The last day of my whirlwind weekend

I think, perhaps I got 9 hours of sleep. It was much needed. Gail was having brunch with her friend Beth so I was left pretty much on my own for the day. We had to pack our stuff up and tote it down to storage so we could pick it up later after "Between Ourselves", the last of Victoria and Charles Plays. Since Gail had to be at the Hilton by 11 a.m. That meant we had to check out of our room before she left. By 10:30 I had taken up residence in the hotel lobby.

The lobby consisted of 2 chairs and a table. 1st come first serve idea there. There was a room on the second floor that was a sort of lounge but for some reason it was conspicuously locked. Thus, I had to wait patiently for my chance to grab a seat. Luckily, I wasn't bored stiff. I had brought a Stephen King novel and some handheld computer games with me. I do know how to travel.

This was my first trip totally on my own. I'm rather shy and naive in such matters. And this trip to New York was daunting to say the least. I remembered that in 1998 I had said that in 1999 I WAS going to the fan luncheon. But when February rolled around I was wishy-washy in making up my mind. Basically, I live on disability and didn't really have the funds to go. However, my mother had made a bet with me that if I lost so much weight she would give me $1000.00. I was 2 weeks away from the deadline and 4 pounds above goal. Trust me I starved to death those 2 weeks to hit my goal.

If memory serves, Lucky, Duran, Kelt, Bryn, Jenn and I had started out teasing each other about going to NY for the luncheon. Suddenly we were no longer teasing. Here I was not really sure I could even go and I was making arrangements for a place to stay and tickets to get. Suddenly out of the blue I WAS going. It wasn't a matter of maybe. And I was scared to death. I had never been on an airplane by myself before. I had never traveled alone before let alone to one of the biggest cities in the world. It was a terrifying idea.

Somehow, I got all the arrangements made. Gail, a good friend was coming in from Washington State and needed a roomy. I volunteered. Lisa Nacastro, a dear friend from the NBC chatroom said she would retrieve me from Newark International once I made my flight arrangements. And then, though my mother and father were less than thrilled with my decision, they agreed to take me to the Louisville, KY airport. All that was left really was my keeping my nerves together. And I did.

Once in NY though I stuck by poor Gail like glue. The first night, God, I was such a mess. Gail, must of thought I was nuts. But she understood and I thank her for that. By Sunday I was more relaxed. Gail was off to her brunch, which meant I had to get to the play on my own. That entailed a. catching a taxi or b. taking the subway. I don't think I could have handled the subway. Someone must have been watching out for me because when it came time for me to go to the play I actually managed to hail a Taxi. Boy did I feel empowered by that. :-)

I hailed that taxi at 1:15 p.m. and headed for Danny's Improvisation. I get there and there are several people standing outside. They tell me I can go in. I go in and there is a line. Not a real long but the place was really small so it was crowded. We wait about 15 minutes or so before we are allowed into the stage area. It's amazing how fast the place filled. I gave my name to Silver Saunder's whom was, I think, the proprietor and told her I am severely hearing impaired. I had been told when I called and made reservations to tell them at the door. Some help that did, I was still stuck in the back but as I said the place was small, even being at the back I was still within 30 feet of the stage.

They had these itty-bitty tables. And the place was crowded. I was alone to start with and then they seated this Huge and I mean huge guy with me. We looked like Mutt and Jeff. I think he was no less than 6'9 and here I am 4'7. And he was trying to get his knees under the table. Poor guy!

I saw my friend Carolyn from Iowa there and gave her some pictures that I had had since Iowa the year before when I went to see Victoria and Charles. And I ordered what I think was shrimp rolls. Heck if I know. I just remember you had to buy something. So I did.

Then Victoria and Charles were introduced. They looked a lot more casual than they had on Friday. The play itself was a lot more casual of a play and so much fun. One of the first things Victoria says/ asks is "I understand we have a hearing impaired person in the audience. Can you all hear me?" I wanted to crawl under my itty-bitty table. Oh well.

