Monday, February 8, 2016

New Year's Eve: Bucket List part III

You are here: Home » New Year's Eve: Bucket List part III

New Years Eve, Midtown Manhattan Time Square. Ball at the Top
ringing in 2016.



February 8, 2016

I bought a subway, Metro Card, the timing couldn't have been more perfect.  The train was there and the doors were wide open. Inviting me to her to Times Square.  The Gods were smiling down upon me.  I was sure that we were doing the right thing.  

The train wasn't too busy and we found a sit in the middle of the car.  My love to my left.  The boys to my right.  I tried to fit in like a New York resident so that I wouldn't be messed with by any person who thought they could mess with a tourist.  I carefully toyed with my emotions.  I moved my face around as if I were trying to itch a scratch I could not reach.   

“You’re not from around here, are you?” A man said while his wife snuggled on his right arm.

My angry look quickly faded and a smile began to creep onto my face.

“I’m that obvious, huh? What gave me away? My over exaggerated facial features?”

“No, your Miami Marlins baseball hat,” his wife's said.  Her face was buried in the sleeve of her husbands down winter coat which muffled her voice.  Her blue eye piercing through like a chill through the air.  

“Yea, I didn’t have a knit cap for my head and this was in my bag.” I said to her. I felt rejected and removed the hat and shoved it back in my bag.

The married couple and I talked very frank about New Year’s in New York.

“You’re serious,” the husband said. “You’re taking your kids to Time Square for New Years Eve night?”

“It was an idea for something to do while here tonight. We wandered around lower Manhattan. It was a ghost town done there.”

“Why don’t you go to Central Park? See the fireworks. That’s where we are going. They do some nice things and it’s close to our home on the Upper East Side. You can be our guest.”

“I appreciate the offer but I have to do this. I’m so close to Time Square. This is my Bucket List moment and something my kids will never remember which I will remind them they were there with the 100 or so pictures I will take. This is my journey. I must leave you guys here.”

The woman sat at attention. "Go and be well my friend. Find you destiny and never look back,” She said extending her hand out for an embrace. 

Over the loud speaker warnings were said:

“50th, 59 and 60 stops are all canceled due to New Year’s Eve celebration. Use other exits people. Maybe this one or the others just not those 3. I'm serious.  And if your're crazy enough to get off at 42nd street, may God be with you.”

We got off the train on 42nd. 

“Be well my friend,” the man said. “I hope you find what it is you need to full fill your soul.”

“I will.”

I waded through the people, with my family in tow, as we made our pilgrimage topside. I walked up to the mid level of the platform and noticed two NYPD cops standing at the first landing. Carefully I approached them.  MY hands down, my head bowed. 

“I’m a policeman and I would like to know where was could see the ball drop out of harms way.”

I showed them my badge and waited for an answer.

“Look, buddy, we don’t know where you can go, we're in the subway and will be stuck here all night.  Go up to the top and flash your badge to one of those guys up there, you might get lucky.”

They bid me well, and we walked up the 26 steps towards the streets of New York. The energy was incredible, the people, power from the screens, just amazing. And we were way in front of the crowd.  1 million people stood in front of my family and hundreds of cops and barricades. 

We were in front of the guardrails that were holding back the million people. There were tons of security. Helicopters and planes we buzzing overhead. Music was playing like it was a rock concert. Roars from the people made me feel as if there was a gladiator match happening. It was pure adrenaline.  And yet, I couldn't see shit. 

At the security checkpoint I approached an officer, “hey officer here’s my badge and identification, I’m a cop. Where is the best place to watch the ball drop tonight.”

“You’re in the front of the line, pal. You would have to walk all the way back and that ain’t gonna happen. See that building,” he said while pointing up, “that’s where the ball is going to drop. You can’t see that from here. But I got a perfect spot for you and your family, come with me," he said.  "Hey sarge, I got 4, be right back."

Him and another officer escorted us passed a bunch of people who were in large corral like boxes with maybe ten to fifteen thousand people stuffed in each of them.  The walkway was a about 10 feet wide separating each corral.  
We stopped right behind the entertainment stages and in front of the million people.  The officer said while pointing around, “here you go! The NYPD FDNY family and friends section.  If you look straight up, there's the ball.  Watch these big gigantic Jumbo-trons right in front of us so you can see the concerts behind you.  Enjoy!”
Here I was standing just outside the guardrails of the big show.  We made it!  We were there right by the New Years ball in the middle of Time Square! A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.  But it didn't last long.  The security detail yelled at us to get in the guardrail areas so they could lock the box.

"We can stay along these railings, please," I implored. 
“Just stay along these guardrails,” he said.  
The music was live. The action was like something you see from the movies. WE. WERE. IN. NEW. YORK. Time Square. I did it. Everything seemed almost perfect.
“Daddy, I have to go pee,” Christopher said while tugging on my jacket.
I have to go pee, too,” Nico said.
“It’s 10:20. Can you hold it for an hour or so, pleases,” I pleaded.
They both looked me and danced around holding their pants.   

"Dad, we aren't dancing to the music.  We really have to go!" 

I frantically looked around briefly thinking about allowing them to pee somewhere near by.  But there was not grass, no trash cans or bottles to spare.  I grabbed them by the hands and slid passed the people who kept piling in.  I saw an officer just in front of the large screens playing a concert that was on stage. 
“Officer if we walked out of here, so my kids could go pee, what was the chances of us getting back in”
" We are locking things down tighter because the ball is getting closer.  There is no guarantee you'll back in.   Cross the entire street here along these barricades go to the restaurant where the other cop is standing.  Maybe they'll let you in."

