Flashback to November 30, 2016.

The details are a little fuzzy at this point, but I am at work and walk into a meeting where I am greeted by a group of my friends/co-workers. Somehow the conversation turns to how bad I am at planning trips and how much my wife would appreciate a nice vacation (all of which is true.)

I was a man alone in front of a firing squad. The worst part about the whole thing was there was very little I could say in my defense.

Before I know it, a contract has been drawn up, witnesses are prepared, and I am asked to sign on the line.

It was that event that set the following stories in motion. We just wrapped up a fabulous trip to New York City with some very dear friends, Matt and Lauren Hinton. Oh, do one of those names look familiar? Well, it just so happens that Lauren was the vacation guilt trip ring leader and the drafter of the contract!

Now, I can’t comment on whether or not she had this in mind all along.  ? But, I do know that Jennifer and I had an amazing time, due in no small part to experiencing the City with the Hintons. They are travel pros and were gracious enough to put up with a couple of rookies who usually go to the beach every year and feel accomplished.

What follows is what I remember about each day. I tried to take some notes along the way. It is very fair to say that I was pretty nervous about this trip. And, I continued to be kinda anxious while we were there. I live my life in a small grid. But, I am so glad that I went and I am overjoyed that Jennifer got to visit a place she has always dreamed about.

The pictures can’t capture the grandeur or enormity of the city (or the smells- good and bad) but I hope you enjoy reading about it as much as I have re-living it.