We laughed, and laughed as the play went on. It was a nice change from the heaviness of "Love Letters." I was surprised when people started taking pictures of the stage and them but no one said anything so I dug out my camera too.

The play ended and they started the autograph session. First we were in the stage room. But then the people at Danny's needed to get the stage area ready for the normal show that night so we headed for the bar area. As normal I held back. I was getting a picture autographed for my 6-year-old cousin Amanda, who adores Victoria. (Hmm, I wonder were she gets that from?), and Lucky an autograph from Charles. So it really wasn't like I needed to be at the end I just feel more comfortable. But as things worked out I really wasn't at the end. Which was fine. They signed my things and we talked briefly. Victoria managed to turn off my hearing aid. (She's forgiven. LOL) All in all it was marvelous.

After I had my stuff signed I went and stood with my friend Jodi. I said to her that I still hadn't played with Charles hair. This is a running joke between us as Jodi has played with his hair, didn't even bother to ask :-D

She walks over to Charles and says to him "Charles she wants to play with your hair." Then they both proceed to try to get me to come over. I was livid. I wasn't about to play with his hair with everyone standing around to watch. They finally gave up.

Next they had to move back into the stage area cause some ladies wanted them to have their picture taken with the Sign for the Improv behind them. So Charles and Victoria moved back into the stage area. After these gals had their pictures taken I hung back and waited for them to clear the area. (All this time I'm taking pictures for the page.) Charles starts to leave the room and I get up my nerve and said to him that I have to play with his hair, that I promised Jodi. So he leans back takes the scrunchy from his hair and says something to the affect of Dig In. And thus I played with Charles Keating's hair. Let me tell you folks it's soft as silk!

"Parting is such sweet sorrow." Shakespeare got that line right. I held back, I didn't want the fairytale to end. I watched them put on their coats. I watched them try to hail a cab. (That was an adventure in itself). And I watched them hightail it down the street in search of whatever they were looking for. And I was alone. And I realized that I was. It hit me square in the face that the fairytale was over. I too tried to hail a cab. It seems to be an impossibility on 39th street. So I follow in everyone's foots steps and head for 7th avenue.

I didn't get far when I heard someone calling my name. I turn around and low and behold there is one of my chat pals. Nonnie! It turns out she had come in hopes of seeing Charles and Victoria but had got there real late and then had to move her car and by the time she got back around the block they were gone. Nonnie is from Jersey and knows NYC. I told her that she just missed them and that I was on my way back to the hotel to grab my luggage and head for the shuttle back to Newark. Nonnie being the Doll she is insists on giving me a ride not only to my hotel but also to where the shuttle is supposed to be: another friend to the rescue.

Nonnie drops me off at the shuttle station basically as Gail shows up with her luggage in tow. Gail and I sit and talk as we wait. The shuttle shows up. We got on and sat in silence for the most part to the airport. I remember thinking back on the last 2 days events, the people, the places, the sights and the sounds. I remembered the things that Victoria and Charles said to me. I remembered my friends and the tears came.

Gail got off the shuttle at terminal A and I got off at terminal C. Let's just say I didn't have the most pleasant experience trying to check baggage. I ended up with both my carry-on and my suitcase being checked. I couldn't change clothes or even get to some of the stuff I had wanted to look at. Oh well. I went and found my gate and I sat down to wait the 4 hours until my flight. The people at the airport must think me insane because I laughed and cried throughout the duration. I ate a slice of pizza for dinner and waited some more. Finally it was time to go home. As much as I hadn't wanted the fairytale to end I was ready to come home.

I boarded the plane at 8:45 EST. and at 9:05 p.m. I left another world and returned to mine with treasured memories to last me forever and no regrets.

Victoria and Charles

Victoria and Charles preforming "May I feel", and from the looks of it he was feeling plenty;-D

Victoria and Charles at "Between Ourselves"

Victoria and Charles

Victoria, Jodi and Charles

Jodi playing with Charles hair trying to convince me to put down my camera and come play too.

Victoria signing Jodi's 35th anniversary Book