First, let me start by sending all of my
love and prayers out to the victims of the horrific Sandy Hook Elementary
School shooting that occurred yesterday morning. When I read the news headlines
going across the top of the Fox News building in New York City, I couldn’t
believe it. My heart goes out to those poor parents, who went to pick up their
children from school, only to find out that they weren’t there to come home.
It’s terrible that this stuff happens in the world we live in, and you’d think
that with all of our intelligence and technology there’d be a way to stop it.
But for now, all we can do is hug our families a little tighter, be thankful
for the lives that we have, and enjoy every day we are given. If you’re
interested in helping Newtown, Connecticut families with the expense of funeral
costs for some of the children, and whatever else that they need, visit this
website: https://newtown.uwwesternct.org/.
And now, for the blog post, hopefully to
lift your spirits. Now, this would have come Thursday, but I had a sort of
terrible sore throat, which the docs claim was nothing more than a bit of a
cold trying to keep up. Oh, winter, how you tease me with your illnesses. So, needless
to say, I fell asleep early and forgot about writing. Woops… However last
night, I have a bit of a more exciting excuse. I was at an annual Christmas
party for a family member of mine in the Big Apple. And might I just add, there
are few things I enjoy more than the magic of New York at Christmas. It’s one
of the few times I actually take pleasure in acting as though I am a tourist
(although honestly, I feel like a New Yorker, not an upstate-er).
Everything just seems more magical there. The
chill in the air, the people carrying bags from Saks Fifth Avenue, Toys R Us,
and FAO Schwartz, and the red Starbucks paper cups with warm, holiday
favorites. The candy cane striped bus stops that aren’t in use for the season,
the Saint Patrick’s Cathedral manger scene with the golden retriever, the
Salvation Army red kettles on every other corner with cheerful people ringing
their silver bells to Christmas music. The massive decorations on the street
are, too, my favorite thing to take in. The red ribbons wrapping up Cartier,
the dripping icicle belts from Fendi, the nutcrackers, the Christmas lights,
and the shiny red balls all lined up against Sixth. And then you’ve got my
favorite, an old one but still, a classic: the Rockefeller Plaza Christmas
tree.
Yes, even as a child, I always thought that
giant spruce was magical, in some construed way. It wasn’t December without a
visit to the plaza to look at the skater’s, take a photo of the angels with
their trumpets, and of course, marvel at the tree, which just seems to engulf
the square in a way no other thing can. When there at night (in my opinion, the
only time to go if you want to absorb its full beauty), it’s a mad house.
Families everywhere, from all over the globe, grabbing hands to try and stay
together as they maneuver their way through the throngs of others, all trying
to do the same thing. It’s nuttiness. It’s a little pushy. It’s absolutely
beautiful.
If you’ve yet to experience New York at
Christmas, I suggest that you should reconsider what you have done in your
life. Although London (the other city I visited this holiday season) is
certainly more filled with decorations (imagine, many, many streets just like
Fifth Avenue, filled with gorgeous, 12 feet lighted decorations up above the
walks), it’s not quite what New York is to me. Maybe because NYC just feels
like home, especially in December… It’s a place where I can almost see myself
in ten years, walking down the street with a warm pretzel, taking it all in as
I stride back to my cheap apartment. Yes, it’s lovely, incredibly lovely.
The only thing that would have added to the
spirit of the season would have been snow. I’m crossing my fingers, toes, and
whatever else is flexible enough that the white magic will fall upon us
sometime on the twenty-four of this month. That would be enough of a present
for me (even though I am indeed pining for John Green’s novel, The Fault in Our
Stars, to make it’s way under my tree). How else is Santa supposed to land his
magic sleigh with the eight tiny reindeer in my lawn?
Hoping you’re all having a good weekend,
and taking some time to realize how fortunate we are for the things we have. It’s
a scary place out there, and we don’t always appreciate the good, little stuff
that hides in the corners of our days. People holding the door open for us. A
warm hug from someone you really care about. Indulging in your favorite candy
bar. It sounds like really dumb stuff, but one day, it just might put a smile
on your face. Because remember, there are twenty little kids who can’t
experience those things anymore, now up in heaven as little angels.
May all who read this stay safe, and keep
Newtown, CT in yours thoughts. Have a wonderful week.
Infinite xoxo,
R
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