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That’s what this guy asked me last night at a restaurant in Union Square. Of course I said “give it to me, baby”
Or well, what actually happened was that after I told him I was a journalist, he asked me if I wanted a story that would make me rich. This guy thought his story was almost as good as the plane landing in East River. Since I soon realized that I could’t make a million dollars on his story, I decided to share it with the world anway (I mean he already had written the story and sent it to me from his Blackberry, so what the heck). So here we go. This is from Anthony – a happy New York story:
It is hard for me to put in words the day I have had today but as I am taking the train back from NYC I don’t want to let the moment pass so I will attempt to write it all down.
Going to NYC with Lily to see the Lion King was anything but typical.
Maybe the start of the day at Trenton station should have been the signal. I had planned to get the 10:30 express train to Penn Station and we arrived and boarded early. But 20 minutes after the expected departure we still remained motionless. What was happening? Engine issues caused NJ transit to cancel the rail so we had no choice but to take the next, and local, train. We finally depart on the 11:02 with an expected arrival of 12:36 in NYC for the 1 pm show. I was a bit nervous of getting from Penn Station to Broadway in this minimal time but remained cautiously optimistic. When we finally left the stations after the infinite 40 minute wait, I tried to read the paper to distract my mind. But even Lily’s excitement could not be controlled as exemplified by the constant interruptions of “Is this our station?” and “Are we there yet?” But eventually we made it to NYC. Man was Lily excited.
Dashing off the train, holding Lily by the hand, we ran up the 8th Av steps to get the first cab we could (I had received a tip to take this exit to get a cab quickly). To my surprise the driver did not speak English but I yelled loud enough that eventually he understood my bad Philly accent of “200 45th st. Broadway baby”. The 10 minute cab ride that dropped us off a block from the theater was soon over. A $6 fair with a $2 tip and we bolted to the theater at 12:48 to get the “Will Call” tickets.
Finally in line, the young man says “You need your ID for the tickets”. I go to grab my drivers license out but my wallet wasn’t in my right front pocket. That’s where it always is!!! Maybe its in my right pocket of my coat? Nope. Other pockets. Nothing. PANIC sets in. 5 minutes before the show starts I realize I have no wallet. NO MONEY – how will we get home? How will I get Lily a treat? How do I tell her I eff’d this up. Everything that defines me is in that damn thing: credit cards, cash, photo ID, pictures of Lily and Ella, Mileage-plus numbers…Everything. And it was gone.
I look at Lily. She senses something is not good. “Daddy I’ll buy you a new wallet.” So sweet. I don’t know what to do, but I convince the guy to give me the tickets. Now what? 5 minutes to show start and the show, as you know, must go on….
I grab Lily and we run back to where we were dropped off by the cab. Maybe, just maybe, it was on the street. I start asking random New Yorkers if they’ve seen a wallet. JEEZUS. What was I thinking? Amidst the laughs and shocked looks I know it’s gone.
Ok focus. Back to the theater. Let’s go to the show. Text your friends maybe they got an idea. “Call the cab company” says one. Well that sounds reasonable but I don’t have a number to call. Then I’m thinking what about all my credit cards. I lost everything I’m eff’d. Get Lily to the show. Don’t let her see you panic. “Daddy can we still go to dinner after the show?” Dinner? I hope I can get us home for Christ-sake.
We get our seats. A very nice couple tries to talk to me. Something about “booster seat for your daughter”. Finally I lose it. “Lady I’m sorry. I’m not listening. I’m in NYC for my daughters birthday and I lost my wallet. I got frickin nothing else on my mind. I don’t know how I’m gonna get home yet” She is so nice and calm (basically ignoring my insanity). “Well that happened to my brother. You need to call the police You never know”. Fine. “Lily, daddy is gonna go to the bathroom – I’ll be right back”
I step out. I call 911. I get disconnected. Nice. The lady comes out of theater and gives me $20. “So you can get home”. Wow. That Lady was the best.
