I have had a few road trips that were very memorable for various reasons. One involved family and a number of firsts.
Several years ago when my oldest nephew was in college in Texas. He played linebacker on the football team. I would listen to every game on the internet. But one year, his team was scheduled to play in Connecticut – sort of in my neighbourhood.
I scheduled a trip and headed out on the train. When I got to the stadium, the people for my nephew’s college had been told I was coming and were very helpful; as were the people who took care of security at the stadium and showed me my seat.
Someone had also gotten a message to my nephew – one I have not seen since he was two years old when my brother in the Army was stationed at Fort Hood in Texas – and let him know I was there. He walked down the sideline and I excitedly came down the stairs in the stadium.
There we were standing on the steps that led to the field hugging like long lost cousins or something. It was close to game time so he couldn’t stay long.
One of those games where the home team pays the visiting team a big pile of money to come up and get whooped, my nephew’s team lost, but I’m sure they well remembered my nephew who could hit like a pile driver.
I got to see my nephew briefly after the game. It would be over 15 years before I would see him again…and meet his little brother the boxer.
After leaving Connecticut, I made a stop for a couple of days in New York City where I got to see my first Broadway musical – “Million Dollar Quartet”!
I knew of one of the actors in the musical and chose my seat close to the side of the stage where Levi Kreis would spend most of his time.
In “Million Dollar Quartet”, Levi Kreis plays Jerry Lee Lewis. All of the music in the show was performed by the actors. Near the end of the show, Jerry Lee (Levi) kicks the piano bench away so that during his playing he can jump over the piano and play backwards. I was sitting so close to the stage that for a moment I thought Levi might hit me with the piano bench!
Levi Kreis would go on to win the Tony Award for his performance.
Months later I did a phone interview with Levi and I told him the story; we both got a good laugh out of it.
On my trip I did get to take a ride on the Staten Island ferry, but Lady Liberty had to wait for another trip.
I have made four trips to The City and enjoyed every one (wish I could afford to live there) and hope to return some day.