Quickly and uneventfully the turn style clicked me thru. In an instant the little one and I were on one side and Rick now trapped back on the other. An empty subway card, hoards of people, and massive recharge lines for Metro Cards. Normally a battle plan could be put into place, not on this day or time, forget it no time. Grand Central Station, the night before the night before Christmas, the beginning of rush hour. Holding a three-year old incommunicado in the bowels of NYC waiting for the site of Rick come shooting through the turn style. Good thing we are strategist, keen and attentive trackers………
Rick and I made a decision many years ago to forgo the material torment of Christmas for the experiential. Each festive holiday season we transplant ourselves on a jaunt to enjoy each other’s company somewhat removed. When we became parents we kept our pledge to remain devoted to preserving our love for holiday travel. Our cherished tradition continued these past three years traveling to Cali, NYC, and Asheville, NC as a threesome. The difference these most current years has been that, to avoid traffic and crowds, we actually traveled home ON Christmas Day. Sounds crazy but the airports are desolate and the roads are stark, in addition, those who are coerced into representing the commercial sector are actually warm and the holiday spirit exudes, maybe from drinking eggnog on the job or the double time pay
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Our decision thisyear was to go away, yet again, to New York City but the difference this year, that we decided to return home on Christmas Eve. Ironically and contradictory to this coming year where we will spend time everywhere but. So New York City for the holidays? The masses, the chaos! Well, yes, at some of the touristy stops but the city itself is a living entity that can absorb you immediately. You can get lost in the feeling of its magnitude while at the same time feel the intimacy of it.
Overall, as we have encountered for past frequent trips, New Yorkers are very friendly and there is always such a grander sense of community. People are very aware of each other physically as well as energetically. Maybe it is because people live in such a close proximity to each other and must interact so often? Whatever the reason the culture, the diversity, and the people make NY such a memorable place, one that cannot be duplicated anywhere else in the world. Everywhere we went this trip people spoke directly to and even more often smiled and commented to us as well as our little one. This does not happen nearly as much in the greater Princeton Area.
Some sights and stops were planned – a trip to the Parker Meridian to see the City Harvest Gingerbread Competition. A fundraiser for the city’s hungry men, women, and children. Unexpected moments of the 70 degree and sunny weather our first day included, the Green Market on the Upper West side equipped with a pop up Opera company that stopped playing some refined classical holiday favorites to share Rudolf with us so we could sing along and an organic baker that gifted a gingerbread girl to our girl. The hit of the jaunt? An excursion to the Swedish Cottage in Central Park for a marionette show – the Three Bears Holiday Bash. Such an intimate event where we sat on benches and the crowd sang along and interacted to this unique event. In the dark, one row ahead, and I don’t think our child turned around once unprompted to see if we were still there. Transfixed by the magic and mystery!
One day was took a short subway to the MTA museum to see the miniature train that they have set up for the season, something so simple and quaint in an unexpected place, great for a rainy afternoon. And well, yes, we did lose each other on the subway that crowded day at Grand Central and have to rendezvous at our hotel. No worries, when I got onto the overflowing subway carrying an almost 40 lbs body on my hip immediately a gentleman rose to let me sit. The city always seems to welcome us back – Lost but not alone.
Living Wherever We Are 