It's A Small World After All (Big Apple Chronicles--Day 1)

Hubby Tony and I got to the airport first thing in the morning for our trip to New York City.  After we went through security we sat on a bench to put our shoes on.  When I got done I looked up and saw a woman I knew leaving the security area, followed several seconds later by her husband.  I called her name, and they came over.  They were headed to New York to visit their son, who had been in the same elementary school class as Son Brian (and several years ago worked with Son Donald).  After the young man graduated from college he went to culinary school.  His mom told us he's now a cook at a three-star restaurant-the kind that's so popular that you have to call for a reservation several months in advance.  We chatted for a few minutes, then went our separate ways.

As we boarded the plane Tony walked ahead of me.  We were almost to our row when I heard someone call his name.  There, already seated, was another couple we knew.  Their son had been in Son Tony's class in elementary school.  Even back then he had a wonderful singing voice, and I'd heard through the grapevine he'd chosen a career in musical theater.  His parents were going to see his latest play. Their seats were one row ahead of ours on the opposite side of the aisle, so over the next few hours we caught up on what their family was up to.  Shortly before the plane landed and we said our goodbyes they gave us a nice list of restaurants to try.

After the first encounter I'd texted Brian and Donald telling them who I'd seen.  After the second I texted again, this time adding Tony to the distribution list.  Then I turned off my phone.  When we arrived in New York I turned it back on and found a text from Brian suggesting that if I'd played my connections right I could have gotten dinner and a show.

St. Patrick's Cathedral

Highlights of Vacation Day 1:

• Flight to New York
• Took shuttle to bus terminal, then walked to hotel and checked in
• Had lunch at a nearby Cuban restaurant
• Explored Times Square and Rockefeller Center
• Window shopped down Fifth Avenue to Central Park.
• Stopped and bought some fruit from a sidewalk cart.
• Got caught in a rainstorm on the way back to the hotel
• Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral
• Ate at a "white tablecloth" Chinese place for dinner

Five years ago today: New Thing #132--Mayhem in the Midwest