May 14, 2012 Day 21 — Lower Manhattan to City Island, NY (9 miles)

I wake up early, already overstimulated by New York City and today’s schedule. Judy and I say goodbye to Waverly Place and meet Amanda and Marty at the NW corner of Washington Square to begin today’s walk. Given the number of pedestrians already commuting by foot to work at this hour, I imagine that they are also “Walking with Nathaniel” whether they know it or not. Let’s just pretend! John Siceloff meets us en route and our numbers swell for a short time before dwindling down due to various work commitments among today’s participants. Finally reduced to a minority of two, John and I finish the long haul up 5th Avenue, while I wonder who can afford this lifestyle and these overpriced boutiques. At the Apple Store at 5th and 59th, we enter the architectural monolith to modern technology, the command central for what rules our lives, where I buy a new phone charger.

Mt. Sinai is my first and only official stop today. I have been invited to share a few words with the thirty-one therapists who have gathered to participate in the BTTI (Behavioral Therapy Training Institute) sponsored by the International OCD Foundation. What do I say to them? Invited to come forward to the podium, I barely have time to gather my thoughts. I trust that Nathaniel will guide my words to say what needs to be said. Parents, siblings, caretakers, and friends all live in the arena of those with brain disorders. We too need support and training in a collaborative effort to serve sufferers effectively. How can we be included? Who trains us? We need more than a support group. We need to be part of the solution. I’m not sure how effectively I tell Nathaniel’s story given the short time I have, but I tell it as honestly as I can. I imagine Judy and Carrie by my side.

A long newspaper interview, an afternoon presentation on BDD, an appointment with Dr. Goodman, and some quiet writing time to finish a CNN summary fill every available minute of the afternoon. By 5:30, I’m shot. Time to wrestle my way onto a crowded subway line to the Bronx and to my overnight oasis outside Manhattan — City Island — a place I have always wanted to visit. John and Lucille help me make this dream come true. Thank you, dear hosts!