October 9, 2015

Yesterday was the first day of New York. I joined my family at about 11 pm on Thursday night. After the flight my mom was waiting at baggage claim for me, and the hug I received is believed to be the biggest yet. We started our day quite a bit earlier than I usually do in my dorm at home in Mankato. This means about 9 o’clock. Although we are visiting New York for the weekend, we are staying at a farm that reminds me much of our home in Alexandria. There are ponies, goats, sheep, chicken, a donkey and wild deer there. We left the farm and made our way, about an hour and a half drive, to New York City. After driving in the city for about 20 minutes looking for a parking spot, my mom was stressing out and in need of someone to take over the wheel. At a stoplight that was backed up my parent’s switched spots and my dad then got us to a parking ramp with only a few close calls. Immediately after walking out of the parking ramp we experienced New York City. There were bus services all around us that wanted to sell us the “best” tour around, and notifying us that “all the other ones are scams”. Being my dad has a short fuse of patients and we intended on getting a bus tour anyway, he didn’t hesitate to say yes to the first man who talked to us. Other than the bus tours, there were people dressed up as characters from the boys favorite shows asking to take pictures with tip jars strapped around them. While my dad was figuring out how exactly the tour worked that he had just bought, we got on the bus to see it first hand. Our tour guide, cheesy and annoying, showed us around the city. We saw Uptown, Downtown, Midtown, Soho, China town, Time Square, Madison Garden Center, Statue of Liberty, The Empire state building and just about anything more that you could imagine. After the tour, my dad was eager to teach us all about the One World Trade Center. We went there with good intentions of learning, and although we did that, I think a few of us left light headed and ready for some food. Out of all places in New York to grab some food, the choice was made to eat at T.G.I. Fridays. Shortly after, we found ourselves back on the tour bus to make our way to Times Square. On our way there, a downpour happened. Although we were given plastic ponchos, I think it’s safe to say we all ended up rather wet and cold. As my dad says though, McCleary’s don’t quit. We kept going until the end of the day. My sisters, mom and I enjoyed shopping at Forever 21 as that is all we had time for due to the 4 floors. We intend on doing some more shopping tomorrow. We left NYC for the day and I was exhausted. Not only did we get up earlier than usual for me, I did not get to take my typical 2/3 naps a day. Falling asleep in the car has never been so comfy. Although I miss my friends and boyfriend at home, this trip with my family is much needed and I am so lucky to have the opportunity to see all of them in a beautiful city for the weekend.

Amanda