Brighter than sunshine.
Sometimes my life shows up in the form of a movie, including transparent overarching themes, ironies, moments, and unforgettable one-liners. Over the weekend, during my impromptu NYC trip with my Mr. Big, we created and starred in our very own Indie romantic comedy film.
Our flight was super early on Saturday so we laid low Friday night. He suggested we watch “our movie” A Lot Like Love. Many years ago after (one of) our break-ups, I stumbled across it on DVD and left it in his mailbox to watch. Similar to our Sex & The City parallel, this cinematic story also captures our history to a T. Boy meets girl, they fall in love, come in & out of each others lives and are ultimately destined to be together. Their chemistry, goofy sense of humor and magnetism for one another is practically tangible. Also one of our songs is from the soundtrack, Brighter than sunshine.
When we hit play on the DVD player, the very first screen shot comes up is text: Seven years ago. We both looked at each other as if we had seen a ghost. Of course it was exactly 7 years ago that we went to NYC. Also the very first scene takes place in Manhattan. Not to mention we have an unrelated joke about the number 7 — whenever asked a question that we don’t know how to respond to, we say “seven.” Totally random and meaningless, but funny nonetheless. On the eve of our getaway, re-watching this very significant film together was a poignant preface to the journey ahead: completely unexpected.
Just like our original ‘02 trip to see bright [Christmas] lights in the big city and the only time since, we had to board a small propeller plane again. Of course we did. When we landed, I had absolutely no idea what was in store. I honestly just thought we’d do some typical touristy things. My only knowledge base whatsoever was what kind of clothes to pack. We dropped our bags off at the hotel, Stay. Of course the name of our hotel is called Stay. It was in the heart of Times Square with a convenient club located on the first floor. But not just any club, one of the top 10 clubs in the city according to the NY Times.
We walked in the bitter cold, glove-in-glove, a few avenues away for a lunch reservation @ 11:30. Once inside the MOMA, Museum of Modern Art, we were escorted to the restaurant. He looks at me and asked if anything looks familiar. I immediately went into Sex & the City factoid mode…where am I?? We were then taken to the table where Carrie tells her 3 friends that she is engaged and Charlotte screams at the top of her lungs in excitement. She turns to the room full of stranger patrons and says, “My friend just got engaged. You don’t understand. She dated this guy for 10 years, TEN YEARS!” Later she stated with complete conviction, “I always knew she’d marry Big.” I could not believe my eyes — it was as if I was transported into the scene as an extra. We had a delicious lunch and with every bite, tried to swallow how thoughtful, and impressive, his planning was. It never ever occurred to me that he would have incorporated my infatuation with S&TC into our agenda. When he asked our waitress to take our picture and informed her of the special table request, she said they’d be coming back soon to film a scene there for “#2.”
We bundled back up in our winter gear and walked a few more blocks. Once we approached the unknown destination and I looked at the discrete sign, I dropped the F-bomb. Dear God, I’m at Manolo. A security guard had to open the locked door for us from inside. I skated along the carpet while an Italian wife sat on a couch trying on heels as her husband watched. Though I felt like a total fraud being there, I breathed in the magnificent arches covered with feathers, bows, flowers, fringe, straps and sparkly gems.
From there, Big said we’d head over to Saks for a shopping excursion. En route to the designer brand haven, we happen to pass by the famous Magnolia Bakery on 5th Ave. I treated him to a vanilla cupcake and he devoured it in less than 20 seconds. During our walk we noticed a sidewalk vendor selling scripts, and what was right on top? Sex & The City, of course.
We also spotted The Tree. But seeing as though we were apparently on a couture mission, admiration for the overcrowded holiday staple was only observed in passing and we let the tourists have their space.
Once inside, we hit floors 1 & 8, and I seemingly experienced a low grade panic attack. The purses, shoes, and frocks on display took my breath away. I repeatedly kept focusing on filling my lungs as to not pass out. Putting a shopaholic in a fabric fish bowl is like putting a diabetic kid in a candy store. Eventually I decided to forgo wearable accessories for a makeover. We landed at MAC where I got a color consultation. In the past, most artists make me look like a clown but this gal knew exactly what she was doing. Big bought me a whole new wardrobe for my face.
