Country Mouse Visits City Mouse
I returned Monday night from a visit with my friend T in NYC. I'm tired but it was a great trip. I've known T since we were 15. There's comfort not only in sharing common history as kids, but also having remained friends who understand and accept one another into adulthood. I can't honestly say that about too many childhood friends.
T moved from L.A. to NYC about a year ago to be with someone. I traveled there last Friday to 1) see T because it's been over a year, 2) meet the new someone, and 3) see a little of the city - a very nice benefit to our new "someone".
I've been to NYC once, briefly about 13 years ago, and it was a business trip so I didn't see or do much. This visit I was looking forward to some good food, a little wine, and a bit of sight-seeing and shopping. Mission accomplished.
I can think of dozens of stories to share from my trip, but I'll keep it macro and stick with some highlights.
The Filth
I'll get this teensy-weensy, negative detail out of the way. NYC... is dirty.
We took subways. Some stations were *cleaner* than others, but this is no place for a border-line germaphobe who gets motion sick. One man's face was about 12 inches from mine, he slightly turned his head, sneezed, wiped his nose and mouth with his hand, then grabbed the same pole I was holding. I was paralyzed.
In the Meatpacking District, which actually has some of the nicest high-end shopping, I experienced random smells that almost made my gag reflex do it's thing.
I would advise all people in NYC to keep their hands away from their face, touch as few surfaces as possible, wash hands frequently, remove your shoes prior to entering your living space, and carry hand sanitizer and wet wipes. I went through lots of hand sanitizer. It's a miracle the entire city isn't chronically sick.
Brush with Greatness #1
T's new someone has a connection at NBC. We were treated to a tour of several studios. I'm not sure what I'm allowed to share, but we were on the SNL set Sunday after the most recent Palin skit, the Today show sets (all of them), the NBC and MSNBC Nightly News sets, the Football Night America set, a sophisticated control room, and several other behind the scene areas.
T and I played Meredith and Matt (because I begged him), then I played anchorperson.
Walking, Walking, Walking and Central Park
When your friend who lives in NY asks if you have comfortable shoes, they mean, "Do you have athletic shoes that you can run a marathon in and not bleed?" I packed all wrong for this trip. I had several cute outfits with matching shoes - flat, strappy sandals, the high-heel "need to drink a mojito" sandals, clogs, and because there IS a God, I packed running shoes, which I finally convinced myself, matched my outfits. Bryant Park material, I was not.
Central Park is beautiful. I wasn't prepared for it to be so large, and so well maintained. I could have spent several hours strolling (with proper shoes) and watching people enjoy the park. The diversity, every aspect of it, was gorgeous and thumped with life.
Brush With Greatness #2
This part is very exciting for me and I'm certain it embarrasses T, so I'm typing quickly, willing it to be like a whisper type, so maybe he won't get pissed off and make me delete this whole post.
T's someone has two Emmy's - plus another award that's VERY impressive. T let me look at and hold them on Friday when I arrived at their place. We were alone so I could be stupid without embarrassing him. On Sunday I asked T if he'd take my picture with the Emmy's - he grudgingly agreed. We snuck them out of the closet and quickly took several photos. I don't think it would have bothered the owner of the Emmy's - I think T just didn't want me to be so easily impressed. But I was.
They're real and they're heavy - the Emmy's not my boobs. My boobs are real (with the assistance of a nice foundation garment), but they're not heavy.
The Best Part...
This trip was a treat because I got to connect with one of "my people" - a true friend. The meals out were delicious, the sites of the city exciting, and T's friends are all interesting, intelligent, fun and welcoming. But the best part, was sharing morning coffee, not looking out two different windows in two different states while talking on the phone, but drinking coffee and talking... while looking out the same window.
