Nothing Like New York

                One theoretical conversation lead to one of the best experiences of a lifetime. An annual trip between my mother and her friends was the topic of discussion around November of 2011. In the past they traveled to Chicago, Mississippi and even the Dominican Republican with New York City on the horizon. Some unknown force moved them to include me in what I thought at the time to be total chaos. In less than 4 months I would be on a Southwest flight to LaGuardia Airport.

               My mom being the outgoing lunatic she is saw it fit to allow and random man to drive us to the hotel. While the other three of us who had refused to allow a stranger who we had just met in New York touch us much less give us a ride anywhere watched her and this man put our suitcases in the back of a Lincoln limo. Needless to say we were soon running after. When getting to our hotel paparazzi were waiting. The expression on their face when we stepped out the cab was worth the whole trip in itself. I guess we weren’t the Beyonce’s they were looking for.

               We stayed at the Staybridge suites on 8^th avenue about 3 blocks from where all the action happens, Time Square. While my mom’s friends Candis and Sharron stayed in and slept most of their vacation away my mother and I were up at the crack of dawn mapping out which City Sight bus stop we needed to be at.

               To become a true New York you’ve got to walk the street, take cabs, and pay outrageous prices for just about anything and enjoy every nonsense moment of it. At china town I bought one of the biggest bags in the universe for twenty bucks. At Little Italy Sharron and I shared a pretty disgusting Cannoli. One morning while the other two were racking up some Z’s my mother and I got front row seats to Good Morning America. My only regret is that we didn’t make any sighs we were the odd ones out.

               That Saturday we caught a Broadway show produce by Alicia Keys called Stick Fly. Even the Rich and famous like Mekhi Phifer, Tracie Thoms, and Dule Hill acted in the play. We caught the last show but during the talk back the author hinted at the play hitting the big screen one of these days.  We even were able to sneak around back to the actors to the exit to scream and yell like the teenager I am and the ones they used to be for their autograph.

One of the best experiences was the FREE Staten Island to Manhattan ferry. I would say if you get motion sickness this is not the attraction for you. Seeing Lady Liberty and Ellis Island up-close is an awesome feeling that is soon crushed once you step off onto one of the most boring cities in New York, Staten Island.

With all the excitement it was hard to step back and take a sentimental breather and morn for those lost in 9/11. All of this remorse was soon wash away with sight of the new Twin Towers on the rise.

After going to the Top of the Rock and seeing New York City from what I assume is God’s Point of view, we had to visit the massive central park. Too many late nights of Law and Order prevented me from entering a majestic fairytale. I valued my life too much to end up as another murder victim.

New York City, a city that never sleeps while holding some of the best memories I will ever posses.

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