New York-Day Two, "The Perfect Day"

I was so exciting that we would be seeing a Broadway show...especially my favorite show...that I awoke at 4:30 am. Yup. 4:30 AM. We decided to do our sightseeing after the show and to take it easy until noon or so.

Poor Swede, he was trying to very hard conceal his disappointment over not being able to see his beloved Bears playoff game. Every once in a while he would make comments such as, "Wouldn't it be great if the afternoon show was canceled and they rescheduled all ticketholders for the evening show?" and "Oh well. This will be fun." I felt bad. When I originally made the reservations, it had never entered my mind that the play would interfere with the game.

Knowing my dad was glued to the television back home, I called during intermission to get an update. Tied. No wait...Another Bears touchdown!

"Oh well. This is fun."

I hung up promising that as soon as the show let out, I'd call again to get the final score. As we gathered in the lobby, I called my dad, mouthing his answers to The Swede as they were given to me.

"Well? What was the final score?"

"Uh...tied, but it's not over yet. There are four minutes left."

With that The Swede took off headed for ESPN Zone across the street in Times Square. I quickly hung up so I wouldn't be left alone with the boys in the big city, the Swede no where in sight.

Note to self: Bears playoff games trump family's safety.

When I finally caught up with The Swede, he was shouting, "ESPN ZONE!!" to the bicycle-rickshaw rider. The driver was foreign and must have misinterpreted The Swede's excitement as "Let's take a leisurely tour of Times Square eventually ending up at ESPN Zone." He knew not the urgency of reaching our destination.

"Oh well. This is fun."

As we finally approached said destination, The Swede glanced up at the enormous "TV" video screen and -- you guessed it -- there it was.

The Game (heavenly orchestra music).

The Swede shouted, "There it is!! We'll get off right here." Paid the extraordinarily expensive fee (for a ride which was basically across the street) and got out.

There we stood in Times Square watching the end of the game go into overtime and the Bears finally coming through in the end with a playoff win.



The Swede said, "This is The Perfect Day."

Ahh.