I flipped up the video screen in our SUV just in time for my two oldest boys to catch the New York skyline. They immediately began to argue about which building was the Empire State versus World Trade versus Dad’s office. As Mom held the EZ-Pass against the windshield to pay the $12 to enter the Lincoln Tunnel, we officially entered the Twilight Zone (a.k.a. Manhattan) for the weekend.

My wife and I moved away from the city of blinding lights 14 years ago. Since then we were married, moved t...