I took an overnight flight from Seattle to JFK Airport for the SaveUp 2011 conference. In the words of Arlo Guthrie, “I looked and felt my best” when I arrived. Here’s what’s already happened in the past five and a half hours:
Two meet-ups. I had a business breakfast with MP Dunleavey of Daily Worth, and then a frugal lunch (we used coupons) with the Girl Next Door, who writes The Girl Next Door’s Guide to Finances.
A long walk. To make those meet-ups I went from the Avenue of the Americas at 30th to 3rd Avenue and 6th Street. A pleasant walk (except when occasional rain squalls blew sideways onto the lenses of my glasses) but a long one to someone as tired as I was.
A daring decision. Feeling my energy wane, I headed for a bus stop. I’d walked down but I wasn’t walking back, even though it did feel a little silly to take a bus for only a little over a mile.
A drunken declaration. A man sitting at the bus stop struck up a conversation with me about travel, New York and lifeitsownself. After about 15 minutes I realized that (a) he’d had a little too much to drink and (b) the bus was taking a freakin’ long time. Right before it showed up he said, “I love you.” Drinking makes people indiscreet. And nearsighted.
A shocking realization. The bus wouldn’t take my cash. “Metro cards or coins only,” the driver said.
A kind gesture. A woman behind me gave me a bus ticket and wouldn’t take the $2.25 I offered.
An overshare. Between 5th and 34th (this particular bus doesn’t stop at 30th), my benefactress told me way too much about her hip replacements, her Botox, her sister’s hysterectomy, her father’s leukemia and the fact that a friend’s daughter was going into puberty prematurely. “I think it’s all the hormones we’re getting from the eggs and the milk and the meat,” she said.
Remember: Tomorrow is your chance to win an iPad 2 by signing up for and listening to a pair of live-streamed events from SaveUp: a grocery coupon class and a trio of speeches. (Hint: One of the speakers is me.)
I swore I was going to stay up and get on East Coast time, but my eyes feel like a combination of strep and sandpaper. I’ve got to take a nap before we all meet for dinner. Can’t wait to see what the rest of evening holds. I hope it doesn’t involve hormones.
FUN!!!! I want to be there with you! Don’t you know I could have fit in your suitcase?? 😉
@J$: Your hair would have gotten caught in the suitcase zipper. But next year I’ll sneak you up the fire escape. You should definitely be here: The bottled water is only $5 and the continental breakfast is just $19.
Great to see you, Donna. Hope you’re staying dry. Side note: I was chatting with a coworker this afternoon and it turns out he has an extra, sturdy, umbrella to give me. Hooray!
Now I miss New York. Bus rides are the best. And who says New Yorkers aren’t friendly?????
$2.25 is too low a rate for even a short therapy session 😉
Sounds like you ended up paying for the bus ticket in the end.. :p
@Cat: It still beat walking.
SO, no “one night stand” after the declaration of love?
Just kidding!
@Sandra: Trip’s not over yet. 😉
LOL I found the only time a NYer talks to you is when they are high or they want something. I really don’t like it there. I would put my thoughts aside when I get up enough nerve to visit the new area Mario Bataglia set up in Little Italy. I can smell the cheeses now!
Have fun and stay safe. ( you know I always say that in any of my correspondences.)