Myron McLellan, at the age of 94, one of the oldest residents of the region, took a trip of a lifetime. 

Inspired by the kind act of a family friend. Saint Patrick's Cathedral on 5th Avenue in New York City is the largest Catholic church in the U.S. People from all over the country strive to make a pilgrimage to Saint Patrick’s one day. If for nothing else than to light a candle, which symbolizes Christ as the light of the world. After the recent passing of Barbara, his bride of 74 years, Myron was shown a video of family friend Kristen lighting a candle in Barbara’s memory. He at that moment decided he wanted to make a trip to New York and experience that for himself. His son Cameron planned a trip in bang, bang, boom urgency.

Myron, along with his oldest daughter, Margaret, and grandson, Brendon, all traveled to New York City via a limo service. Driven by a most personable driver who would be at their beck and call from Boothbay pickup to Waldorf Astoria Hotel drop-off, to the New York Harbor basin near the Brooklyn Bridge, with a lot of bucket-list stops in between, and back to Boothbay in a custom Volvo luxury sedan.

It was expected that the highlight of the event would be the fireworks display over New York City. Myron’s grandson, Dustin McLellan, who works for Moran Tugboat Company in New York City Harbor, was asked by his company to take a special assignment over the weekend. That being to pilot the tug responsible for escorting the barges carrying $16,000 worth of fireworks to their ignition locations in New York Harbor and up under the Brooklyn Bridge in the East River. Of course, being a retired Captain, Myron was determined to go along on the Moran Tug. Unfortunately, the clearance needed to accompany a pyrotechnic load of some 85,000 shells could not be secured in time, so he watched the display from a bit safer vantage point.

The first important stop on the ride down was in New Haven, Connecticut, at Frank Pepe Pizza. Considered one of the best pizzerias in the U.S., Myron was determined to try their famous Clam Pie. Myron rated that a two. “Cardboard with quahogs and garlic.” Next stop is the world-famous Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

The family checked into a finely appointed luxury suite. After a little rest, it was time to head to evening Mass at Saint Patrick’s and experience the ultimate reason for this excursion, the candle lighting. Throngs of people begging to get into the church were being turned away (including a group of World Cup soccer players). But a little advance planning allowed Myron to be the last person to be allowed in as communion had just commenced.

To say that Saint Patrick’s is an “experience” does not do it justice. Entering that church is almost an epiphany! Myron, assisted by his daughter and grandson, was able to light a candle. Three in total. Myron, like many people, did not grow up experiencing religion or attending church. However, he was truly overwhelmed with this epic event in his life. As he sat at the back of Saint Patrick’s listening to the music, watching a packed congregation take communion, and looking around at all the candles illuminated for lost loved ones and taking so much ownership of his three, he and his accompanying family realized they had just made a pilgrimage of a lifetime.

Next stop: Katz Deli for another life-changing famous meal. A Katz Reuben. Myron’s rated this a solid 10. “Sandwich the size of a football.” Then on to the most costly and epic fireworks display in history. A definite and solid 10. If you count the Brooklyn Bridge catching fire or the sinking of the Victory Chimes in Brooklyn Basin, maybe back it down to a 9.5

Back to the Waldorf for a well-needed night's sleep. Myron rated this a 5. “Someone in the family snores like a bear.”

Picked up at 8 a.m. and back to Boothbay at 2:30.

After a trip of a lifetime: What is next?