( Ah, New York... ) My spring chorus trip to New York City had come at the most opportune time. It had been a long, hard, and busy senior year in high school thus far, and the annual musical, which had overtaken me as I fulfilled the position of head student stage manager for two months, was over less than a week before our trip. I sighed; after fundraising endlessly through the year, I was finally going to relax and enjoy the four-day vacation I deserved in the city I had always wanted to visit. I did little relaxing upon arrival, however. Kathy, Gina, Lori, Brittany, and I were roommates for the trip, but we usually didn’t see our rooms until 11:30 at night or later. Our overzealous tour guide, Julie, and laidback bus driver, Frank, swept us through the city all day and late into the night, ensuring we would be good and tired when we returned to our hotel. It was like this for the first two days – Broadway shows, dinner at Planet Hollywood, the Empire State Building, Chinatown, and Ground Zero. We were even on The Today Show! I was especially excited for the dinner cruise scheduled for our third night. If the trip was this thrilling so far, then the event of the trip everyone had been talking about was sure to be the best.
As we rode down to the docks on that night in early March, our bus full of chatty students dressed in their best evening wear, I talked with my bus seat buddy, Kathy. I questioned her relentlessly about what to expect since she had gone on this trip last year. Everything was positive and heightening my spirits until she mentioned seasickness. I paused. I had never been on a boat for a prolonged period of time before, and I wasn’t sure how I’d react to the waves tossing us around on the choppy Hudson River. So, Kathy produced a bottle of Dramamine to ease motion sickness, and I took two whole pills to prevent anything from spoiling my highlight of the trip.
The Spirit of the Hudson was the smallest boat there, but it was relatively large inside. I sat down to dinner and noticed that I wasn’t reacting at all to the rough sway of the river beneath us. I felt some confidence build in me; the Dramamine was doing its job. The night continued on with dancing, dessert, and photo shoots of the scenery up on deck. I went up into the bitter cold several times to take pictures with Kathy, Brittany, Gina, and our chorus teacher, Mr. Molinaro. I stood next to him shivering with a heavy wool coat on, waiting for the perfect shot of the Statue of Liberty later into the cruise. It was then that a sudden drowsiness set in, and my entire body felt exhausted. Mr. Molinaro repeatedly asked if I wanted to go back downstairs, but I refused. A little sleepiness wasn’t going to take away from my dinner cruise.
Eventually, when we went downstairs, I was feeling disoriented. Mr. Molinaro made me sit with him and brought me a drink while two of our chaperones, Mrs. Sparks and Mrs. Lucas, questioned me about my condition. I told them about taking two pills of which I had forgotten the name, and both of their eyes went wide as I confirmed it was Dramamine. I was now confused as well as falling asleep on the table. What was so bad about taking two pills of Dramamine? Mrs. Sparks explained that taking only half of one made you incredibly tired, and that’s when it registered: I was going to pass out, and the ship was still an hour from reaching the docks!
Mr. Molinaro urged me to drink some more caffeine and move around, but it did little to stop me from spiraling into a lifeless heap on the table. Then, I tried to get up and walk around with my favorite teacher following me worriedly, but I swayed dangerously with the boat. At this, he, Kathy, and Gina escorted me to an empty table where I refused to put my head down, but they were just as stubborn and would not allow me to get out of the chair. After that point, I don’t remember much except slumping over in my chair and cursing myself for taking the Dramamine. When I woke up, though, I wasn’t on the ship anymore – I was in my bed in the hotel room!
Though I don’t remember any of it, the recreations of this night via my friends and peers was humorous (to an extent), unsettling, and troublesome. Apparently, I was practically carried off the ship first thing when it docked by two strong friends, Andrew and Bruce, with several others trying to talk to me and keep me awake for the long walk back to the bus. I somehow got onto the bus, was put in my seat, and slept instantly. When I didn’t wake up upon arrival at the hotel, more and more of the group began to realize that something was wrong with me. I guess I was last to leave the bus, again accompanied by my two escorts and my ever-loyal roommates I had upset. Once in my room, I passed out on the bed, the Dramamine still having a powerful hold on me. Not only were my roommates scared, I was told from them that the chaperones and Mr. Molinaro kept checking in. There was even talk of sending me home, but they made the decision to let me sleep it off.
In the morning that followed, Gina roused me five minutes before our bus left to go meet the ferry on which we would tour the Statue of Liberty. I was still left in a blur from the effects of the Dramamine, and it was apparent I still stood a great chance of falling asleep at any given moment. I stood in line with Kathy, Brittany, Mr. Molinaro, and two of the chaperoning mothers so that a watchful eye was on me at all times. I was even groggy on the boat (though I didn’t get sick; the Dramamine was obviously still working). Concerned talk was still all around me, especially after I almost slumped over on the railing. Later, when the ferry contained only our group, I headed to the lower interior of the boat and lay down on a bench. Before I could wish I had never take those cursed pills the night before, I was out again. I slept until we reach the docks (this time I was able to remember it), waking up to the same familiar worried faces as before.
Ultimately, the Dramamine seemed to slowly wear off. I was still in a daze from the experience and trying to remember it, but I probably never will be able to recall some of the events of the night I took two whole Dramamine pills on a New York City dinner cruise. I have to rely on the accounts of my friends for some of it. I am definitely shocked by the outcome of those two white pebble-sized pills that sent my into the deepest slumber I have ever experienced. According to my friends and my chorus teacher, I am forthwith banned from ever using Dramamine again, and I couldn’t be happier to agree. To this day, I feel foolish and guilty from all the worry I had caused so many people, but it is nice to know who you have in those times of need. As for me, I learned firsthand all about the ‘drama of Dramamine’ so many of my friends have talked about. Honestly, I would prefer to be seasick than to ever see another Dramamine pill again. I’ve personally had enough of it to last me a lifetime.
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