On the Way

When my children found out that my 50th Nursing school reunion was about to take place in Manhattan, they generously offered to foot the bill. My first leg was on Delta from Manila to Tokyo. A good flight, little turbulence and good food(Read noodles!) I was able to use the free computer service at the airport to report my arrival in Tokyo.

Next flight was also Delta, Tokyo to New York. The pilot announced that we would probably be arriving an hour earlier than scheduled. Great! Some shopping time gained. Again good food - more noodles. We arrived at JFK 1 hour ahead of schedule. We taxied off the runway and taxied and then stopped in the middle of nowhere. Sitting in silence and yearning to get off. Then the captain announces that due to the fact that we had arrived early, there was no gate available for us. We sat on the tarmac for 1hour and pulled into our gate at exactly when we were supposed to arrive - 3PM. Marathon walk from the gate to Immigration. As the area came in to view I was shocked to see about 1,000 (a lot anyway) people lined up in those snaky lines to get to the Immigration officers. Thankfully, these turned out to be visitors. The citizen's line was only about 60. Got through that. Got my luggage and picked up a taxi to get to my hotel. The driver was not a happy camper when I told him I was going to Midtown.

It turns out that the U.N. General Assembly was in session and dignitaries from myriad countries were in town and guess where everything was happening? Midtown near my hotel. Gridlock ruled in the area. Streets were closed. Traffic lights were turned off and policemen were directing traffic. My taxi was not able to get to my hotel so he dropped me at the corner. I, having just completed a marathon flight, had to now drag my luggage to the Fitzpatrick Grand Hotel. Outside the hotel were police cars and mucho limos. Turns out the Gabonese Delegation were staying there. Checked in and went up to my room which was very nice. It had all new bathroom fixtures and was nicely decorated.

Unpacked a few things to get out the wrinkles (live in Hope) and I walked up to 48 St between 3rd and Lexington to see what had become of my father's boyhood home. No tenement anymore. Just office buildings. I took a photo. Did some shopping on the way back to the hotel.

My niece Peggy and nephew Brian were making the trip in from New Jersey to visit. I suggested we have dinner in the Wheeltapper Pub downstairs. Well, it was friday night in an Irish bar in NYC. It was not quiet. More like TGIF on steroids. We did have a nice dinner and then we went up to my room where I gave them some old photos of my sister, their mother. I'm very glad we were able to catch up. Tomorrow was the big day.