i, however, go to church. 

aaron found first baptist church a block from our hotel. it's part of the gospel coalition and that's where we were going to go. he seriously researched other churches all week and this is the one that fit us best. it was an experience we will never forget and turned into an adventure that will never be in any travel guide anywhere on earth. 

donna greeted us at the door of this ancient church and said we have to meet arlene. and meet arlene we did. arlene is about 4.5 feet tall. if you had to guess her age you'd probably guess late 70's to mid 80's, and you'd be way off. arlene always wears gloves - because you have to shake so many hands. 

the church was beautiful and the service was fantastic. the regular preacher was on vacation but the guy that spoke did a great job. there was a woman behind us singing that clearly had been trained in opera. everyone was so friendly. it was like being at home. then arlene asked us to join her for lunch. so naturally we went. 

arlene moved to nyc when she was 17 and she has lived in the same apartment ever since. i held her gloved hand as we walked to the restaurant that she goes to every sunday. they don't take reservations, but they reserve a table for her and her guests every sunday at the same time. this sunday he guests included us, a beautiful 27 year old named gabrielle, and eric. 

when we got to the chinese restaurant they opened the doors to welcome all of us and sure enough there was arlene's reserved table with glasses of water waiting. she was greeted by name and introduced each of us. arlene orders some of the same dishes everytime and if it's not right, she send it right back. She's been eating here for 30 plus years. Every Sunday after church. 

eric is an organist and is trained in music. his wife plays piano and they have a website where you can listen to their music. i'll put that up later. gabrielle has been attending this church for a year and is getting ready to go through membership classes soon. she works in brooklyn at a non-profit and is in school for cosmetology. she's a vision. a true catch. aaron and i can't wait to see who she falls in love with. because that is going to be one lucky man!

during our meal arlene excused herself to the restroom and secretly paid for all of our meals. the woman is so sneaky! she said she doesn't like her meal interrupted by someone putting down a bill. when you are her guest, you are just that a guest!

and the stories! arlene has done it all. she moved to nyc to study music. she sang solo at carnegie hall. she was a night club singer for years. during world war 2 she traveled the south pacific entertaining the troops and often entertained for them when they returned to the states. her husband traveled with her as well. they lived together in her apartment for many years before he passed. they never had children. she has been attending this church since 1955. every year her husband and her would meet on the same park bench in riverside park at the same time for their anniversary. rain or shine. Their marriage was a year to year contract. They met there on that bench each year to renew it. They only spent one week apart from each other during their entire married lives.  One week. Other than that one week it was day in and day out in those 3 rooms in the upper west side.  Just the two of them.  speaking of her apartment, wouldn't you like to see it? 

we all left the restaurant and got a cab for her and went to her apartment. not any cab. that one is too tall she can't get in it. that one didn't pull up to the right curb like she asked. this one will do. 5 minutes later we were walking up 2 flights of stairs to her apartment. it's pink! and round! with a tiny kitchen and a bathroom. 3 rooms for her and her husband. her refrigerator is the same one she's had since she was 17. it broke once and they prayed for it to start because they couldn't afford a new one and bam! it still works. and it's pink! did i mention the grand piano in the middle of the room? it's white and gold. she served us ice cream cones and we talked and listened to her life stories and naughty jokes for hours. she keeps candy in dishes in the hallway for neighbors and delivery guys, but the delivery guys take them by the handful. arlene is a classy wonderful lady.

after her days of performing were over she and her husband worked as guides on the circle line boats in nyc. 3 tours a day. she knows every building in new york. 

she has no living relatives but she has a church family. donna from church is her mentor and will take care of her for the rest of her days - not that she needs much taking care of. this tiny old lady with perfect skin needs no assistance what so ever. gabrielle spends time with her like she is family too. there's even a family from oklahoma that invited her to come and live with them. neighbors take her mail and trash out for her. She goes up and down to and from her third story apartment any time she wants. then around 4:30 in the afternoon aaron prayed for us and we walked back to our hotel together. 

that's not in a guide book. frommer's didn't mention arlene defaye and her fabulous life. it's definitely not in new york for dummies. or the walking guide. we've never felt more at home in a new place. ever. 

i love that little lady with her gloved hands and her lipstick - never go out without your secret weapon - lipstick. i love her particular demands for a cab and food service and how she stands up straight and asserts herself. and if you guessed her age you'd guess later 70's to mid 80's and you'd be oh so wrong. 

the fabulous arlene defaye is 99 years old.