What I remember the most was having to pee. The line was long, almost a 2-hour wait, but we finally made it…to another line, which leads to an elevator that went up 80 floors, to another line for another elevator for another 6 floors, AND THEN we made it.
My first look at the New York City Skyline was through the cracks of a few peoples shoulders out of the 86th-floor window of the Empire State Building. And let me just say, it was gorgeous. I finally found the door that lead to the outdoor deck, and at that moment it hit me that I was finally living 8 year-old me’s dream. The picturesque look at New York that I had dreamed about for 10 years. The cold breeze that hit me felt like I was in an actual dream. The cold breeze that a California girl was definitely not used to, made my eyes dry up faster than California drivers go on the freeway was what I remember.
When I finally figured out how to make myself cry, I couldn’t help but admire the skyline. How well the darkness of the night really did make the lights perfectly pop. How even 86 stories up the honks of the cars down below still echoed through the streets. How far down the ground really was. But nonetheless, it was amazing. 8 year old me was having a field day. 18 year old me is still amazed that it wasn’t really a dream.
Having to go back inside because it was simply just too cold broke my heart, and as we went and got in line, to go down six floors, to another line, to go down another 80 floors, to the sidewalk where I got to look up at one last look of the tallest building I had ever seen, my heart repaired itself. Because all I could think about was how I could not wait to come back. And when I am 28, my dreaming 8-year-old self, and my amazed 18-year-old self, will join my 28-year-old self who will look up at the Empire State Building as if welcoming an old friend and ready to take another 86 floor journey. Hopefully, I won’t have to pee while I’m waiting in line again.
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