The Big Apple

It’s been a terribly long time since I have been able write about my travels.   During my Sabbatical, I ventured to the Big Apple, the Empire State, the home of the Yankees, the home of the Jets and Giants, and the home of over 8 million people – New York, New York.  To start off my journey, I upgraded myself to FIRST CLASS.  It was my first time in first class.  I sat in a nice, roomy, leather seat that reclined almost to a horizontal position without my head in the lap of the person behind me.  First class is the way to go.  There I was,  sitting in my seat, drinking my complimentary drink, eating my complimentary snack, and enjoying all the dirty looks that the COACH class gave me as they filed by.   I always wondered why they shut that curtain that separates the compartments.  I have always wondered what really goes on in first class. I was now on the OTHER side of the curtain. I couldn’t wait to get into the air.  I couldn’t wait to see what surprises await me.  Did they offer massages?  A private screening of a current blockbuster?   Now that I am “one of them”, I cannot divulge any information that may compromise the integrity of first class.

So, after an enjoyable flight, I landed at JFK and proceeded to retrieve my luggage.  You know that pit you get in your stomach while waiting for your luggage to circle its way to you,  and everyone is finding their bag and you haven’t seen yours make its way around?  I had this pit.  My luggage never made it.  I was luggage-less.  Oh how I hate it when AA does this!  It seems to have become a tradition on each flight I take.  AA is very consistent in “misplacing” my bag.  The first thing I always think of are those trusty baggage check workers enjoying my running shoes, my ipod, or any other valuable that may be in my checked luggage.  I sat alone in one of the seats, waiting for the next flight to arrive, hoping my bag was on it. A couple of hours later, it arrived.

Now, I was on my way to Grand Central Station….actually Grand Central Terminal.   What an impressive place.  I felt as if I walked into another time, some parallel universe.  It was so busy.  No wonder they call it Grand Central Station. So many people…going or coming from somewhere…from everywhere.  I could have spent the afternoon in there.  Restaurants, shopping, tennis?  As much as I wanted to stay, I needed to go.

After the First Class plane ride, the lost luggage, and the smelly bus to Grand Central, it had already been a very long day….My first stop:

Ahhhhh…a Corona with lime.   Enough said.  I did have an agenda for my NY trip.  One, was to see my good friend, Thomas.  And the other, was to run in Central Park.  I am an avid runner.  I have always wanted to run in Central Park.  I was not even sure what Central Park looked like.  It was HUGE!  Dogs with their people.  Kids with their parents.  There were runners everywhere.  I loved it!  As I entered Central Park, I felt as if I had been there before.  I looked around.  Was it Deja Vu?  The more I walked, the more it seemed familiar.  I think I have been here before.  Then it hit me.  I have seen this place every night on the USA channel on Law and Order.  Yes, there was the rock where the child went missing from her nanny.  Oh, then there was the path where the dead jogger was found.  And another path where another dead jogger was found.  Just so you know, I saw no missing children and no dead joggers. I didn’t even see Christopher Noth.   Nonetheless, it was a great experience to put on my list of things I have done in this life.

My trip to the Big Apple was short.  There are so many things that I did not do, nor did I see.  I will have to go back.   The sights, the sounds, the smells, and the people were great.  I met up with my friend,  I met a great Dingo and an ever-so-cute Not A Dingo,  I ran in Central Park,  I rode the subway, I rode  in a cab…and almost got ran over by one.   I cannot wait to go back. I want to swim in the Hudson, see a NYFD fire fighter, buy soup from the Soup Nazi, and run to the top of the Statue of Liberty.   I heart NY.