Three crazy, wonderful days in New York

A year ago last week, my daughters and I flew to New York to spend what we thought would be three wonderful days in the Big Apple.

Yes, it was a little crazy to think sight-seeing in the middle of winter was a good idea, but I was itching to get out of town after another holiday without Paul. So, when Elise suggested we go to New York to see the Broadway musical, Anastasia, I thought, why not?

It was a chilly 20-something degrees when we arrived at LaGuardia the morning of January 3. We were already hearing reports of a winter storm headed our way, but we remained undaunted. At that moment, the sun was shining through blue skies, our hotel was in the heart of Manhattan, and we had tickets to see a highly acclaimed play that evening. We were anxious to absorb the energy of urban life.

Rotten apple?

After checking into the hotel, we bundled up for a long walk up 5^th Avenue, stopping at Grand Central Station and the New York Public Library (what can I say, we book lovers are weird that way).

On our way back, Emilie started complaining of not feeling well, so she and Elise headed to the hotel, while I stayed back to do some shopping.

About an hour later, the girls called to say the fire alarm had gone off at the hotel and they had to evacuate our room via the stairwell. It’s a really good thing I wasn’t with them. Can you imagine me hobbling down 13 flights of stairs one step at a time on my arthritic knees?

Turns out, there was no fire. A broken sprinkler head in a storage room on the second floor had triggered the alarm and water was gushing out above the main entrance doors. The hotel lobby was drenched, power was cut off, and the elevators were on lock down.

There was no way I was walking up 13 flights, so we sat in the lobby waiting for the elevators to power up. When one elevator was given the green light, we watched as the first group of people packed themselves in for the ride. We saw the doors shut, heard the cables begin to move and then felt our stomachs flip when the lights went out and we heard the cables grind to a halt. The elevator — and those poor folk — were suspended somewhere between the second and third floors.

That was another moment on that trip when I thanked God I wasn’t where I might have been. Fortunately, generators restored power fairly quickly and the elevators got moving again.

We, on the other hand, were exhausted and went to our room to rest.

Anastasia saves the day

Our first day in the city took a turn for the better when we found our seats at the Broadhurst Theater on Broadway that evening. Seeing the musical Anasthasia was an unforgettable experience. The lavish sets and exquisite costumes were a feast for the eyes, and the rich music, sung by a superb cast, had us feeling as though we were with Anya on the journey to find her truth. The production was beautiful and romantic, magical and stunning. It was everything we’d hoped for and then some. We all loved every minute of it.

Blizzard of 2018 blasts New York

We woke up the next morning to what was dubbed Winter Storm Grayson, Storm Brody and even an “historic bomb cyclone.” The area had already been declared a state of emergency after 30-mile-an-hour winds and snow falling at the rate of one to two inches per hour caused white-out conditions. Nearly 10 inches of snow blanketed New York City, and most of the attractions we’d planned to see that day were closed.

If that wasn’t disappointing enough, Emilie woke up feeling worse than she’d felt the day before, clearly battling a cold and fever. She was down for the count.

The show must go on

Elise and I decided to make the best of a bad situation and ventured out to see what we could see. We knew the nearby Empire State Building was closed, so we headed toward Rockefeller Center. It was not a fun walk! Snow and wind pummeled our faces, while ice and snow underfoot kept us slipping and sliding every step of the way. What should have been a 16-minute stroll along 5^th Avenue took what felt like forever.

We were able to see the iconic Christmas tree and skating rink at Rockefeller Plaza, but tours were, not-surprisingly, cancelled. We crossed the street to St. Patrick’s Cathedral and were happy to find it open for tours. We were only a quarter of the way through when they announced the church was closing to all but those who needed shelter. We were happy for the homeless, but sad for us.

Discouraged and tired, we walked slowly back the way we’d come. The sidewalks were already looking better by then, but I was still hanging onto Elise for fear of falling.

That night, with Emilie feeling slightly better and some venues open for business, we went to dinner and a movie. We had a good time filled with lots of laughs.

The next morning, with only a few hours left to explore, the girls went off on their own. They did some shopping and, loving all things Asian as they do, ended up in Koreatown.

Trapped at LaGuardia

We got to the airport a little more than two hours before our flight was to leave, and we waited, and waited. With more than 4,000 flights either cancelled or delayed the day before, the airport was packed with travelers. We were moved to three different gates before boarding our plane, then sat in it for nearly two hours while they fixed mechanical problems. We arrived home at 1:00 AM, about seven hours later than planned.

Happy ending

The trip didn’t go exactly as planned, but both the girls and I were happy for the adventure that it was. It was a helluva way for Emilie and Elise to experience New York for the first time, but it was a wonderful distraction from the storm in our lives.

And believe it or not, it won’t be our last trip to New York. We talk about going back to see another Broadway show and to visit all the attractions we didn’t get to see. We’ll just be sure to check the weather before we go.