What can I say about New York City that I haven't said already? I have seen it in all four seasons of the year and under many different circumstances, but to be there in the spring on a warm day with the sun shining is as close to Heaven as it gets.
Well, Heaven with graffiti, traffic, noise and a bustling throng of people anyway.
But there is something about the Big Apple that causes me to put away all those concerns - or put up with them, at least. It's a place where you can get anything you want at pretty much any hour. It's a place that contains so much of our history. It's a place that challenges you to stay for more than a few minutes without finding something that piques your interest. It's a place where a bunch of people dressed in leather tack with tails on their butts can haul carts around the public park with no fear of a bad reaction.
These people have seen just about everything and they are always willing to be amused by the unusual. Ponies, of course, love to be the unusual things that get attention.
On May 1, Mistress, Stormy and I drove to the meeting place - headquarters if you will - of the 2010 Pony Romp. We met at the same location as we did in 2008 when last we roamed the Bridle Path, giving the ladies out front of the Redeemer Lutheran Church a giggle in the process. Times change everywhere, but in NYC, times change almost constantly. The little restaurant that had occupied the store front of this building was no longer there. Nothing had come to take its place as yet. Probably a sign of the economy. Those little hole-in-the-wall cafes tend to be here today and gone tomorrow or the day after. It's just part of the rhythm, but it's a sad commentary on our times.
Not to wallow in our grief, we wasted no time getting our stables, tack, toys and other apparatus out of the van and into the meeting room. There was a lot to do, so Mistress busied Herself with logistics while Stormy and I tacked each other up.
Tacking up is something of a ritual for Stormy and me. If we are tacked by another person, we tend to go much deeper into head space. If we tack ourselves up, we feel more like a couple of guys putting on costumes. Getting into pony space takes a lot longer and sometimes doesn't really happen. But today was different. Head space is less of a concern when you are going out in public. While it's highly desirable, the schedule was pretty tight, there was a lot to do, and the ponies needed to get ready quickly. So Stormy and I set about the task.
It wasn't long before everything was ready and we all headed for the park. We got there just about on time for the romp and piled out of the vans. Ms. Nikki and Blaze from Centaur Stables were there as were Foxy Davis and Sherifox of Native American Exotics. Wow...Foxy and Sherifox had traveled all the way from Florida for this day in the park. Ponygroom Tim and his ponygirl Lindsay were there - also from Florida (!). So was Pepper. There were others who play rather privately and who probably would not want their names listed here. But there was quite a crowd ready and raring to go.
I once noted that New Yorkers generally don't get phased by much. They have been through a lot over the years and get exposed to a whole lot of stuff you and I probably see once in our lives if ever. But I suppose a couple of ponyboys putting the wheels on a cart might be a bit unusual. The crowd gathered quickly and the cameras came out just as fast. Stormy and I put Mistress' cart together as quickly and efficiently as we could, relying on Her to make the final adjustments. Once hitched up and ready, the romp began.
This romp would be different for one big reason...it was heavily documented on video! You can find lots of snippets on YouTube, but here are some of my favorites:
La Dresseuse Maureen (that's my Mistress!) discusses what She likes about pony play.
Doctorcharley of Pleasure talks about pony play (with yours truly in the background!).
Ms. Reina Darkness talks to Doctorcharley about the three parts of pony play.
Heck, go to YouTube and put "pony play" into the search box. You'll be amazed!
After the romp and subsequent rest period on the green, we headed back to headquarters for our barbecue and party. That trip was uneventful until we came close to Times Square. That's when we encountered the road blocks and the detour. Huh? Well folks, it was May 1, 2010 and although we didn't get the full story for a couple of days, it seems some crazy decided he would try and blow a few people up that particular day. May Day. What timing. Thanks Faisal, you really made our day.
Ms. Reina certainly does put on a fantastic spread! I think you would have to go back to the barbecue at the Central Texas Kink Ranch in November 2008 to match what we found awaiting us in the small room behind the defunct patisserie. We ate, socialized, compared stories of what we had seen on the bridal path, explained a few things to a few people who were mystified about something this pony or that pony did or didn't do, and put our stalls together for what would prove to be a splendid play session.
I have to tell you about a very special gift that I got from ms. Reina. I was seated on the floor at one point following a scene I had done with a friend when I noticed Her holding not one but two single tail whips. They were brand new, She said, and needed to be broken in. Was I up for it? I think a very quick look at Mistress told the whole story. Rare is the night that I get to play more than once, and I had not felt the sting of any single tail other that the one Mistress holds, so yes! I was ready and willing!
Ms. Reina proceeded to use both single tails in the Florentine style. I had experienced Florentine flogging before, but this was something quite apart and exquisite. I also left me with some very impressive marks on my back. They stayed with me for several days and reminded me of the wonderful time and attention I received each and every time I toweled off after a shower.
Tired and exhausted after the party, the three of us drove back to Queens where we found our hosts awake and eager to hear about our escapades. To my delight, we had more conversation over a late night breakfast (I told you that you can get just about anything you want at any hour) at a diner close by.
Then back to the apartment and to bed. The next day we had another great breakfast at another great diner, then it was on the road for home.
Another wonderful time with wonderful people in a fantastic city.
