A trip to NYC for me….

Hi Steve,

Hey, whatcha doing this week and the coming weekend?  Wanna meet me in NYC for awhile?! (I know, I know, I'm a dreamer).  I mean, the only stupid question is the one not asked, right?!  That would be fun, though!  But, anyway, I'll be there with my friend Julie and her son Jacob (he's 10 and has never been there before).

She is taking him there because she loves the city, and wants HIM to love the city too.  I feel kinda like a tag-along, though….and the boy even said, "But MOM, then you'll be doing all kinds of stuff with your FRIEND!"  So, I have actually been teetering on the edge of not going at all, but Julie insists that it's okay and that she'd love having another adult around to keep an eye on him.

But……who's gonna keep an eye on ME?!!  THAT is my big fear, getting separated and lost and just swallowed up by that place….I get overwhelmed by it.  I have "social anxiety," according to my doctor, so this is not an easy trip for me.  They want to go to the top of the Empire State Building.  I said, "Have fun with that." (I am afraid of heights).  I am also avoiding Ground Zero.  I think that would throw my brain back into PTSD panic attacks.  No thanks.

New York City scares the bejeezus outta me.  I mean, I'm from BFE Michigan, remember?!  Farms, cows, and flat land everywhere you look.  Oh, and lakes.  But BUILDINGS?!  Huge, massive, dizzying tall buildings?!  THAT I am NOT used to.  And crazy people everywhere?  Holy crap!

I can do the Lego Museum thing, though.  And Times Square…for awhile…unless it's TOO crazy and I start to feel overwhelmed.  Pete suggested going to Central Park to ride in a boat for awhile, and THAT is more my speed!  I can dig that.  That would be peaceful, and quiet, and just relaxing.

Sooooooo anyway, if YOU were there, we could hang out and I would feel a LOT less scared.  I mean, I don't think of you as "STEVE PERRY THE FAMOUS SINGER," you know.  I think of you as "Steve Perry, a retired guy, who puts his pants on one leg at a time like everybody else."  So, that's why I'm asking you to come to New York City and hang out with us.  You're just a dude.  Just an imperfect dude, who loves to sing.  I am NOT one of those crazed fans who freak out.  You should know that, I've met you twice so far, and nothing weird happened.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, so I write a blog to you.  So what?!  That does NOT mean I'm a weirdo.  It just means that I think you're cool, and I enjoyed meeting you so what the heck, these are just random splatterings of silliness that I'd share with anyone I consider a friend of mind.  Ya know?

I gotta buy some mace.  And a taser.  Right?!!

Seriously, I'm a bit scared of NYC.  I mean, I'm probably making a big deal out of nothing, but you never know.  Ah well, I've only been there 2 times, for one day each time.  So, this is all new to me. I know you've been there a lot, and you are comfortable there.  I guess I'm just wanting a security blanket!  I told Pete I would feel more at ease if he were with us.  But, he's going to DC this weekend.

Well anyway, it's just a thought.  I know you've been busy with the Eels and stuff, VERY COOL!!! And you're probably working on that new solo album of yours----also VERY COOL.  So, I understand if you can't make it.  But hey, it's worth a shot to ask.

Hope you have a great week.  Oh yeah!!! I forgot to mention camp!!  Well, hmmmmm……where to start…..?  Okay, my allergies killed me the whole time---you could SEE the yellow SHEETS of pollen falling from the trees.  Every morning I woke up with difficulty swallowing.  It hurt.  So I would have to gargle with salt water, eat cough drops like candy, and take my allergy meds all the time.  That has never happened to me at camp before.  It was not fun.

BUT, the rest of the time WAS fun!!!  I'll have to write more about it later though.  Sorry, don't mean to be a tease, (like SOMEBODY I know), but I have to get going to take a friend to an eye doctor. She has an ulcer in her cornea and can't drive herself right now.

Bye for now. Have a great week, and hey, we'll be at the Ramada Staten Island…..come visit!! :)

Love, Rebecca