I was aiming to have one concluding entry, but after being home for a little over a week, I have concluded that one concluding entry was not enough... So I will break it down into two... First things first.... my last days. What a whirlwind! After canceling a shadowing experience at work, I reported early on Thursday morning (July 26) to finish an assignment from my supervisor in Boston. In the morning, I received a call from my other supervisor in Boston, who thanked me for all my work and emphasized what a wonderful asset I had been to her team. She was truly incredible to work with... They all were. After finishing my intense assignment, the supervisor that assigned it realized that it was my last "work day," and called me panicking apologizing for giving me such a tedious task for my last day. I laughed and thanked her for including me in every aspect of her team. It was actually a really fun assignment!!! At lunch our intern group decided to go all out and have the HUGE EY Burger in the cafeteria! We had been putting it off the whole time, and we didn't want to leave without trying it! It was delicious!!!
After I said goodbye to my other two supervisors, I ran over to the Mariott Marquee to change and get ready for our big night!!!! We were going back stage!!! YIKES! And, most importantly, we were going to see ghost again!!! After getting dressed, we tried for the lottery. This time, we found our friend Amy who we had met standing in line for ONCE and who had told us about the Broadway softball league. She was there with a million people and a girl who gave the guy doing the lottery a cake ball!!! No fair, that's totally cheating!!!! After all the names were called out and ours weren't on the list, we hurried to the box office to buy the half price tickets. Adam hesitated, he thought at first that he would just come back and meet me after and join me backstage... But after waiting for our names to be called, he didn't hesitate any longer and joined me in purchasing our rear mezzanine tickets. We had promised Lance, our actor friend, that we would watch it from afar this time and experience the effects from there! After getting our pizza we went to the corner pizza place, where most cast members from the Broadway shows on that street go. We grabbed a slice and went back to our steps in front of
Porgy and Bess, where we had met Lance the day before. After a few minutes of people watching, Adam decided that he wanted to walk to Times Square and take some pictures. I stayed to people watch and soon found out that Adam was witnessing a SMASH episode being filmed on Times Square. I have to say... I enjoyed the steps I was sitting on and I got to watch the Ghost, Porgy and Bess, and Nice Work if You Can Get It cast as they entered through their stage entrance. Once Adam returned, we crossed over and waited by Ghost. Right on time at 7:30 came Lance and greeted us! He showed us some pictures of Katharine McPhee he had taken earlier and pictures from lunch with Pee-wee Herman. Surreal.... As he went backstage he told us to wait at the stage door and he would bring us in!
The show was more breathtaking than ever... The crowd was wonderful! We laughed, we cried, and we clapped together. The effects from the back were incredible!!!! Soooooo worth it! The subway scenes looked incredible... but what am I saying, it all did !!! After the show, we waited by the stage door for Lance and while there met an older man from D.C., who had come to New York 5 times to see the show. It was soooo refreshing to see someone who kept coming back! A lady came to ask me if I was Catherine, at which point I naturally said no! But... I turned to Adam and said... I bet she is here to see Richard (the main guy who I'm obsessed with and REALLY wanted to meet for a 3rd time!)... After a few minutes a supermodel (we actually got confirmation that she was a model) walks up saying that she was Catherine, and they led her to his dressing room... KILL ME!!! I should have said YES!!! Hahahahaha... we got a good kick out of that!
Once Lance came out he directed Adam and I, as well as a friend of his, Todd,, backstage. It was unreal! We saw the parts of the subway, the moving platforms, the back, where the actors enter, where the actors exit... You would have though we'd never been on a stage before! It was wonderful. Shortly after walking on stage Lance said... you guys hungry? (which Adam and I truly weren't) we said YES!
We walked down 46th Street into Hell's Kitchen (with Lance and Todd), as they led us to Joe Allen (apparently the place where all the actors go to after the shows!). The restaurant had a flop wall, where they had all the musicals that were a "flop." As Lance told us about the wall, he said that he hoped they wouldn't make it on the wall... it was sooooo upsetting to think that it ever could! After ordering (Adam and I simply ordered dessert) the discussion never strayed from theater... We talked about musicals, we talked about plays, we talked about songs, we talked about actors! It was awesome!!! His friend Todd is a choreographer and had lots of stories to share! Half way through the mean, Lance realized that Raven Simone's body guard was sitting at the bar... which meant that she was there. Since Lance worked with her for years on Sister Act, they are apparently very close. After another hour of talking, he pointed out that Uncle Jessie from full house was sitting at the table next to us (John Stamos)... NO BIGGIE... Adam and I tried to stay calm... After 1:00 am, we finally got up to leave and walked towards the subway... We crossed some more famous people on the way, but I really don't remember who it was because I didn't know them... As they went to the subway, I got a cab and hurried back... Friday was the last day of work! And I had presentations and breakfast at 8:00 with my awesome partner from the firm!
