September 9, 2001 NYC
Text: Alex, meet me at luggage, can’t w8 2 c u. Dad
Reply: Ok me 2
“Hey hon, I feel like it’s been forever!” Alex runs up to her dad, long blond hair
swinging back and forth, a sparkle in her blue eyes.
“I know what you mean, Dad. Hey, Hi Kimberly.” “Hi Alex!” Kimberly and Alex
embrace with a hug. They all turn, grab their bags and head for the taxi line.
“Well you two, I think it’s about time to share a little fun in the Big Apple. Last
time I was here was about fifteen years ago. I hear the town has changed a lot. Still a bit
grumpy but cleaner with a lot less crime. So you ladies want to chance the subway a little
this trip?”
“Sure Dad, just, you know, don’t be cheap the whole time.”
“Hey you, I may resemble that remark but I am very sensitive to teasing.” Alan
shows an exaggerated pout. “Ok, here’s the itinerary. I got us a place right near the Trade
Center and financial area. Today we can take one of those double decker tour buses.”
Alex let’s out a groan. “Come on Alex, it’ll be just a couple of hours and gives us the lay
of the land. Tonight we’re on our own. Tomorrow I have tickets to “Phantom” for the
matinee and we can walk around Time Square after. Monday my meetings start and you
guys are on your own.”
Alex, anxiously asks “So when do I go shopping. I promised everyone in Tampa
that I would check out the styles and bring a bunch of things back.”
Alex had moved with her mom to Tampa Bay a year ago and she still felt like
she was caught in some bizarre time warp. Every time she saw her dad she sensed an
opportunity to enhance her wardrobe. Being a complete daddy’s girl had worked well to
her advantage and Alan’s medical practice had been doing well lately anyways. Kimberly
usually went along but sometimes the manipulation would make her cringe. Just now the
look in her green eyes suggested that Alex was just about to cross the line. Alan caught
the look and to smooth things out decided a little diversion was in order.
“Ok, I’m sure we’ll all have plenty of time to spend your father’s hard earned
cash. How about we check out the town first?”
They all headed into the awaiting taxi and started toward downtown Manhattan.
About thirty seconds into the ride Alex pulled out her cell phone and began dialing.
“Hey Tony, so we’re here. What are you up to this weekend? Uh huh, sounds
cool. No, my dad has planned out the first two days to do a bunch of touring and shows.”
Leaning into the phone and whispering, “I’m gonna try and get hold of my cousin and see
if she can save me.”
“Hey Alex, is your mom ok with you using the phone here?”
“Yeah dad, Tony’s on the same carrier, the whole things covered”
Alan and Kimberly rolled their eyes toward each other and Kimberly leaned in
to Alan’s shoulder. As usual he was sitting in the middle, between his two girls. The
weekends always started out this way. He would try to keep both girls feeling like they
were equally important. Eventually, they would push him to the outside and the two girls
would start sharing secrets and giggles. That was perfect to Alan, but he still relished the
attention and jealousy he triggered during those first hours.
They arrived at the hotel, unloaded and rode the elevator to their room on the 44th
floor overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge. They all unpacked, the girls traded time in the
bathroom and changed for the days travels. Once all were ready, Alan grabbed the travel
books, they went to the subway and began to navigate the underground maze.
“Ok Alex, I want to show you this stuff so if you decide to take off on your own
you’ll know what you’re doing.” Alan went over the subway map and showed Alex
how the trains were color coded and numbered and lettered. He explained the uptown
downtown directions and what to do if you get disoriented. Kimberly leaned in to hear
the explanation as this was her first time to New York City as well and she had plans to
check things out without Alan. She also had overheard Alex’s reference to her cousin and
figured she might be on her own on Monday and Tuesday.
Next, they were off on the Metro. Exiting 49th Street they quickly found the tour
buses. They found an available open double decker and headed to the top just as Alex let
out a groan of embarrassment. Kimberly turned and gave Alex “the eye” and they move
on to find some seats. Alan breathed in the warm late summer air as the tour bus headed
down the street. Landmarks were progressively identified and the history of each area
was explained. Kimberly was jotting notes into the guidebook for later revisits. Alex
leaned over the bus and pointed out the various shopping areas that enticed her. After a
while she looked at her father and asked, “So how much longer dad? I thought you said
we could get out and walk around.”
“Yeah Alex, but the rides only two hours and you have all weekend to walk
around.”
“I know, but there are some places here I really want to check out. Like how are
we going to find these places again. Can’t we just get off the bus and walk around? You
know dad I didn’t meet you here just to get stuck on tour buses all day long.”
Alan knew exactly what the issue was. He could see Alex’s look, she was
beginning to pout and her voice was starting to whine. Obviously, there was something
Alex wanted and she couldn’t relax. She had been like this since she was little. In fact,
Alan knew this was really a trait she inherited from him. Once an idea was in his head
he couldn’t relax until it was dealt with, purchased, resolved, whatever. Now Alex was
starting to act the exact same way.
“Hey Alex, here’s the deal. Stick with me on this bus for forty five minutes more.
I know exactly the place to go to. I promise you’ll love it. If I’m wrong you can control
all of the plans for tomorrow, no questions asked. Deal?”
“Fine.”
The bus continued the tour through the village, into Soho and Chinatown and
began to work its way uptown again. Once they crossed Fifth Avenue Alan called to the
girls “Time to go,” and the three departed. They took a turn uptown and Alan marched
them right into Saks, then Tiffany’s and then Burberry. Alex’s eyes were the size of
billiard balls. She went through the racks at Saks, tried on jewelry at Tiffany’s and
compared the purses at Burberry. After two hours of intensive comparison shopping
interrupted by brief calls to her supervising girlfriends in Florida she began to smile
again. Alan made sure to keep Alex from spending all of her money, reminding her
that there was a long weekend ahead and every store she went into would be a new
opportunity.
“Remember Alex, you have the high end traditional things around here, but
tomorrow were going to walk around the Village and Soho and those areas are trendy and
edgy. Just keep control, check things out and most of all have fun. Heck, hon, we’re in
New York. Now I just have one thing we have to do today. I’ve been wanting to do this
since I booked this weekend. Follow me.”
The three headed out and Alan walked them toward Central Park. As they got
there Kimberly new exactly what was on Alan’s mind. Alan checked out the horses
and chose a horse and carriage dressed in beautiful floral bouquets for a ride around the
park. They settled into the carriage, Alan in the center, and they rode through the park
on this stellar fall day. Halfway into the ride the driver took a photo of the three of them
on Alan’s digital camera framing the horse and carriage and its three passengers. The
two girls with their heads on Alan’s shoulders and in the background the sun breaking
through the leaves on the trees.
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