"Across this way," I shouted over the music.  "In front of these people and past that large stage?"

"Yea.  Go for it.  It's only the mayor and some other people."  
So the boys and I cross the entire crowd of a million people and in between the guardrail and a gigantic Jumbotrons. There were celebrities and dignitary’s that were taking pictures in front of it. I kept my head down and let the boys lead because I didn't want them to kick me out. But on occasion I would look up and saw them taking pictures.
“Oh look, BeyoncĂ©.”
But I kept my head down and kept going. I just imagined someone looking at me and pointing, “who is this guy! Why is he in this safety zone! Kick him out."  Then, there goes my bucket list! 

"Oh, de Blasio." 
I went to the police officer who was guarding the entry/exit like a sentinel.

"Sarge, my boys, they gotta go.  Can I go and come back?"

The music was thumping so hard I have no idea how these boys held their bladders. 

"I doubt they're going to let you in.  All these places are having private parties up $1,200.00 a pop!"  

"Yo! Hey, hey, come here."  A person waved to me from a door situated between two restaurants.  "Bring your boys in here to use the bathroom."

I looked at the sergeant.  He looked at me.  "You're a cop right?  Go for it," he said.  "If you come back and I'm still here I'll let you back through."

This wasn't very reassuring. 

Everything within me began to shout, "are you crazy!"  But my sons' were tap dancing.  And Beyonce's song "To the Left" which was blaring sure did persuade me.  They had to go badly. In my moment of despair I disappeared inside the building with the boys in tow.  Damn, gotta love New York.    

"Come on this way," he said with slurred speech.  "I got kids too," he said while balancing himself in the tight walk area.  

"Us parents gotta help each other out, ya know," he belched.  He brought us down a long dark corridor.  The music from town square was muffled but still rattled the interior.  

"We got pizza in here the kids will love it.

"Go inside here," he opened a door.

Inside the restaurant there were people hobnobbing, and sipping champagne.  Girls were half naked standing on the bar.  


"Go ahead, there is a bathroom, go for it.  Just step inside.  It's just a little nipples."  

I looked around.  What could possibly happen?  "Just got for it, Chris"  I mumbled to myself. 


We walked in about 15 feet.  The door slammed behind us which startled me.  The girl standing on the table kicked the half full glasses on the ground shattering them/

"Come on baby, it's new year's eve,"  I hear a man plead.

We proceeded to go further but my youngest son pulled me back.

"Let's go back, daddy," Christopher said.  

I started to walk backward but I backed into a wall.  I turned and realized it was no wall.  It was one of the bouncers.

"You got your invite, sir?"

"Well, er," - I stammered, "Some really cool dude let us in so my boys could use the bathroom." I said.

"There's only one cool dude here.  And that is me.  And I am pretty sure I didn't let you in."  I bent over and pointed into my chest.

"Cool dude," a man shouted!

"Get her off the bar!"

He stared at me.  His eyes went soft.  "Go on get out of here.  The bathroom isn't working anyhow.  Too much confetti clogging it."

I was shown out the rear door and was nicely shoved out.  

"Daddy, here it comes!"

Thankfully next to the door was a Snapple bottle on the ground.  Without hesitation, bending over and snagging the Snapple bottle off the ground.  We stepped off to the side and they peed in the bottle.  

"This a tea Snapple, but now were are making Arnold Palmers."

After walking the labyrinth of the corridor we made are way back out the same door from which we came.  Damn the sergeant was gone. 

"No, I can't let you walk by that stage!" She shouted at me.

I pointed at the FDNY NYPD family and friends section. “I was just there. My family is still there,” I said, “ my boys had to pee. How would I even know where it was?  You're sergeant was just here. 

The officer ignored my pleas.  Suddenly I saw her right ear bend towards her radio.  She talked into the mic and gave a thumbs up.

"Look there," she shouted and pointed.  On the roof of the stage was the sergeant.  I gave him a thumbs.  I hope he was allowing me to cross again. 

As we walked, I again attempted to look inconspicuous.

“Oh there's jay-z,” I bowed my head back down

At about 11 o'clock I had to put Christopher on my shoulders because the crowds were swelling.  The metal guard rails were beginning to bow outward.  My biggest fears were coming to fruition.  My boys were going to be swallowed up.  

"Place Nico on your leg," my love said. 

As I stood there for 45-50 minutes and my whole body started shaking because I have both my kids bodies on me. My shoulders weighed down and compressed me foot which was balancing Nico who apparently was so exited he fell asleep! 

Finally the moment had arrived.  Mercy was about to fall upon me!  New Year's 2016 was at hand.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2,1 Happy NEW YEAR! 

The ball drops.  It was incredible, amazing!  All the people just screaming and sang that Auld Lang Syne, which sounds like Old Lang sign, to me! 

Frank Sinatra New York blasted afterward. But only after 2 minutes of glee there was a seismic shift in the crowd.  Like a tide we were pushed without the opportunity to savor the moment.  It was either move or get run over.  We pushed passed 3 levels of security before breaking free back into the streets of Manhattan.  It was the running of the Bulls of Pamplona!  Only this was drunk people.  

We had done it. We survived and I was proud we did after everyone else said we shouldn’t.  I am a little wiser now.  If there is a next time I may just got check out that bridge instead!


2016 is going to be a great year.



THE END 



The family enjoying the atmosphere until the ball drop in Time Square, NYC
ringing in 2016!

© Copyright 2016 Captain Imperfecto, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be republished, rewritten or redistributed without permission.  Please contact if you would like to publish.