ExposedNYC

Traveling from New York City always looks glamorous in the movies. Chic women in trench coats have doormen bring down their luggage, toss their leopard print scarves over their shoulders, and climb into the backseat of a luxury sedan with tinted windows.

In actuality, getting to and from JFK airport can be a huge pain in the butt. I’ll be spending this weekend hauling bags down the stairs of my fourth floor walk-up, dressed in sweats that I can sleep in and shoes that I can easily slip on and off at security.

To save money, making sure that after my extended holiday vacation I can still pay my phone bill, I’ll be climbing into an airport shuttle van. The last time I braved this grown-up school bus atmosphere I was seated next to an older woman who needed everything that the driver said repeated to her (especially fun when he spends half of the ride on his cell phone), and the teenager behind me who, not to be outdone, spent 45 minutes on her cell phone discussing the guy she was going to visit in Florida, the boyfriend at home who was jealous, and yelling at her mother for not understanding why, in her mind, the entire situation made perfect sense.

But, being the holidays, I’m trying to keep a positive outlook. I’ll see my Mom in less than 24-hours. I’ll marvel at how much my best friend’s baby has grown in the past month. There are champagne toasts to be had to ring in the New Year. And, just when all of the stress of traveling has blinded me of the ends justifying my means, I’ll go back and read this story to put it all in perspective.

Share This