Day 1: August 25, 2011
We’re starting our tale on this date because this is when everything started to get crazy. The days
leading up to August 25 had brought concern of Hurricane Irene. She had already hit the Bahamas and
left destruction in her wake and had set sight on the East Coast. All reports had her hitting landfall in
North Carolina and heading up with the coast and hitting NYC around Sunday at possibly a Category 1
Hurricane.
Upon hearing this we decided to head to our Travel Agent to see if we could switch our flight to
Saturday. Luckily airlines were being nice and let us change our flight without fees. We felt safer now
knowing we would be flying in on Saturday and safely in our hotel on Sunday when the Hurricane was
supposed to hit NYC.
Day 2: August 26, 2011
Happy Birthday JOE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This day was full of fun times and sad times. We found out that all
flights to the major airports around NYC (five total) had canceled all flights for Sunday. Yay lucky us
already switched our flight. With that not on our minds we had a great night of homemade mac and
cheese with a delicious caramel apple followed by finishing touches on packing.
Enter the sad: Joe has a friend that works for Delta (our savior really) and that’s how we found out that
not only were airlines canceling flights on Sunday but possible Saturday too. This way evacuating the city
if needed wouldn’t be as hard I guess. She text Joe around 10 PM on Friday night and told us our flight
Saturday had been canceled.
I fell to the floor balling. Called my mom in hysterics. I was looking at flights anywhere somewhat inland
but close enough that we could drive. WE HAD TO BE IN NYC ON MONDAY!!! No if ands or buts about it.
I was not going to have $2,000 go to waste.
Good thing I pack early. Upon hearing this news we decided to head the airport and figure out some way
to get on a plane. After an hour or so at the counter we were put on a flight to Boston at 9:45 AM the
next morning, August 27.
Day 3: August 27, 2011
Now instead of our destination being New Jersey we were headed to Boston! We were on row 43 of
44…holy big plane Batman. Joe was able to talk with the representatives at the gate about getting
somewhat closer. Sadly there were no seats any closer. Butttt they did have two open seats in FIRST
CLASS that they put us in.
Oh glory day how amazing First Class is! Since we have no clue what you do and don’t get in First Class
we asked…yeah, EVERYTHING is complimentary!!! Hello Bailey’s and coffee! It’s great to meet you on
my vacation!
We finally got into Boston and to our hotel. Thank goodness they had a list of places that delivered
because it was pouring rain and we were starving! After some delicious Chinese food we sat down and
made our plan of attack to get to NYC by Monday!
Me in the hurricane in Boston on 8/27Day 4: August 28, 2011
Enter our day of daringness! Bwhahaha
Irene had made landfall in North Carolina and was making her way north. Fortunately for us it appeared
she was going to head more inland up the East Coast rather than hug the coast and downpour on NYC.
Also, she was now a Tropical Storm. After much debate, car rental investigations and weather watching
we decided to leave Boston at 3:00 PM Sunday afternoon destined for NYC!
Honestly the drive wasn’t bad at all. Slightly windy and some sprinkling rain, but nothing crazy. And
score one for us in leaving Sunday instead of early Monday: Tolls were closed!!!! Sooo we only had the
crazy rental car price to pay! Oh and score two for us: parts of CT we drove through flooded Sunday
night, good thing we left early!
We made it to NYC about 7…and COULD NOT find the hotel. I swear I drove around for an hour…at least.
Finally finally we found the Holiday Inn Express and begged them to let us stay there instead of trying to
find the Holiday Inn for one night. They obliged and we were finally in NYC…the Open just a mile away! I
actually just wanted to stop and sleep there cuz I found that easier than my hotel. Hahaha
I was a day away from one dream coming true: Attending a Grand Slam.
Day 5: August 29, 2011
The day of the Open had finally arrived!! So far we had endured canceled flights, a late night at the
airport, first class, a hurricane, and got to exercise our right of being 25 and renting a car! The time for
TENNIS had arrived!
We got to the Billie Jean Tennis Center around 9 AM and waited for the gates to open at 10. I had fun
taking some pictures around the grounds and just taking in that I was actually here! We knew that Andy
wasn’t playing on Monday but were excited to see Fishy, Sharapova, Venus and yes, even Federer.
Since we returned our rental car that morning we got up at 6:30 AM. We didn’t get back to our Hotel
til close to 1:30. It was one LONNNNNNNG day. The first of many to come!! But long days are ok when
you’re at tennis having fun!!!
By now we knew the schedule of play for the next day and yet again, Andy wasn’t playing. I was getting
worried….
Joe and I on Day 1 of the Open!Day 6: August 30, 2011
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDY!
