"Where to first?" Nate asked as Jenna, Katie and I met up with the trio in front of a starbucks near our apartment. We had all gotten ready in under an hour, record time.
"I was thinking the park." Andrew suggested. "It's not too cold because it's almost midday and the trees are really decorated this time of year."
"Sounds like a good idea." I agreed.
Parks are my favorite, I swear I must be part dog or something. It only took us about 5 minutes to get to Bryant Park. It was gorgeous.
"Why do we give when we have nothing left?" Jack inquired as we passed an older woman giving breadcrumbs to pigeons.
"Philosophical question time with Jack!" Nate joked.
As we continued walking, I took the opportunity to really look around.
"I love this." I said, not exactly meaning to say it out loud.
After eating lunch at one of Manhattan's many parkside cafés, we went up to the observation deck of the Empire State building. Seeing the city in this manner truly put into perspective just how massive the city was.
"Papa! It's the Titanic!" A little boy exclaimed, waving his finger at a boat on the Hudson.
"Ah! It is Joshua!" His father said.
I laughed. He reminded me of one of the kids I was a nanny for during college. My parents had saved up enough for me to go to virtually any school I wanted to by the time I was 5, but of course, there were more college student expenses to be paid, like late night pizza runs and concerts, meaning I had to get a job if I wanted to engage in any of these wonderful college-life activities. I ended up working for a family with 3 kids, picking them up after school and watching them until around 8. It worked out with my schedule, and I honestly loved doing it. Looking at the little boy and his father made me wonder how those kids were now.
After staring at the city for another few minutes, we headed back down to the city. Jenna wanted to go shopping, so Katie and I accompanied her while the 3 guys went off to do whatever it was they decided to do. About 2 hours later, we met up again. We somehow ended up in Times Square, walking through Toys R Us and eating dinner at a small restaurant somewhere behind the Best Buy Theater.
'Isn't it weird to think that people from all around the world come to Times Square every day, and we can just walk a few blocks and be here, yet we tend to avoid it at all costs on a daily basis to avoid the people who come to see it?' Katie passed to me at dinner.
"It is, now that you mention it." I said.
"What?" Andrew asked.
I passed him the note.
"I've never thought about it that way."
"I guess most of us forget that we were tourists here at some point."
"I remember those days. I used to wish I could live as close to Times Square as possible. Now i'd rather live in the subway than here."
'I second that.'
When we finished dinner, we decided to go skating, which meant back to Bryant Park.
"It's beautiful at night." I remarked.
And it was. Most things in the city were, though. We put our skates on and got on the ice. Everyone seemed to be having a bit of trouble getting used to balancing on the ice. I guess skating still came natural to me, because as soon as I hit the ice it felt as normal as walking.
"Wow, you're really good." Andrew said.
I slowed down so that he could catch up.
"Thanks. I used to take lessons when I was little."
"That explains it."
I helped him keep his balance.
"You want me to teach you?"
"Sure."
"You'll be a pro in no time." I laughed, taking his hand and essentially pulling him behind me.
"Is skating big in Pennsylvania or something?"
"Eh, not really. I started skating because.... well actually, I don't remember."
"Well you're definitely a natural."
"I guess you could say that." I laughed, thinking about my paranoid mom yelling at my 6 year old self to 'slow down' and 'be careful' before I 'broke something'.
Andrew was trying his hardest not to lose his balance, but it wasn't quite working. It was an improvement though. I laughed a little.
"Well i'm trying!" He exclaimed.
"I know, you're doing well!" I said.
Andrew stopped. I figured I should too.
"You're really amazing."
What?
"No i'm not."
Fix hair, look away, typical Casey move. Andrew took my hand and looked me dead in the eyes.
"Yes, you are." He said.
And he leaned in. And he kissed me. And for the first time ever, I felt genuinely content with my life.