Friday I woke up like zombie, but was at work by 7:00. I finished up work and at 8:00 I met the partner in his office. Moktar, the intern from Senegal, joined us a few minutes later and we walked to the Mariott Marquee for breakfast. Over breakfast we discussed our futures with the firm... He let me know that my idol (the girl on his team that legitimately acted like who I want to be when I grow up) requested me to be on her team if I come back!!! Um... definitely, as long as she tells me what to do to be where she is! (Manager in just 3 years, woah!) He also helped me figure out if I'm interning in Germany and reassured me that whatever I choose, it will all work out in the end... so refreshing to hear.
After breakfast I went to our conference room for the last time, grabbed my things, and headed to our final presentations. Here, we all presented on our teams, what we learned, what we take away, and our plans for the future. The presentations took forever, but when we were done, we all said our goodbyes, turned in our badge, and headed out for the last time... some went out... but I looked forward to my last night (hopefully watching ONCE)... Before turning in my badge, I met with my family counselor who informed me that my reviews were excellent and that there would be no problem getting an interview for the next internship! I left the office happy but sad that it was the last time for a while...
After work I went to the theater to see if ONCE had standing room only tickets... they didn't, but he told me to come back later. I hurried back to NYU and tried to spend the "Campus Cash" that I had left on my NYU card. I went to Starbucks... there was no way of spending it all... I went to the store at the dinning hall... There I found Nathan and Miriam... Miriam was more than happy to go grocery shopping with my Campus Cash and I was thrilled to put it to good use! After stocking her fridge and spending only half of my money, I headed back through Washington Square Park to my dorm to pack. I tried to absorb all of what I was seeing... the acrobats, the dancers, the cello man, the homeless fight clue, and the banjoes on the corner... It really took my breath away.
After backing all of my things, I met Adam at the Once theater where we found out that we were out of luck! No standing room tickets for that night... Oh well! On we go!! As we walked away, we passed
The Best Man where John Stamos and a lot of other celebrities were acting. I didn't know much about the play, but we asked to see if they had student tickets. Though they did, I decided that we could find a better way to spend my last night... As much as I loved the shows, I didn't want to risk my last show on something I knew very little about!
We headed to Times Square and decided to sit on the giant steps on top of the TKTS booth. We sat and people watched for some time, while listening to Ghost on Adam's iPod. It was kind of idyllic, even though we were surrounded by a crowd. As we looked at the signs and advertisings everywhere, it hit me... I was leaving in the morning... I was leaving the city that gave me everything! As soon as it hit me... I knew what the perfect cure to this was... food! Bad... I know... so I texted my go to food person, Drew, and he recommended a great sushi place! It was delicious, and as we ate we got to watch the Olympic Opening Ceremony through some bamboo! Hahahaha...
After finishing our lovely meal, we headed on a walk through the upper East side to Serendipity! Adam had not tried Frrozen Hot Chocolate, and I wanted to make sure that he did this before he left. After turning one street too early, we found it and enjoyed the wonderful experience that is Serendipity. After making the incredibly lazy choice to take a taxi... (okay okay it was also my last night and I wanted to see the city!!!! ) I returned to my dorm and slept! Early in the morning I was woken up by Adam, who announced that he was on his way! We met downstairs, headed to a lovely French bakery, and enjoyed a wonderful breakfast. Before I checked out, I wanted to make sure to spend the rest of my "Campus Cash" and get Adam some groceries. So...we headed to the cafeteria and bought out the store!! With bags in hand, Sweet Adam said he would help me get my bags into a taxi. As I took the RA up to my room to check it, he waited downstairs... once I made it back downstairs with my bags, he announced that he was coming to the airport with me, since his friend was coming in on a later flight! I was thrilled! On our ride to the airport we tried not to reminisce too much... or at least I didn't... I knew as soon as I started thinking of all the things I was about to leave behind, the tears would flow...
As I sat with Adam at the airport during my last few hours in New York, all I could think about was how grateful I was that he was there. I would have LOST it! After saying a rushed goodbye (since I HATE goodbyes) I headed towards my gate... The rest is history... my flight in Charlotte was delayed, blah blah blah I made it to Memphis, saw my wonderful parents, and then back home it was!
