As I headed to the airport, I had no expectations of what the trip would be. I just wanted to get away and clear my head. Traveling has always helped me forget. I arrived at LAX and boarded my flight and to my surprise who was there sitting in first class, Dakota Fanning! This is actually my second run in with her. I saw her once before, at a dentist appointment with Merv. I am convinced she is stalking me, or at the very least, we are destined to be best friends. Just Kidding. After my whole star struck moment, I sat in my seat and had an unexpectedly enlightening conversation with Sean, the man in the orange scarf. Sean was a traveler, a author, a lost soul. He told me all about his travels all over the world. He literally lived the life I've always wanted to live. He studied in France, England, and Italy. He has traveled to India, Scotland, and a various other destinations as well. He was also telling me about a book he was writing and it really struck a nerve in me. He said that he was writing a book on how people want to change and talk about changing but in actuality saying and doing are two very distinct things. One of the quotes from his soon to be book was, "our lives are mirrors of our values." I took this to mean that the way we live, our everyday choices shape our very morals and not the other way around. Sean was an interesting character but he definitely gave my New York trip the right feel from the very start. I was looking for change and here this complete stranger was explaining change to me, as if he were writing a book about my life. Coincidental? I think not.
Landing! New York here I am! The first night was very mellow. My cousin and I went to this place called The Coffee Shop in the city. Don't let the name fool you, It was a bar/restaurant/lounge. After a few drinks my cousin and I reminisced on old times and about our family. We talked about how we missed my brother and how he has been watching us these years. We talked about how strong our grandma is and how we cannot believe what a fighter she has become. Finally we talk about how close our family has become. Overall it was a really sappy but extremely beautiful conversation. Jill and her cousins met us up and the bar drank the night away with a few more drinks!
Friday in the city was fantastic. Jill, her cousin, and me walked around Times Square and met my cousin for lunch. We had the infamous SHAKE SHACK! My cousin recommended the stack shack sandwich. It was an orgasm in my mouth pretty much. We also each had a strawberry shake because c'mon you have to get a shake at the Shake Shake! After lunch, we toured the MTV studios where my cousin works. I am so proud of him. He has come so far and he has pushed so hard to succeed and follow his dreams. Next stop, Bryant Park. I wish we had parks like this in California. I could definitely see myself sitting in the park and doing homework. It was so relaxing. Jill got the song "this is my fantasy, this is my reality" song going from here on out. I still wonder if she's on U-Tube.
To our luck it was FASHION's NIGHT OUT that Friday night. The city was so alive with fashion. Everyone was dressed like a celebrity. There were mobs everywhere and everyone was crazy with excitement. I'm pretty sure Kanye West or Pharrel ran past me on the street. We ended the night with some crazy bar/ club dancing. I haven't danced like that in a long time. It felt so good just to let go. I would write more on this night but after 3 long islands, the nights a little fuzzy on my end.
9/11 - May the brave souls who lost their lives on this day be remembered always.
We left the city on Saturday and headed towards Delaware to visit my aunt and uncle. This was a very LONG day. It was nice seeing my aunt again, I never get to see her because she lives so far. We seized the day and stocked up on some Philly Cheesesteaks to bring back to the CIty. Once we got back to the city, we got dressed and went out into town. We apparently stepped into VEGAS. This place was awesome. Once again I can't say much about it because the Long Islands got the best of me once again. Only bad part about my trip was that I lost my phone in a cab!!! oh well at least it wasn't my camera. I think I would have been devastated if it were my camera. I knocked out at 5 and didn't wake up until 11:30 the next morning.
The last day. Sunday was supposed to be my "study in central park" day BUT it rained. So instead we all headed to town and had dinner at Serendipity. I loved the little restaurant. The dictionary defines it as "Serendipity is the effect by which one accidentally stumbles upon something fortunate, especially while looking for something entirely unrelated." This is such a great word. I love when the unexpected happens and it ends up being the most fortunate unexpected blessing. It's funny how life is full of these Serendipity moments but we are just to blind to see them. This trip was definitely Serendipity in my books. Something fortunate came out of the unfortunate. Things really do happen for a reason.
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