Fireworks in the City
Current mood: tired

My fourth of July was kickin! My buddy Jason from Pennsylvania came out here to Poughkeepsie to visit me since we hadn't seen each other in over a year and because he's so close. He arrived Monday evening. We had a good time. Went to dinner, went to the drive in and watched "Superman Returns." Great movie by the way.. go see it. We stayed up all night talking, getting reconnected, and catching up with our lives.

Tuesday, the fourth, we went grocery shopping, had lunch at this great little Pizza place called "Tony's" and then along with my friend Safa, we headed out to the Galleria for a bit of shopping. The three of us were chatting it all up, really enjoying our day off and each other's company. After having exhausted the Galleria we decided to see what lay South of Poughkeepsie. We hoped in my little blue saturn, The Getaway Car, and cruised down Hwy 9. At first we drove through some little towns but soon we were enveloped by rolling mountains and hills, weaving in and out through turns, singing songs that blared out through my radio. It was a good time to be had. We started talking about the mini firework fiesta that New York Stage and Film had prepared for us. Next thing we knew, we had U-turned with plans to catch the next train and head down to watch Fireworks in the City. Why not?! We were so close and how kewl would it be to spend the Fourth, our Independence Day, in New York City!?

We caught the 7:33 train out of Poughkeepsie and headed South. This was my first 'real' train city ride. We talked and talked, Safa and I quoted Bhutan, and watched the country side melt away into the darkness of night. At about 9:30 we arrived in the city and all the passangers swarmed into Grand Central Station. I walked into the train station in awe, overwhelmed with the familiar feeling of admiration, excitement, and wonder. I really enjoy NYC and I hadn't been there since Jan. of last year. I was so happy to be back and almost couldn't believe I was there. Immediately we rushed out into the city night. We were hit by the familiar smell of the city, a mixture of cigarettes, hotdogs, garbage, busy people, and I don't know what. But there is something about that smell that in a way is so comforting and thrilling.

Hundreds, thousands of people roamed the streets of NYC. Many shops and businesses were still open. We bee lined to Time Square, almost inadvertanly. We were drawn to the noise, the lights, the color, and energy; kind of like bugs to a lamp post. Signs of celebration were everywhere. People of all shapes, sizes, and cultures rushed about happily through the crowded streets, enjoying all the same things we were enjoying. We walked around, looking at the different shops and signs. I remembered so many of the places that I had seen only a year and half before. Memories of my mother, my struggles at URTA, and the cold of winter ran through my mind. It was sensory overload to the max!

The three of us stopped at a Starbucks to refresh our vigor, we had dinner at the TGIFriday's, stopped by the Hershey Shop to indulge in our chocolatey desires, and window shopped till our feet could hardly take another step. On 28th street we stopped by this cute little coffee shop called "Cafe 28" and got more coffee. Fireworks flashed through the different screens and intermingled with the bright lights of the city.

To Be Continued.....