Mary Poppins

Day 5, 4.19.10

Lessons learned:

Double check addresses in the city.

Allow for extra time to make dinner reservations if you don't have the right address.

When you can't find the restaurant and miss the reservation, stay calm. {that one was for me, mostly}

Don't decide to drive to the theatre, leave your car where it is and take a taxi.

But if you do decide to drive into Times Square {don't} have your boyfriend {or any calm, rational, and patient person who is removed from the situation} on the phone with you.

When you find a metered parking spot on the street, take it, because 50 cents per 12 minutes, even though it sounds outrageous, is really only $2.50 an hour {your calm significant other will tell you that.}

Stay in that spot.

Don't leave it.

Don't try to drive closer.

Don't get so frazzled that your Mom says, "park anywhere!"

Because you'll park in the parking garage called "Times Square Parking" {$$$}

By this point you might be near tears, and stressed, and bugged... just get to the Amsterdam Theatre quickly & the Mary Poppins music will make all those feelings dissipate.

Then sit and enjoy the best Broadway show you've ever seen. THE BEST.

After that get yummy salads and cheesecake together in the middle of Times Square at Europa Cafe.

Now is when you'll pay $50.00 for parking {instead of the $10.00 you would have paid had you stayed in spot #1}, but just laugh and quote Dad and say, "Lesson learned!"
Thank Mom for paying the bill!

Then drive home the way you know, call Dad and tell him the story and make him guess how much you paid for parking. When he guesses $100.00 you'll tell him that you actually saved him $50.00, he'll just laugh because he's the best and he loves his wife and daughter.

Then call boyfriend and tell him how calm and collected you are on the drive home, so he knows that you're not crazy all of the time.

Then despite the mishap{s} of the night, be in such a great mood, because it turned out so well in the end.

And you love your Mom a lot, she's great company.

And now you just have a really funny memory.