Is this real life?

Last weekend I had the time of my life in New York City and all I could think was, “Is this real life?” Needless to say, I was feeling like the luckiest girl in the world.

            My best friend from college, Chelsea, is currently on co-op in New York City working for a fashion public relations firm and living her dream.

            She lives in Brooklyn just blocks from the Brooklyn Bridge, which we walked across, works in SoHo and attended New York Fashion Week.

            I’ve been to New York City twice before this trip, but this time felt different. The first trip was with my parents and best friends. We were the ultimate tourists. The second trip was a short look at colleges. But this time I was with someone who knows the city fairly well.

            Chelsea knew how to navigate the confusing subway system and where to take me. But it felt very strange walking a huge, gigantic city all by ourselves without our parents. It felt exhilarating.

            Before I even left for the city, I knew I wanted to see a Broadway show. Musicals are my guilty pleasure and I knew I couldn’t go to the one place in the world where all the best shows live and thrive and not go inside a theater.

            So Chelsea and I decided we would enter the Broadway lottery, a wonderful system that most shows participate in, where anyone who wants to see a show puts their name into a big barrel two hours before performance time. Then names are drawn and highly discounted tickets are sold to the winners.

            I thought we would have to enter for all three shows that weekend and still not win. But the Broadway gods were looking down on us.

            We arrived at the Eugene O’Neill Theater on 49^th Street and Times Square at 11:15 a.m. to enter for the 2 p.m. matinee show. We stood in line, chatted with some locals and at 11:30 put our names on two little cards. We kissed the cards for good luck and added them to a pile of probably 300 others. There were 22 tickets up for grabs, and you can enter your name for 1 or 2 tickets.

            Name after name was called. All the front row tickets went, but the box seats with obstructed view were still left. Then all of a sudden the name “Chelsea Addy” was called out. Chelsea and I both screamed and jumped up and down.

            We had won tickets to “Book of Mormon” the Tony award winner of best musical, written by Colorado natives Matt Stone and Trey Parker, the creators of South Park, and a show that is sold out until it closes next year. The best part, they only cost $32 each, originally $155.

            It was a dream come true for a Broadway nerd like me and an excitement junkie like Chelsea. I hope to never let go of the euphoria I felt the moment we won.

            The show lived up to and exceeded all my expectations. The singing, dancing, acting, jokes and humor were spot on.

            The weekend was also filled with great eating, sight seeing and lots of picture taking, but nothing beat that Saturday afternoon.

            The rest of the weekend Chelsea and I took turns saying, “I still can’t believe we won.” I am sure I had a smile on my face from Friday night when I first saw the city lights to Monday afternoon when I left.

            So is this real life? I’m happy to admit that it was and is. 

The theater for "Book of Mormon" 

My seat next to the stage

Chelsea and I enjoying breakfast at Tiffany's