??Under the spell cast by the city lights, I was automatically sent spiraling into my imagination, full of excitement. This thought was soon shattered as a taxi flew past me, leaving my shorts drenched and I stunned. It felt like that moment was straight out of an episode of Ugly Betty, as cliche as it was, something like that would of course happen to me. "That sums up your luck!"cackled my sister from the curb near the Plaza Hotel where she felt she had just witnessed the funniest thing in the world. I gave her the dirtiest look I could muster, but a smile soon took over, for how could I even care? I was under the influence of the city lights. Greeted by a warm gust of air, it felt righteous to finally arrive at my long awaited destination: The Plaza Hotel, in the heart of New York City. My eyes immediately were magnetized to the elaborately decorated lobby, with crystals exploding over my head from a light fixture and a mosaic beneath my feet that nearly blinded me from the amount of sparkle it reflected. Sandwiched between two pieces of art for a floor and ceiling, I immediately felt out of place in my soaked shorts and hairstyle I was trying to pass off as a bun. I looked over at my mother, who somehow had not been sent into such a severe daze like myself and was instead almost done checking in. Upon being granted the room key the five of us poured into our room like a stampede. Claiming beds as if we were going to be living in that room forever, my friend Sarah shrieked with delight as we gathered around the window, "i can't believe we're here!" This was something I knew our moms, my sister and I were all thinking in unison. Illuminated by every colored light I could think of, it was evident that even at night this place had more brightness then darkness. "OK everyone, we have a busy day tomorrow so let's all go to sleep as soon as possible" said my mom, backed up by Sarah's mom. Forced to follow their lead I finally changed out of the nearly dry shorts and sunk into my mattress, content with the events that had just transpired. Nearly fully consumed by sleep, I took note of how ironic it was to be sleeping in a city that never sleeps. Jolted into the new day by the screeching of blow dryers, showers being started, and the beeping cars outside my window, it's no secret that five ladies have taken over the hotel room. "Come on Jess! We have 20 minutes before we're hitting Times Square!" says my friend. "All right all right! I'll be ready" I say, unable to contain myself Slipping on the most accessible outfit I could think of, I raced through my morning routine all for the love of shopping. Gathering at the elevators in record time we discussed everything we planned on doing the whole way down to the lobby. The summer's sunlight showered me with warmth as we exited our 'home' for the next few days. It felt as if then would have been the perfect moment to whistle and a taxi would pull up at our feet, but even in the city I found to be so magical that would not be the case. Even though it took a while to arrive at Times Square nothing could have prepared me for what I was about to experience. Felling like everyone around me was strutting down a runway int he chicest fashions, I stumbled down the streets in my flip flops and jean shorts. Gawking at heels women were wearing that could pass for mini skyscrapers, I could tell I was in unchartered territory. Once again, my mind had been consumed by day dreaming and I noticed I had left the side of Sarah and my sister. Panic stricken and feeling as if the buildings I once admired were caving in on me, I spotted my sister waving me over franticly. " What were you doing? Come on keep up" she scolded, while I regained my composure. Back in the suburbs, something like that would have never happened, yet I got a strange rush when I started thinking about it again. Roaming the endless shops, I finally spoke up. "I am starving!" I found myself saying exaggeratingly, I got the responses I needed while everyone agreed. Locating a small hotdog vendor with a little line, we all agreed to grabbing a quick lunch in order to keep moving along with the day. Being handed my hotdog in a greasy napkin, I initially had no desire to eat it, but hunger can make someone do crazy things. My mouth bursting with flavor, I realized it wasn't bad and before I knew it lunch had disappeared. " Food even tastes better here" I exclaimed, still under the euphoria of New York. The rest of the best day of my life was spent people watching and shopping, where I even bought myself the tourist shirt of the century reading "I heart New York" across the top. Feeling accomplished and in love with life, the sun began to melt along the skyline, ending a day I cherished every minute of. Some people go somewhere and fall in love with an item or a person, but within those 24 hours I fell in love with a city. The rest of the trip was spent actually going to real 'tourist hotspots,' but the first day is one where I discovered who I was going to be and where I was going to do that. Seeing outfits I never even thought could be done awakened my love for fashion and only in that city would I like food I usually hated, notice clothes I usually didn't and decide where I was going when I next got the chance. Not only did just the experience of being one of the many people in Time Square awaken new dreams and goals in my life, but it opened my eyes to the fact that I want to be a part of the city that never sleeps. I have repeated those words to people more than I care to admit, but in all actuality I found a place I want to call home in the future. As a flight attendant announced our landing at O'Hare Airport I found myself wishing I could find a genie's lamp or a shooting star so I could wish a thousand times to go back. Although it felt good to arrive home, I would give anything to go back and be the girl in the big city with the bright lights.