My smile that stretched from ear to ear, thanks to Fergie’s custom lip gloss line, began to quiver when he made a pit stop in the jewelry section. Specifically, Roberto Coin’s Cento collection with 100 facets. Over the next twenty minutes, I had my ring finger sized - 4 3/4, tried on a few rocks, and talked at length with the specialist about details, design and diamonds. When learning that every single RC ring has a small ruby located on the inside and heard the special story behind it, of course I grinned…it’s my birthstone.
We walked away while thanking the overzealous sales person, and he asked me if that experience made me nervous, “Your hands were shaking the whole time.” He suggested we go to Saks’ spa. Me and the metrosexual got manis. One thing I love about him is how personable he is in any environment. Whether it be with the nail technicians or the taxi drivers, he gabs away and is just as friendly as can be. That is a staple Mr. Big trait he equally possesses in a rather big way.
After an outfit change, we got into Mr. Big’s black sedan and headed uptown. He warned me, “FYI we have two dinner reservations tonight so try and pace your appetite.” We arrived at a corner Italian restaurant at 7pm, Lumi’s, and were shown to our table — Mr. Big’s table. It hit me…the scene where Charlotte sees Big in the movie post wedding flake out, she runs outside and her water breaks. He tells me the significance for this location is a symbol for our rebirth.
The owner, Lumi herself, chatted with us and was clearly into our whole story and even shared with us some behind-the-scenes stories from filming. “Chris Noth was so hilarious, every day he’d show up early and was cracking everyone up. Such a nice guy. My husband and I were in the scene too, sitting at the table right next to his.” To top it all off, our food was one of the best dishes I’ve ever consumed. My taste buds danced in tomato and basil delight. While waving goodbye, Lumi said, “Come back sometime and tell me how things end up. Just remind me that you’re Carrie & Big from Virginia.”
We then scooted downtown 4 miles and were dropped off at an inconspicuous street. While we approached dinner #2 for our 11:30pm reservation, I stomped my stiletto on the sidewalk once realizing where we were. I yelled, “No you didn’t!!” It turns out, all of the previous planning was done with his own research. But this one was taken directly from my Facebook. A little over a month ago, my girlfriends and I took a Sex & The City bus tour. One of the stops was at an Asian infusion restaurant called Buddakan…the location of Carrie & Big’s rehearsal dinner. He had seen my caption, “Definitely want to go back and eat there.” And, that’s exactly what we did.
But not before mingling in the crowded bar area and taking a shot of high end tequila. Anytime we toast, it usually entails some silly expression. But this time he lifted his glass and said, “Cheers to Love.” Several appetizers and sake topped off our already full bellies.
With an award-winning buzz and no room left for dessert, he absolutely outdid himself with the final stop on our amazing trip around the island. “What would you say if I told you I know where Carrie’s stoop is.” On the bus tour, that was the *one* stop I was looking forward to more than anything else. But it was taken off the agenda since the home owners got tired of all the visitors. So we bravely walked through the arctic temperatures, in my heels and short sassy dress, and distracted ourselves through hilarious banter from the fact our ears were numb for 11 blocks until we arrived at my Mecca. Finally, finally, finally.
I looked up and down, and up and down, and up and down the street; the very familiar block of memories flashed before me in scene snippets. Here I am, with my Mr. Big. It was beyond surreal.
I levitated back to the hotel and changed costumes again into something more comfortable. We spent the next three hours of the morning dancing, drinking and laughing until our stomach muscles ached.
Like the song says, if Love does actually burn brighter than sunshine, I’m confident my dermatologist will be treating me for the 3rd degree furnace that scorched my epidermis, complete with skin grafting. No one has ever done anything so unbelievably considerate, thoughtful, romantic and amazing for me. Not to mention the countless conversations — it’s as if he was taken on a space ship to another planet, infused with superhuman insight, and gets it. Really gets it.
To wrap up the unforgettable gift of memories and “you can’t make this stuff up” coincidences, of course on this very day, 8 years ago, we began dating.
Big is back. But this time, I know inside every pore I possess, that it’s for good.
