New Year's Eve in NYC

New Year's Eve in The Big Apple:

November was an eventful month for Nate & Lindsay.  In the "major life changes" department they pretty much covered it all; career changes, marital status changes, & changes of address.  So we were thrilled when they announced a few weeks after moving to NYC that they were settled in enough to have visitors.  That's when the plan began to hatch... New Years Eve in Times Square!    

We drove up on the 31st via the East Shore of Va, through Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, & finally New York.  We arrived much later than planned, but Lindsay had a nice dinner prepared for us.  We quickly ate then headed for downtown Manhattan.  

Nate & Lindsay had done some asking around to determine the best way to get a glimpse of the ball.  The stories all seemed to match up:  Security would be tight.  Crowds were herded into "bull pens" & nobody got in or out, even to use the toilet.  If you wanted to find a place in the bull pen you had to arrive quite early in the day.  

We were skeptical that we would get close enough to see anything, especially given the fact that we didn't leave Nate & Lindsay's apartment until past 9pm.  The subways were deserted.  Hmmm... our first clue that everyone was already at the location.  The Times Square stop was closed, so we went one stop further & made our way through the city on foot to the center of activity.  It was bitter cold... in the teens.  All of us had donned our full ski clothing; thermals, wooly socks, boots, ski bibs, gators.  If we'd known it would be that cold we would have worn our goggles too!  We stood out like a sore thumb against the local women, many of whom wore tights & stiletto heels.  

Security WAS tight.  I've never seen so many cops.  Nearly all of the intersections were blocked & the "bull pens" were indeed full.  Nobody getting in or out.  Nate had a buddy from work who was working security that night, but we missed the window for him to help us get closer.  At each road block Nate went up to talk to the cops to see if they could get us any closer.  In the most humble, unassuming way, it was communicated that Nate was "law enforcement".  Once or twice they asked to see his badge, but always the end result was that we were allowed to go through.  There was never any grudging on the part of the NYPD for the special favor they had done for us.  I believe that was partly because of the good way Nate always makes people feel, and partly because of the weight his position holds in the law enforcement community.

By the time we got to our final spot in view of the ball, we only had 20 minutes to wait.  The ball dropped, we hooped & hollered with the rest of 'em... then rushed to the nearest subway which was only about 20 paces away.  We couldn't believe how easy it was!  Special thanks to Nate & Lindsay for taking the chance to venture out on that cold night despite reports that we wouldn't be able to get close enough to see anything.  What an amazing experience!

On New Years Day we visited the building where Nate works, saw the Brooklyn Bridge, Ground Zero, and the Statue of Liberty.  Nate's connections proved to be very helpful once again.  We were required to go through airport-like security screening before taking the ferry to Ellis & Staten Island.  (This screening actually happened twice.  Once before entering the ferry & once before entering the base of the Statue of Liberty)  Everyone was layered with coats, scarves, hats & gloves, so you can imagine how long it took.  Knowing that he would be required to go through special screening, Nate was asking the guard what their protocol was.  "Oh... you're law enforcement?!  You & your group follow me".  We were moved to the head of the line at both screening points.

As we were thanking the guards for expediting our process, the Park Ranger handed Nate special ("sold out") passes that allowed us to go inside the base of the Statue of Liberty. The base contained a museum & allowed you to see the inner structure of Lady Liberty.  There was an interesting demonstration of how the statue was made as well as a history of the Statue.  I took a minute to read some of the personal accounts of immigrants who came to the US looking for a better life.  The Statue of Liberty encapsulated their dreams & hopes for a new future.  I walked away with a better appreciation for the opportunities I enjoy as an American.

It was another cold day, made especially colder as Jayden coaxed his parents to ride the ferry's bow (outdoors with biting wind) both ways.  We were happy to call it quits in the early evening.

The subway & walk home were enjoyable.  Nate & Lindsay showed us the little corner shops, carry out food, & the laundromat in their Brooklyn neighborhood where they had daily interchange.  Their house was built "pre war".  We're guessing that means before WWI.  Very neat structures with lots of detailed work, crown molding at the roof line & the front steps like on Sesame Street.

What an experience.  We're so grateful to Nate & Lindsay for showing us their part of the world.