by: Gary Szenderski
Luck of the Roll
My New York Adventure Part 2
Recap: On my very first trip to New York via Philadelphia, I had hitchhiked and arrived with very little money, no clue of the culture and after one night staying at the YMCA realized something about New York that I would carry with me for years and years – go with an expense account.
To continue: The next morning, I checked out of the Y and put my stuff in a locker at the bus station. While I spent a bit of time checking out various places to stay, I also became the consummate tourist and just walked and gawked all day ending the afternoon at Rockefeller Center watching ice skaters and wondering where I would spend the night. I was sitting on a bench and spotted a coin that hit the ground amidst a group of skater watchers. It was a quarter, and it rolled about 20 feet toward me and spun to collapse. Taking this as a good omen, I picked it up and walked up to the folks from where the coin came.
There were four well-dressed, attractive young ladies leaning on the railing watching the skaters and actively chatting back and forth. I interrupted their conversation and asked if anyone dropped a quarter, which I held up in my hand to give some credence to what might sound like a pick-up line. One thing led to another; they treated me to lunch, and I learned that they were from Boston and in town for a conference. Their days we’re pretty booked, but the nights were free. And since they were on an expense account and I was poor and not going back to the YMCA, they invited me to stay with them and basically be their escort. I don’t know how many dreams come true when you’re only 18 or so but this was definitely one of mine.
Every day was a different venue. I would go with them to plays and TV tapings and a bunch of other tourist stuff too. For my part, I enjoyed their company and generosity and ended up seeing New York from a prime ticket perspective. After about a week, it was time for all of us to part and head home. I had to get to New Jersey where I could hitchhike on the turnpike west back to Toledo. And they were flying from JFK. We got a cab and they dropped me off at the entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel where I spent 4 hours with my thumb out and not even a slowing car or a glance came my way. I got pretty frustrated and decided to take a bus to New Jersey where I may be able to attract a ride home from a more advantageous starting point. The bus driver stopped mid-journey to let me out by the turnpike and cautioned me about hitchhiking as it was against the law in New Jersey.
He was right and the police escorted me off the highway entrance and dropped me off at some little town which I can’t remember. From there I caught a ride from a truck driver back to New York City. He dropped me off where I had started hours before at the bus station. At this point, it had been over 7 hours since the girls dropped me off and I was no closer to my destination. At this rate I figured that I’d be back home in a month or so. With my last few dollars, I decided to buy a bus ticket home. It cost $27 one way, and the schedule said it would be a 16-hour trip. Thinking there must be a better way, I called the airlines and they had a flight from Newark to Toledo on standby that cost $29 and I’d be home in a couple of hours. I decided to fly; duh.
I took the bus from Manhattan to the airport and waited in standby. All said and done it took about 11 hours total for me to go from cozy hotel to assigned seat on an airplane home. I don’t think I ever hitchhiked again after that or ever needed to. As the plane took off and I sat back in my seat I looked out at the lights and the roads below thinking of my new friends, my New York experience and how blessed I was. Turned out that that quarter was a good omen afterall – The luck of the roll.
The Final Thought: I left out a number of details of this trip because I can’t on remembering things that would make this story way too long and too personal. That said, when we relive an adventure, we’re reminded of events and facts for sure, but what truly lasts are the emotions we felt as the experience unfolded. Sharing my story with you brought back a flood of good memories reminding me of my younger self and how wonderful life can be when we take a chance and chart a course to the unknown.
Szenzone – Stories of life and the power to change yours – is sent via email by request and is published weekly or thereabouts. For back issues or to receive this publication directly please email [email protected] © Gary Szenderski 2026 All Rights Reserved. Gary is an author, branding specialist and teaches at the University of California in Irvine. He specializes in helping people and organizations navigate change – if you or your company needs assistance contact Gary directly. Gary resides in Southern California and welcomes your comments.