Today, there was only one thing on the docket - going into NYC to meet with RQS and see Ragtime at Lincoln Center. As much as I'm not a fan of musicals, I knew RQS would enjoy it, and we planned for this day long before Xmas.
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I set my alarms to wake me up around 8, so that I could make a 10:42 train. This would bring me into Grand Central at 11:40, giving me 20 minutes to make it to Union Square for lunch. So, I hopped into the shower at 9:15 (after I finished the co-op's meeting minutes for review), and was ready to go to the train station by 10:00. This was a little chancy. I'd be late if I couldn't find a parking spot (the station I go to is large, but often has no vacancies), but I wanted to pick up an egg sandwich before getting on the train. But luck was with me today, I got a decent parking spot.
Given this is winter, a sweater dress was my choice of the day. Although most cisgender women were wearing trousers, some were wearing dresses. So I didn't stand out too much. I hoped that there wasn't too much of a snow melt, as I didn't want to be stepping around puddles while wearing flats and tights. I got lucky there as well. So, when I made it to Grand Central, I chose the non obvious route. Instead of taking the 4th avenue line direct to Union Square, I decided to save on walking by taking the shuttle to Times Square, and the Broadway line to Union Square, where I'd be leaving the system at 16th Street instead of at 14th Street. (2 street blocks = 0.10 mile, plus a 1 avenue block = 0.33 mile.) The walk was long enough already than to add close to 1/2 mile of unneeded walking. This was a smart move, as I ended up less than a block away from where we planned to eat lunch.
When RQS arrived, I said that she should go buy her lunch, and that I'd get up when she got back to the table. All of a sudden 20 people walked in, and the store received a large door dash order at the same time. It took her 20 minutes to get a sandwich which normally would be ready in 3 minutes. So, we split her small sandwich, and headed up to Lincoln Center for the play instead of lingering in the sandwich shop.
It took us 15 minutes to make it from Union Square to Lincoln center. Not being familiar with the complex, I had to ask for directions - and found the theater in the back of the complex. It was nice to enter the theater from a mid level, as we didn't have to walk up too many flights of stairs to get to our seats. Although the seats were too narrow for me, my knees weren't hitting the back of the seat in front of me. So, I was able to be tolerably comfortable for the two acts of the play.
Rarely does a musical make me say "Wow!" But this was one of them. Like a good Opera, the songs told the tale. Unlike an opera, there was some spoken dialog that helps people understand the play. So, when intermission came, there was the usual mad dash to the women's room.
I've never seen a sign like this before, but it made sense. Where does the long line to the ladies' loo start? In the case of this theater, the line was over 120 feet long. Yet, that line moved, as there had to be 20 stalls available for use at any one time. As for RQS and me, we were on a different line for only 2 stalls. And it was just as well, as I liked having the extra room that a single stall facility has.
The play ended at 5:00, and both of us entered the subway around 5:15. RQS was home by 6:15, while I was home by 7:00. It was a long day, but well worth the effort I made to get to see RQS and the play.