The theater manager overhears what’s happening. He’s concerned. “Did you cancel your credit cards?” Frick not yet. I call 911 again. I file a report. I’m a mess. Think. Think. What do I do??? I close my eyes and think a POSITIVE thought and send out that energy to the world – some may call this a prayer but it was just pure energy from my heart. The manager is speaking to me “your daughter is in there and worried. You need to go in there.” I turn to the manager and say “I know. I believe in the goodness of man. Its all gonna be ok ” as my eyes are watering. I can’t let Lily down.
I make one more call to a friend telling him he didn’t need to pick me up. Some wonderful lady gave me money for the train ride home. He’s babbling on saying something that I barely hear and my phone starts buzzing. I’m getting a call from a zip code I don’t recognize. A very soft voice says – “Is this Anthony?” JEEzUS. “You have my wallet”.
It was my only thought. “Yes I do”. I’m speechless. Ok. Where is she?
“Where are you?”
A broken English phrase comes back. “I’m at 54th and 6th”
Somebody get me a frickin pen. My heart is pounding. “I will be here for an hour then I must leave”. What??? “One hour. Can you come here?” “No” Does she not know I’m in NYC with a 7 year old?
Now what???? The show started. Lily is engrossed. Everyone here is so wonderful. I believe in the goodness of man and I was right. I ask the Lady and the manager to watch my daughter. I figure these people paid a lot money to see this show, these people are artists, they’re good people with good hearts.
“Lily daddy will be back. A very nice woman has daddy’s wallet. I’m gonna go get it”
“Does that mean we can go out to dinner after the show?”
“Yes baby”
And I run down the three flights of stairs to find a cab.
I hop in the cab with the $20 from the lady and a whole lot of faith in mankind. I hope she’s safe. She will be. BELIEVE. I tell the Cabby what’s going on and he starts lecturing me about getting a receipt. That would have helped. Not now buddy. We find the hotel. “Cabby – wait here” I run in the hotel but the lady from the phone is not there.
I call her. She’s in a Starbucks. I go across the street to the Starbucks. She’s not there. Is this a fricking joke? I’m running around NYC looking for my wallet, talking to a lady that can hardly speak English and worried sick about my daughter who’s in the theater by herself. This all too much. “Where are you?” “Starbucks in Hilton”. Great I see the Hilton is across the street. I run in. No frickin Starbucks. I ask the desk. “In the back with the restaurant.” I weave my way around to the back of the restaurant.
“In here!! I’m here!!! Where are you?” I’m spinning in circles I don’t see her. Is this a frickin joke? One circle two, then three and four. Them I see her. She is a beautiful Asian woman and she has my wallet on the table while she’s conducting a business meeting. She apologizes for making me come to her. Are you effin kidding me??? I give her a DeSimonE huge hug. Not only does she have the wallet but everything is there. What a beautiful person.
Thank you.
Now back to the theater for the show. I run out and want to grab the first cab I see. But I don’t because I know better. I go back to the Cabbie that brought me here. He’s waiting outside the cab for me. He sees me from afar as I’m running toward the cab “Let’s go” I yell. And we start dashing thru NYC like madmen in the yellow chariot. We finally make it back to the theater. I run from the taxi to our seats so fast the theater people think I’m a lunatic trying to crash the show. I see the manager. “She’s fine. She’s enjoying the show”. THANK YOU.
I get in. First I kiss Lily. She’s sitting in a booster seat. Then I give the Lady her money back and thank her profusely. Then I watch the show. Lily is so happy I’m back.
I sat and watched the whole show. Lots of thought went through my head. I was thinking today wasn’t a TEST it was a MESSAGE.
After the show Lily and I are eating dinner at Fridays on Times Square. I’m texting a dozen people about this insanity and Lily says “Give” “It” “Back”. What???? “Give it back”. She’s reading an advertisement and that’s what it says. She keeps saying it over and over.
Some of you may read this and think I’m crazy. But everything here is true. Today was a great day.
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