I leave in plenty of time for tonight's screening of Bridget Jones's Baby at the AMC Loews on 68th and Broadway.
I'm giving the intro so I want to arrive early. About 300 people are expected.
I'm on a bus by 5:55 pm. Should be easy to arrive (and meet Jill) by 6:30 ish.
My bus driver thinks he's a Formula One racer car driver.
I get on at 79th and Second.
Read a couple of emails.
Look up and see we've passed my stop at 67th; next stop is 55th. Now I'll be late.
I get off at 55th, and take the crosstown 57th to Broadway.
It's now 6:40. The film starts at 7. So does my intro.
My phone rings. "Hi; it's Carl. Do you need a mike?"
I have no idea who Carl is. "I'm sorry, who?"
"Carl. At AMC." (No one from AMC has ever called me before). "Do you need a mike tonight?"
"Sure, that'll be great," I say. Just hoping I'll be there in time to use it.
I enter the subway at 57th and 8th. It's a very long underground walk to the number 1 train. I change my mind; exit the subway; and am starting to get nervous.
I hail a cab.
Now that I use Via, I can't remember the last time I was even in a cab. But I do remember that you need cash or a credit card to pay.
I look in my purse; I see no wallet. No cash. And no credit cards.
Do I tell my driver now and risk not making it to the theater by 7? Or do I wait till I'm at the theater and risk the driver's wrath?
I go for the latter.
"I'm so sorry, but I don't have any money on me at all."
Without hesitation the driver responds. "That's okay. Don't worry about it."
I think maybe he doesn't understand. So I repeat myself.
"No problem," he says again.
I never get his name, but his Medallion Number is 2J79.
"You totally made my night," I tell him when he drops me off in front of the theater.
I begin my intro. "Let me tell you how I got here tonight..."
Just another example of how nice New Yorkers can be.
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