Another day of tennis, fun and pictures. I took about 120 pictures on Day 1, my camera died on me
about 20 pictures in on Day 2. I was bummed that I wouldn’t be able to get pics of Andy now. We
tore apart our hotel and the charger was nowhere to be found. I was determined to find a disposable
somewhere. We were able to watch Djokovic, Nadal and Serena play. Also, American James Blake.
It was shortly after Djokovic match I received CRUSHING news: Andy was playing the night session on
Ashe the next day. We only had tickets for the day sessions. I was NOT leaving NYC without seeing Andy.
That’s why I came. I needed to fulfill Dream #2. I sat on the ground of Arthur Ashe stadium in tears. I was
devastated and beyond sad. After talking it over we decided we’d do whatever we could to make sure I
got to see Andy the next night.
Emily being the Saint she is had no problem picking us up Thursday and our hotel had a room for
Wednesday night. Now all we needed to figure out was getting tickets! Thankfully we were able to trade
our Day tickets for Night and pay the difference. Things aligned: I was going to see Andy Roddick!!!!
Tears and stress lifted. Now time to find a camera!
Day 7 August 31, 2011
Since I can’t sleep in to save my life I was up about 7:30. I decided to clean up the suitcases. They were a
mess after we were frantically searching for our charger. Around 8 AM our hotel phone rang. I thought
that was odd since we hadn’t order a wakeup call or anything. There was a gentleman on the line and
he said that he had ridden the shuttle with us a few times to the Open. He asked if we were staying
for the night match and if we had tickets. I said that we were able to get extend our stay and get some
tickets. He then asked if I wanted better seats….ummm sure! I went to the door and there was an older
man with glasses and an LSU tee shirt standing there. He handed me two tickets and said, “Here, enjoy
these.” I knew these tickets were for sure better than ours because they were bigger and blue. As I’m
walking back into the room I notice they say BOX 56F instead of a row number and that COURTSIDE is
written below that. I start flipping out!!!! I screamed to Joe (who was half asleep still at least, the phone
call woke him up) “WE HAVE COURTSIDE SEATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
I immediately pulled up the Arthur Ashe seating chart and found out that we were about 10 rows FROM
THE COURT! I would be just mere feet away from Andy Roddick!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHH
Now finding a camera/charger was much more important. Since we turned in our day session tickets we
had all day to scour NY for an electronics store. Lucky for us our hotel had a shuttle stop at the mall and
the mall had a Best Buy nearby! We rush over there, find a charger that works with our camera battery
and head back to charge!!!! I could not wait for the night session. I was seeing Andy Roddick, LIVE and
from COURTSIDE seats!!!!
Time seemed to crawl by….finally it was time to enter the grounds, get some yummy BBQ Chicken
Pizza for dinner and settle down in my awesome courtside seat. The players finally came out and I was
ecstatic as Andy was right there in front me!!!! I took picture after picture, got a couple of his Box and of
Brooklyn for Joe and enjoyed the match. I was totally fine with his first round match going to four sets. I
got to see him play longer!
I had the tennis ball I had gotten from practice in my bag. I know that following the match the winner
signs some autographs while exiting the court. I was going to try and get down there to get an
autograph. What better way to cap off an amazing dream already come true, right? Sadly the security
officer right there was mean and wouldn’t let me down. So I took pics of Andy signing autographs. I
noticed that his box and cleared out and I had I thought. I wondered if I’d be able to run into Brooklyn or
his coach on the concourse. I took a walk to find out!
What a good walk it was!!! As I was making my way around I saw a small entourage of people walking
and recognized the woman as Brooklyn. I had my camera and an autograph book so I decided to ask
her for a picture. She was so nice and said yes and also signed an autograph. I knew Joe was going to
be so jealous. But hey, I got him a picture of Brooklyn Decker! I figured if I can’t meet Andy then his
supermodel wife is the next best thing!
I ended up being gone about an hour cuz the line to get us some delicious Honey Deuce drinks took
FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!! Joe figured I had found Andy, gotten escorted out of the grounds for finding Andy
or had died. Lol! He was happy to see I was ok and then very very jealous at the pic of Brooklyn. I got the
pic for him so he was OK with that!
We finished up the night watching Sharapova win. I still wish I could thank the nice man from our
hotel again. The front desk couldn’t remember who he was or what room he was in. He truly made my
dream of seeing Andy play more incredible by giving us those seats and again making a stressful and sad
situation better and work out more than I could have ever thought
So far we had dealt with flight issues to then be rewarded with first class and momentarily didn’t know
if I’d be able to see Andy to seeing him from Courtside and meeting his wife. New York sure was a roller
coaster and now it was off to Boston/Cambridge!
Andy following his huge serve
Andy getting ready to serve
Me with Brooklyn Decker
Yummy Honey Deuce Drink!!! :)
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