Peter Pan, MegaBus, and Chinatown bus are lines I’d never heard of until moving to  New England. After traveling the MassPike, I-95, I-495 and other interstates, these buses became all too familiar as daily transports between Boston, New York, and other cities in the northeastern megalopolis. Some of these lines advertise fares as low as $1 each way if you’re the first to buy a ticket for that day’s trips.

Autumn’s birthday was coming up, and I thought it would be neat to take her to a show in New York.  I think I’ve written before that her husband, Jim, hates going into New York. He lives about an hour away and has only been in the city less than half a dozen times. I’ve been there more than he has. However, Jim wanted to do something special for his new wife, and if that meant going to NYC, he decided he would suck it up and go.  I booked tickets to see Ave Q, as I thought this might be a show he’d enjoy. I already knew Autumn would love it.

All that to say that I booked a round trip bus fare on Peter Pan for about $25. I parked in a subway lot and boarded my bus at South Station in Boston around 7:00 A.M. to arrive in NYC by 11:30.  Jim and Autumn arrived on the NJ Transit train in Penn Station where we ate lunch and prepared for the day.  It has since become a ritual for Autumn to visit the Nintendo store in Rockefeller Plaza when she comes to the city. Poor Jim had to endure a sardine can subway full of NY Yankee fans as we made our way over to 5th ave. I have to give him props for what he’ll endure for his wife. After the Nintendo store, we visited the M & M store in Times Square until time for the show.

 

Avenue Q is not a family show, which was why Janet did not join us, but my little partial family enjoyed it thoroughly. Jim, Autumn, and I had a wonderful day together. I know he won’t go back to the city for a long time, but I was really proud that he ventured out of his comfort zone for the day. They boarded their train, and I boarded my bus back to Boston. I got home around 1:30 AM.   Though in past trips I’d made NYC a stop on the way home, I never dreamed it could become a day-trip. Thank you Peter Pan!

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller