We are pleased to reveal our first ever guest blog entry...
With the help of Jenny’s boyfriend, Shea, a secret plan was hatched on February 24th that had me up at 5:00 a.m.(!) and arriving in Manhattan at 9:30 a.m. on February 25th. Despite a rotten weather forecast, I felt motivated to spend a day “Down the Rabbit Hole” to welcome Jenny and Kelly back from Costa Rica, enjoy a few hours of their company before they departed again for foreign shores, ferry some excess luggage for Jenny, and to rejoice in good health. (In fact, I was motivated by the potential to earn a guest blogger spot. Success!)
Shea and I exchanged numerous conversations and texts as we cooked up a ruse to get Shea, Jenny and her luggage into Times Square so I could *SURPRISE* her. Boy, was she surprised – and a little concerned about the ease with which Shea delivered the lie. As Shea and I applauded ourselves in the lobby of the Westin Hotel, Jenny spent a few minutes repeating, “I am so weirded out.” We rushed Jenny through acceptance of my sudden appearance (surprisers, be warned that it takes the surprisee a few minutes to catch up) and up to the 23rd floor where I had booked mani/pedis in the hotel spa that promised a panoramic view of the city. We spent the next couple of hours out of the rain, but sadly without a panoramic view as the manicure suite was a dark converted guest room on the 12th floor without a window. No matter, we enjoyed conversations about travels, plans, miracles, surprises, family, and friends as we alternated between the mani/pedi station and a couple of massage tables that were the only other place to sit down. Shea, you’re a great sport!
With lovely nails, and a break in the weather, we strolled to Times Square. More amusing than the spectacle of Times Square was the expression on Shea’s face as he saw NY for the first time, and on Jenny’s face as she adjusted from life on a dirt road in Costa Rica. We set off for our next planned event, lunch with fellow intrepid traveler, Kelly, at Rachel’s on 9th Ave. and 44th St. Did I say break in the weather? About ½ way into our ½ mile walk, the heavens opened and we were treated to one of the heaviest rainstorms I have ever experienced. Even pressed against a building sheltering under scaffolding, we got soaked through. Jenny continued to marvel at the contrast between hot sun and cold rain as we made a break for it and finally arrived at Rachel’s. Any temptation to complain about our wet shoes, jeans and coats (Shea seemed to soak up the most water) was curtailed when Kelly breezed into Rachel’s having experienced the same rainstorm, but without benefit of scaffolding, an umbrella or a hood. Gotta love Kelly!! Despite water dripping from her hair and nose, her smile lit the restaurant. Lunch was a simple chicken salad, a glass of wine, and a much needed warm dry respite. More conversation, more planning, some serious laughs, and it was time to go. Thankfully, the storm had passed and we walked/taxied to Penn Station where I boarded a shuttle back to the airport with Jenny’s excess luggage. Wish I could have stayed longer, but I am eternally grateful for the successful surprise, the enjoyable hours in the “Rabbit Hole,” the comfortable and free flight on Ultimate Jet, and the chance to tell you this story. Success!!
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