I was reminded of a great story and experience of driving through Manhattan and Time Square after reading a recent post on Lemonade – Life. 

This event happened in mid-December of 2003.  Two of my friends, Tony and Tommy, and me decided to take a trip to New York City.  It’s not a long drive, maybe about an hour and a half depending on traffic, and in our case how many stops you must make because you have an undiagnosed diabetic with extremely high blood sugars.  I went to the bathroom at the house before we left and had to go again by the time we made it to McDonald’s 10 minutes away.  I thought to myself…. “Ahhh here we go again.” 

After finally making it onto the highway at about 9:30 am, we were smooth sailing with no traffic and thinking we’re going to make great time.  Until all of a sudden the driver, me, needs to make another pit stop.  The first stop was fine with my friends; it was the second and third ones that got them a little mad.  I said, “I can’t help it, I gotta go to bathroom, what do you want me to do?”   Finally, we made it into the city, a little confused on where to go or what roads to take, I just had to park anywhere because guess who had to go to the bathroom again?  That’s right you guessed it, the undiagnosed hyperglycemic driver.  We found a low priced parking garage that we decided to park the car in and just use public transportation the rest of the day.  Finally after a long, long day of traveling the city, visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Ground Zero, Empire State Building, and of course since I wish of being the next Apprentice, we had to visit Trump Tower. 

It was now time to pick up the car and drive to another part of town.  And now, let the fun begin.  I don’t know what street we were on, it was right across from Madison Square Garden, and we were stuck in traffic, and I had to go to the bathroom again, what a shock!  So I said, we haven’t moved in like 10 minutes, I can make it into Wendy’s right there and make it out before we move.  So I told Tony to jump in the driver’s seat and I’ll run in and out very fast.  As soon as I made it to Wendy’s door, I turned and saw traffic starting to move, I told Tony to just go around the block and pick me up.  So he drove off, and at the same time I realized I left my phone in the car. 

I stood out front of Wendy’s for about 15-20 minutes waiting for them to come back around, no luck, and no phone.  I finally found my way to a pay phone to call them, not answering. I walked around New York City, by myself, hyperglycemic symptoms, no cell phone, no car.  After about an hour of being by myself, I spotted Tony and Tommy.  “Dude, we were looking all over for you, we drove around like 4-5 times.  Do you know how hard it is to just try and go around the block here.”  Tony luckily found a parking spot directly in front of  Madison Square Garden.  It was time to get out of NYC.  After we got to the car, I was ready to go home, when Tony and Tommy decided they had to go to the bathroom now.  So I sat in the car, by myself, sun starting to fade away in New York City.  I had to go to the bathroom, once again, but there was nowhere near I could go and I was not going to leave these guys again. Once we made it home, I said I will NEVER drive in NYC again. 

One year later, I broke that promise.  It was not nearly as bad this time, I had a pump.