I Want to Wake Up in a City That Doesn’t Sleep
It only seems natural to think about the year that was and the year to come as the calendar flips over to December 31st. What an amazing this year has turned out to be. I started the year with a rough draft of a book and ended it a published author. It’s amazing to listen to the kids I know sharing details with one another about the book. In a weird and non-parental way, I’m a very proud papa. The star of the show, Sydney, seems un-phased by the process. She just looks at me as if to say, “Where’s the next one?” Well my favorite cockapoo, that’s what goals are for. 2015 will be a busy one as the process for book two is underway. If you thought Sydney got into adventure/trouble around the house, wait until she goes on vacation.
2014 was an amazing year of travel for my wife and me. Not only did we travel to Florida, I know right, but we flew overseas to visit Paris and London as well. I love traveling with my beautiful wife. Janelle is a seasoned traveler and when you travel with her, you travel in style. That’s a lot of travel in two sentences. Eiffel Tower, saw it, lines were ridiculous.
Toured the Louvre, saw the most famous painting in the world, the Mona Lisa. You’ve probably heard of it. What you might not know it is also one of the smallest. Maybe it’s just me, but I was expecting more. Sorry Leo. Tower of London, a must see if you are ever in London. Take the Yeoman Warders tour, absolutely worth it.
Beatle fan-boy moment came true as I walked across Abbey Road. No white VW’s but plenty of traffic. Be careful. Mile marker 1 in the Keys, yes second Florida reference. This will be the last one. Made the now annual trip to Speedway Indiana where for the 98th time the Greatest Spectacle in Racing commenced. This was my fourteenth year. My dad introduced the “race” to me as a kid. I have been in love ever since. Thanks Dad!
How do you cap off such an awesome year? Simple, you treat your mom to a five day excursion to the epicenter of the known universe, New York City. In mid-December the three of us did what everyone should get to do once in their life – see NYC at Christmas time. The first night we arrived, it was raining but we didn’t care. Okay, I didn’t. To see the streets glisten from the shine of the Rockefeller Christmas Tree is something special.
The queen of travel, my wife is the best, secured us a hotel room with a view of the most famous icon in Manhattan – the Empire State Building.
Our room may have been small, it’s New York you’re never in it, but all you had to do was open the blinds and there it was. It made you want to go back out and explore. That’s exactly what we did.
When you think of New York, you tend to think of Broadway. Well, so did my mom and wife. Up first was a musical named after my wife, Beautiful, about Carole King. Coming from a guy who likes heavy music, I can safely say I liked it. We saw not one but two shows while in the big apple. The second show, a gift for my wife to see her favorite singer, Idina Menzel. Known for singing, “Let it Go” from Frozen, maybe you’ve heard it; she is a huge talent and a powerful singer.
Wow, two shows in this big city. That should fill the quota for live entertainment on any trip. Well, this trip was special – REALLY special. For the first time, and perhaps only time, my wife and I checked off a huge item on the bucket list and saw Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden. In almost thirty years of live shows, yes I’m that old, this concert ranks right up there in the top five. Something special happens when you have eighteen thousand people you don’t know all singing a song for the piano man. I started this paragraph and will end it with the same word – Wow!
Walking is a key component to getting around this city. I believe my wife’s FitBit clocked in at over thirty miles. You need to walk that far to enjoy all the good food the city has to offer. Pizza at Lombardi’s in Little Italy, check. Hot Dog from a street vendor outside Radio City, pass. Stop in at Juniors for Cheesecake, um yes please. Pizza, cheesecake, that sounds like New York but what about breakfast you ask? One morning, too early for vacation, I convinced my beautiful bride to ride the subway across town for a pastry treat. Well, so I hoped. In line over an hour early before the shop opened, we braved the cold weather out front of Dominique Ansel Bakery for the Cronut.
Part croissant part donut part genius – this blend of sugar, flour and love was worth the wait on an early December morning. Finally, on the food front, remember A LOT OF WALKING, we visited Carnegie Deli not once, but twice on our trip. Some of the best pastrami you will ever have – ever. On trip number two, my wife opted for a chicken bacon club with just a little extra bacon. Nothing in this town is “little.” Over a pound of bacon later we determined that yes – their indeed was chicken on that sandwich.
Our last night found us in the middle of it all – Times Square. The sights, MASSIVE Google HD screen. My eyes are still fried. The sounds, New Yorkers in full voice. “Hey I’m walking here.” To the traditions, the ball on top of One Times Square where tonight the world will tune in to ring in 2015.
Earlier in this blog, I noted what an amazing year this has been. As I read back through this, I’m so thankful to God, my wife, and family friends and to you. Here’s to an exciting new year in 2015.
Happy New Year!
