a day in The City with mom

My mom and I went into New York City to try to see the Rachael Ray Show. No, we didn’t have tickets; we were trying for stand-by seats. We got up early and my step-dad drove us to the train station. We took the nearly 1 hour ride into the city and then walked a whole heck of a lot further to the studio than we had originally anticipated needing to walk. Yes, we could have taken a cab but we were women on a mission.

We arrived and saw a line forming outside the “Audience Entrance” sign. I went inside the studio entryway beside the sign to make sure we were in fact in the correct place. I was informed by a nice security guy that we in fact were. For stand-by tickets we needed to wait in line and someone with a headset would eventually come out and tell us what to do. Check. It’s off to the line we go. As I’m about to walk outside he tells me that which I already know – it’s hard to get stand-by tickets to RR. I smiled and said, ‘I know, thanks.’ But what I was thinking to add to that is, ‘but you don’t know my God.’ I just never said it out loud.

Mom and I stood in line for about 65 minutes or so listening to the people around us chat about some ridiculous stuff. All the people around us had tickets. We had hope. I kept thinking how wrong it was that some of the people around me who aren’t even fans (or fair weathered ones at best) were going to get in and I might not. One woman in front kept saying things about RR like, ‘I didn’t know she lived in the city.’ In my head I responded – she lives in the Village and has a house in the Adirondacks; she and John are also currently considering a summer home in the Hamptons. Anything else you’d like to know about her? Some people. Instead I just held my tongue.

Finally after what felt like years the woman with the headset came out. She walked past us and was kind of counting/looking for passes. I scooted to the side and asked if we were in the right line for stand-by tickets. After all that time waiting, I didn’t want to get left behind. Her words to me were, ‘I’m going to let you stay right here.’ Hope meter skyrocketed. I figured we’d flash our government issued id as required and walk right in. Headset lady started at the back of the line and started pulling people out of line to go on ahead of the rest of us and get inside. We found out they were considered VIPs. Hey, I’m a VIP too! Rachael may not know it yet but I surely am.

Headset lady got to us and asked for my last name. I told her we weren’t on the list and were hoping for stand-by tickets. Good grief, some people forget faces so easily. :-) She told us to come out of line and walk up to the other woman with the headset and she’d help us. Heart is pounding at this moment. Could it be? Are we going to get in? My mom and I walk confidently up to headset lady II and she asks for our name. Rats. Again I explain how we are hoping for stand-by seats. She tells us to stand to the side. I get up against the wall and headset lady II comes over and drops the bomb – there are no standby seats left. What????!!!!! After all that? No seats? Hey, I’m a VIP too. I guess my V or I just aren’t big enough.

So, mom and I did what nearly every other woman would have done in that situation. We stormed the doors and ran inside. Just kidding. We went shopping. We weren’t going to waste a trip into NYC.

As far as the RR show goes, I’ll try again. One of these days I’m getting in to see the show. I’m still holding my hope. Better yet, maybe one day I’ll be ON the show. Look for me on a tv near you. I’ll be back Rachael; I’ll be back.