Christmas in New York
Decided to “kill” a few hours before a life coaching appointment in the city. I was off to Holiday Lane in Macy’s.
On my way up to the ninth floor, I stopped to look at some Lenox ornaments and struck up a conversation with a lovely saleswoman. She told me her father used to be Santa at the World Trade Center and that he always said, “When you put that suit on, magic happens.”
My stroll through the themed trees in Holiday Lane was just that — magical. My favorite was the white one hung upside down with ornaments all done in shades of pink and purple and bright blue.
On my way to my appointment, I happened to pause for a traffic light on the corner of Sixth Avenue and 36th Street. It was about 4:45 p.m., so it was dusk and the light was just so. I looked up and saw the Empire State Building lit in green and red. What a spectacular sight. I see that building every single day and am still awed by it.
I had a highly satisfying coaching session and journeyed home, feeling fabulous.
Blessings
I have recently received gifts of
music
suede
groceries
Lucky me.
The wishing tree
My Christmas tree is up.
It is whimsical, kitsch, glamorous, hopeful, vibrant, out there, sparkly, psychic.
It soothes me.
Mean hurls
I despise gratuitous meanness.
It seems to be in my DNA.
I used to dispense it frequently and at will.
I’ve worked hard the last few years to ease up.
Now it must stop.
It’s too ugly and hurtful.
This is what I’ve learned this Thanksgiving weekend.
And for that I am ever grateful.
Thanks for the knowledge
As we approach Thanksgiving, I am thinking a lot about the program I saw Sunday night on The History Channel. It was called Desperate Crossing and detailed the events leading up to the pilgrims’ crossing as well as the crossing itself and what happened once they were here.
What I appreciated about the show was all the nuance it highlighted. How brave and admirable to leave one’s native country to practice one’s own religion. To patiently plan the departure. They endured sickness and stench aboard the Mayflower. How horrific that they stole the Indians’ crops and justified it in the name of religion. And, incidentally, that they kept referring to them as “savages.”
But the fact that it all culminated in Thanksgiving was soothing. A good TV experience.
Toy with me
Ventured over to Toys R Us in Times Square today. Takes a special kind of mindset and I was up for the challenge. Actually enjoyed the heck out of it. Wanted to get a preview of what’s out there for my niece and nephew.
What I experienced in the process was a very massive and very loud dinosaur roaring (Is that what they do?) as a backdrop. Impressive. As were the Empire State Building and Chrysler Building done in Legos, about 25 and 20 feet, respectively. And the Barbie House, in which I saw a … drumroll, please … Lois Lane Barbie! What a hoot.
Spent well over two hours in there. Toys definitely R them.
Sky candy
One of the good things about it getting dark earlier at this time of year is that a simple trip to the grocery store gives me a chance to see the lit-up Manhattan skyline. It’s spectacular tonight. The Empire State Building is lit in red-yellow-red. I wondered about the colors and decided to look it up.
According to the ESB website, that combo is considered fall colors and will be up through November 22. It’s pretty cool to see what events and causes are represented by the colors they use. For example, in November, they honored Rutgers football with red; March of Dimes premature births with pink and blue; and Veterans Day with red, white and blue.
What a beautiful landmark.
Red, white, green
How you know you’re Italian:
The antipasto, turkey, stuffing, vegetables, yams, potatoes, cranbury sauce, fruit, figs stuffed with walnuts, chocolate mints, pastries, pumpkin pie, apple pie, chocolate cream pie … not enough for a Thanksgiving menu.
The opening course? Lasagne.
It’s up to you …
Why I love New York today:
– Walked by the filming of a scene for Law and Order, Criminal Intent and saw both stars. So fun.
– Inspired because it was such a mild November day, grabbed a ‘recession special’ at Gray’s Papaya — two hot dogs with sauerkraut and mustard and a Diet Coke for $2.75 — consumed while standing at a counter. Smooth.
– Met some friends and heard all about their luxurious trip to India.
– Strolled through H&M and laughed out loud as this adorable sales guy with a ton of rhythm challenged us shoppers to move to the music as we combed through sale racks. Meanwhile, he walked (or danced) his talk.
– Navigated a bustling 34th Street by weaving around handbag knockoffs on sprawling blankets.
It’s been a slice.
Unconditional thoughts
I find myself thinking a lot about giving and loving unconditionally.
About knowing the boundary between that and enabling.
Of going beyond one’s comfort zone to be there for another.
Of going beyond what’s convenient or easy.
That’s all.
