Hello From NYC!
By Keiti | September 3, 2008
Since yesterday morning I have spent 26 hours on a train; I’ve traveled through 11 states and 27 cities. I’ve seen the landscape go from scrub pines (Florida) to lush vegetation (Virginia) and noticed the pride taken by cities in the south to the apparent lack of said pride in cities in the northern states as noted by the dilapidated brick buildings with broken windows and covered in graffitti, not to mention the insane amount of litter that lay beside the train tracks. I wish I could have taken some pictures, but the train was moving too quickly for any to come out clearly.
My mom made me cry at the train station yesterday morning as I was getting ready to board the train. We were both in tears, though we both also knew it would happen. My mom and I are criers - she’s the one who gets me all wrapped up in stupid TV shows and I find myself tearing up at the goofiest things - my favorite thing to say to her is, “Why do you make me watch this trash?” but it’s something we share and giggle at together.
My dad was the rock, as usual, and made sure me and L. O’Balls got to the station on time - we actually arrived way early, but we didn’t have to rush and that was the whole point. I hate having to rush. It makes me cranky and anxious.
Now I find myself in a hotel room in Brooklyn, NY, mere blocks from where I’ll catch the cruise ship tomorrow. My normal anxiety has thankfully been at the barest minimum and I hope it stays that way for the duration of the trip. I’m a little bit anxious with too much time to think at the moment. Hopefully a good night’s sleep will help rectify that. I’ve probably slept a total of 7 hours since yesterday morning, and that includes the 2-hour nap I fell prey to when I checked into the hotel.
Even though all I’ve experienced of NYC is Penn Station (which was in-sane!) and a car ride through downtown to the hotel, I can say with some degree of certainty that I’d never be able to live here. It’s too busy. The drive to the hotel was quite the experience - no one (and I mean NO ONE) uses their signals and they all seem to share an affinity for straddling two lanes, hedging their bets on which lane they need to be in. It astounds me that I got to the hotel unscathed! But I did get to see the Empire State Building from the train, the Statue of Liberty from the car and drive across the Brooklyn Bridge, which was really cool. Part of me wishes I had more time to check out the city, but it’s probably just as well - I’d be an absolute basket case by the time I left. Sensory overload and all of that. There was a time when I was younger that I’d have loved to live in a city like NYC - but now the constant motion and forever being “on” hold little appeal.
While I’m on the ship, DC, the illustrious and mojo-laden webmaster, has agreed to post on my behalf - the general idea is that I’ll send him email from the ship (at a cost, of course) and he’ll make sure everything gets posted. I’m going to try to include lots of pictures - I mean, it’s the freakin’ QM2! - so stay tuned for that. I’ll try to send something along at least every other day, if not every day.
So, make sure to leave a note for DC and thank him for going way above and beyond! I don’t know what I’d do without him!
Topics: The Misfit Trip |
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Yeah, I’m pretty awesome.
I am going to be away from all things internet, while roaming the woods of north Ga., but I’ll do my best to post and or moderate when applicable. (It shouldn’t be for more than a few days or so…)
Breathe. Relax. Enjoy. Repeat.
Big Balls!
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Oh…yeah - I completely forgot about the camping trip! Enjoy yourself and if you hear the banjos…
RUN!
mwah!
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:19 pm
I miss you already. Good Night and Good Luck
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Thanks, Cactus Girl.
Have a great trip, yourself! Make sure to email me once you get to Romania! I can’t wait to hear all about it!
Current status…
freaking out.
Love you!