As I have promised, here is the last installment of my NYC trip.
After doing all of that walking down and through Central Park, my hips were positively humming. Stephanie was going to meet me at five so I didn’t have much time.
I still managed to have a nice hot soak/shower and got a small cat nap of about 20 minutes. Little did I know how badly I was going to need it.
I had phoned the airport van to arrange the time I was to be picked up the next day to go to the airport. Even though my flight left at 1:45 PM, I was told to be ready to be picked up no later than 9:20 AM. I had already started my pre-packing by putting everything that could be into my suitcase.
Stephanie phoned me, right on time, and we arranged to meet in lobby at five. When the time came I had the pleasure of not only meeting her but her Mother as well. Believe it or not we meet at almost the exact same spot were Elmore and I had met.
Her Mom couldn’t stay so we found her a cab and off she went.
Stephanie and I headed over to the restaurant, Barrymores and I must say I liked the way she was greeted by the waiters there. Everyone seemed to know her and it seemed so nice and friendly. Since it was my last night in NYC, I decided to let out all of the stops and ordered a NY Strip steak, mashed potatoes (a big no-no on my diet), carrots were the veggie of the day (but I don’t like them even on a good day and did not eat them) and a glass of ice tea.
The steak was wonderful, cooked just the way I like it. Medium rare. Yum!
We soon discovered that we both had a lot in common. Widowed mother, some of the same medical problems and a wicked sense of humor. We were laughing and joking like old friends in no time.
We still had time after our dinner so I offered to show Stephanie my Michael Ball pictures. We went back to the hotel. She was shocked when she saw the size of the room. I showed her the “closet” and the bathroom I had fought for with the tub. I was told I could have gotten a much better room someplace else and I do tend to believe that. If there ever is a next time, I will NOT be staying at the Milford Plaza, believe me.
We left for our front row seats at “Boy From Oz”. Stephanie told me as luck would have it, another friend of hers would be at the show and would be sitting in the seat directly behind us. Worked for me.
As it turned out I met three other very nice ladies and we all laughed and talked before the show.
So how was the show and Mr. Jackman? Well, I enjoyed the interaction between him and the audience. I had never been to a play where one of the actors pulled people from the audience into the play. He picked on a Marine and had him move down to better seats nearer the stage then had him do a dance. It as great fun. Can’t say I was in love with his singing voice, however. All in all it was a good time but once was enough for me. Some had been to see the show over a hundred times and as much as I love Michael Crawford and Michael Ball, I can’t see myself going to see them that many times. Even if I did have the time/money.
It seemed that Stephanie knew some of the people who were in the show. They gave her little smiles and waves when they were on our side of the stage which was nice to see.
I’m not into hanging out at stage doors but the others wanted pictures so when the play was over, out we went. I tried taking a picture or two since I as there but I think I only managed to get a wonderful shot of the back of Mr. Jackmans head. I’m sure a true fan would know it was him instantly. Oy.
After that, the five of us walked back over to Barrymores for coffee (hot tea in my case) and something good to eat. I had the Mississippi Mud pie. It was my last night of vacation and I was going to enjoy every bite of it. I only ate half before I had to stop. Way to rich for me. I’m not used to eating such things anymore.
We laughed and chatted until about 1 o’clock AM when we had to part company. The pity of it was that they thought I was in the city until Sunday and wanted to go out to lunch and or dinner on both Friday and Saturday, go to a museum, as well as go to a few more plays. I had to sadly tell them I was leaving on the morrow which was a shame. I would have enjoyed that very much. It was why I had come to the city in the first place, hoping to spend time in the company of new friends.
We said our farewells and I went back to my hotel room, quickly went to bed and promptly fell asleep. I was up by 6:00 AM, finished my packing and went for one last quick walk around Times Square. I watched part of the Today Show be filmed. Called Mom to tell her I might be on TV is she would only turn it on but she didn’t answer the phone (to early for her, I guess).
I ate breakfast at McD’s in Time Square, bought a few T-shirts as gifts for the gang at work and a few pastries to take home with me.
I walked by the Minskoff Theater and put my hand on the window–Jane, you know why I had to do that but the magic didn’t work. I think it was the timing. Oh, well.
I tryed to get a sense of Mr. Crawford there but it was like radio static. To many people had walked the same steps and to much time had gone by for me to home in on anything. Still it was nice to close my eyes and picture him at the door.
Then it was back to the hotel. I got a porter and checked out of my room, saying “Farewell” to it and closing the door for the final time.
I was lucky that I was ready when I was. A van was already downstairs to go to JFK so I quickly checked out. I tried to look down the streets as we rode through the city to get last glimpses of the theaters I had been at and Times Square. It was another rainy/ cloudy day. I couldn’t see any of the skyscrapers or the Empire State Build when we crossed the bridge. It was like it as all hiding from me.
I arrived at the airport, way, way early for my flight . It turned out my one bag was overweight so I had to pay an extra $25.00 for it. They said I had more then enough time to go through both bags and transfer some stuff to the lighter bag but I was so tired, I didn’t care. I was just burning with tiredness at that point. I just paid the fee and let it go at that.
I settled in a seat by the terminal and played my mp3s while I did a Circle A Word Puzzle or two or three or four. I lost count. At some point, I called Elmore to thank him once again and let him know I was at the airport soon to be heading home.
I would like to say at this point that both Jane and Elmore called me a number of times while I was in the city and I deeply appreciated both their time and caring to see that I was alright. It was more than I could have hoped for or deserved.
The wait for my flight was finely over and I boarded the plane . Oddly I felt myself crying when the plane took off but if it was relief, sadness at leaving, or just plain tiredness, I honestly can’t say. I tried to keep my face towards the window so I wouldn’t bother the kid next to me. I didn’t want him to see me cry but I’m sure he knew what I was doing. Then (to my great amazement) I nodded off for about forty five minutes. Fell dead asleep without even giving it a thought. I was so startled when I woke up–I didn’t know where I was for a moment or two.
Soon the plane was touching down in Tampa and my trip to NYC was at an end.
They say that traveling is a great teacher. I would say I have to agree. I did learn a lot. About NYC, about friendship, about myself. I did it. I got myself to NYC and back. Something to be proud of, I think. Will I ever go to NYC again? Who knows. I would have said “no” but perhaps now that I’ve had some time to think about it, I find I might. Not for the reasons that lead me there the first time. No, never, ever for them again but someday there might be other, better reasons to go. And I will know the place next time. I will do some things better, I think. I will go to Joe Allens and Barrymores.
And who knows, maybe, if there is a next time, I might even try to ride a subway by myself.
