In the midst of all the chaos of the pandemic, my college friend, Debra Lynn, posted an invitation on Facebook to join her choir in performing her original work, A Family Portrait, at Carnegie Hall on Memorial Day 2022 in New York City. Another friend from my community theater days expressed interest and I thought it would be awesome to sing with Wendy in that venue with our mutual friend. Wendy backed out but I signed up. After all, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all” as Helen Keller so eloquently stated. I made my deposit and booked my hotel a year in advance, concerned that Memorial Day 2022 would see the city booked up. Janet hates choral music, and didn’t care to go so I asked her if she would mind if I invited my good friend Michael to join me in this bucket list activity. Both she and Michael thought it would be great so it was settled and we were both committed.

The year passed and it was time to sing. As fate would have it, I contracted COVID-19 two weeks before the concert. I survived two years, two cruises, and multiple plane trips, but caught it in a movie theater. Fortunately I tested more than ten days prior to the trip, so was able to go.

I’ve always wanted to take the train to NYC so I thought this was the perfect opportunity. I’m so glad I did, because I’m hooked. The train avoids all the highway traffic and is so smooth. I think that will be my mode of travel throughout the northeast any time I can.

By good fortune I was able to book a boutique hotel in the Rockefeller Center area for a really decent price. The view from the solarium on the 9th floor was awesome!! With St. Patrick’s Cathedral only a stone’s throw away, it’s no wonder it is constantly booked for weddings. There were three during our weekend stay. After checking in, I took the subway to LaGuardia to meet Michael. I was astounded at the improvements they’ve made. The airport is actually beautiful! That’s quite a feat as it was once declared one of the worst in America.

After dinner at a local pub, we found that Rockefeller Center on a warm spring evening can be quite beautiful.

It was so wonderful to see Debra again. Both she and her husband were college classmates and it was great to catch up. Our rehearsals were only during the mornings of Saturday and Sunday so we had the rest of the days free to explore the city. Michael and I had visited the city a couple of years ago and didn’t feel the need to visit highly touristed areas. On Saturday we explored Central Park before going to to see the Broadway show, “Company”. Sunday we took the subway up to Greenwich Village and marveled at the beauty the city on a sunny day!

After a little bit of stress, wondering if I was cleared to sing due to my previous COVID status, the concert finally arrived. I was put on the approved list and granted permission to sing. It was all I’d hoped for. The piece sounded marvelous with the full orchestra. Just being on the stage in this historic hall was quite the thrill. For once, my height was advantageous in that I was placed on the front row in the center of the choir. This gave me the awesome ability to use my iPad not only to read my music, but also as a camera to take a marvelous picture during the performance.

The remainder of the concert included a treble choir from Louisiana, and a mixed chorus directed by celebrated choral composer, John Rutter. My ticket was front row center. My mind was spinning as I sat watching maestro Rutter conduct his original work, A Prayer for Ukraine, in Carnegie Hall. I really don’t know how this night could have gotten any better.

After the concert we were shuttled to a dinner cruise out of Chelsea Pier. The lights of the city were the perfect ending to a perfect day. We ate, sang, and danced till way past midnight. Though late for two old men, it was fun and well worth it!

Alas, the weekend was over and time to go home. Michael and I both had a wonderful time experiencing something so few get to do. On the way home, I got to see one of NYCs newest marvels, the Moynihan Train Hall at Pennsylvania Station. Few of us alive can remember the original Penn Station that stood where Madison Square Garden now sits, but this old post office hearkens back to the Beaux Arts wonder that used to be. It’s so much nicer than the maze of tunnels under the arena. New York always surprises me, but it’s time to get back to New England.