Thanksgiving Weekend NYC/Bethlehem 2006

I will admit it, I sulk when the fun is over, when life slows down, and life goes back to normal. If it were up to me, we would all ride the waves of those highs and never ever see those lows. I know we need the lows to balance us, help us focus, help us appreciate the good times that much more, but in all honesty, I kind of think they suck.

Blue and I had an awesome 3 weeks away and our finale in NYC for Thanksgiving was just the icing on the cake. Wednesday night before Thanksgiving, Blue and I checked into The Holland Motor Lodge in Jersey City right outside the Holland Tunnel. This humble little family owned motel is a gem and we will not hesitate to stay there time and time again. A friend told us about it and we are glad that she did, the rates were unbeatable (under $100 a night), the wood paneled walls looked a little long in the tooth, but it was as clean as the Marriot rooms we usually stay in when we are traveling for business. The staff was incredible, the continental breakfast was impressive, and the hotel was a short 5 minute walk to the Path train into the city, which was only $1.50 each way. I have to admit, this place is one of the best travel bargains we have ever snagged and it freed up our wallet for all the fun we had once in the city.

Wednesday night we checked into the lodge, raced to the Path train and took it to the subway, and off to the city we went. I did not bring my camera because a huge storm was expected, so I have no photos, but I will never forget how magical this night was.

Everyone says that when you ride mass transit for the first time, be sure to buy extra tickets. Everyone gets on a wrong train or two their first time. We were no exception and our first mistake landed us in the heart of the World Trade Center site. This was our second time there since, 9-11 and it seemed just as eerie as the first time. The impact of all that happened there will always haunt me as I feared for those in our family that were with FDNY or NYPD that day. Thankfully, we lost no one, but my heart still hurts for those that that did. Maybe it is just us, but the mosaics of all of the eyes watching from the walls made us want to hurry out of there just as quick as we could.

Our next train took us uptown to 81 st and West Central Park to catch the Macy’s Day Parade Balloons being blown up. From what I hear, this is a tradition every bit as important as the parade. http://manhattan.about.com/od/event...cysballoons.htm
The area was packed and we just bumped along with the crowd as we walked along starring with awe and the size and magnificence of the balloons. It is so hard to pick a favorite when each one is every bit as amazing as the rest, but I really loved the snowmen. Blue had never seen the balloons in person before and like all grownups that see them for the first time, he was captivated with childlike wonder and awe. .

Hand in hand, we walked down 8 th to Columbus Circle, down Broadway and on to Times Square stopping for a slice on NYC style Pizza along the way. My family was always too paranoid to walk through the city at night, so this was my first time getting to enjoy the city at night. Words just can not capture how dazzling it all is or the energy that is so intense that even a city like NY can not contain it. We explored, shopped, and my first purchase is something I picked out especially for my Secret Santa Person. I can not wait till they get it!

Blue and I wandered the city for hours… Rockefeller center was not lit up yet, but the angels brilliantly lit the way all the way to Saks on 5 th Avenue which was lit up with a Swarovski inspired snowflake light and music display. The experience was downright intoxicating and we soaked it all in till we were practically ready to burst with the spirit of Christmas and the glittery type of sparkly feelings that only the magic of the holidays can bring. That was until the winds of the storm swept in like wild fire sending us and much of NY running for cover. We made it to the Subway just in time to miss the torrential rain that washed the city clean as it pounded down on all that was below.

The Subway at 1 am was an experience all of its own. We were alone in the subway car… I thinking of the risqué scene in the movie Risky Business and Blue wondering when the bad guy was going to come through with a knife. Blue’s paranoia won out and I laughed to myself as he stood up on watch ready to barricade the doors incase anyone illegally hopped train cars hunting for a victim. Like always, we balance each other… my sense of adventure and Blue sense of safety. Still wishing my sense of adventure had won out. ;-)

Of course we got off the subway, quickly headed out of the station and into the bone chilling winds and driving rain that seemed to engulf us as if it were coming up from the ground. Laughing, splashing, and soaked, we blew into a little diner for a cup of hot coffee, while the waitress called us a cab. Sitting in that diner listening to the friendly chatter of the locals warmed me in a way no heat source ever could. I was a bit sad when our cab showed up and it was time to go.

Exhausted we crashed for the night at 2 am wondering if the Parade was going too be cancelled for only the 2 nd time in 80 years…

At 5 am when I woke up feeling achy from the last traces of the cold we had caught, the rain still pounding, and our disappointment as heavy as the thickest rain clouds in the sky, I knew there was nothing more we could do then hunker down under the blankets and dream of the next time…

At 7 am, I felt better, the weather calmed, the parade was preparing to start, and we hustled to bundle up to head to the city and catch what we could. I was ready first and was thrilled to find the doughnuts and pastries of my childhood down on the breakfast table in the lobby. Abandoning all reserve I decadently devoured a strawberry filled powdered doughnut that was so full that it nearly weighed a pound. It took all my reserve to leave the others on the tray…

In the rain, umbrellas in hand Blue and I made our way to the path train admiring all of the Christmas decorations along the way. By now we had figured out that the Subway was unnecessary, so we took the Path train directly to 33 Rd Street to catch what we could of the parade. Most of the route was roped off, but we did catch a few of the balloons as they drifted by us 2 blocks away. A little bit of a let down, but we have our whole lives ahead of us and will most definitely try again.

Our day was spent walking the city much as we had the night before. Macys and all of the department stores, and most of the attractions were closed, but we had the most amazing time viewing it all as we walked by. Lunch was in a deli, a bagel with cream cheese, lox and extremely hot coffee…

The winds were still bitter and fierce. Broken umbrellas lined the trashcans on almost every corner like abandoned headstones in a graveyard. FAO Schwartz was the embodiment of childhood desire and enchantment. The Apple Store a grown up’s electronic fantasyland. Exhausted and cold at this point we meandered our way through.

So many places to choose from for Thanksgiving dinner, but all we could think about was the warmth of that tiny little diner in Jersey City where we decided to head… The chef was working alone when we got there. A blur of 67 year old grey hair racing through the kitchen as small parties of people gathered around the tables prepared for a feast. The food was humble, but the chef (a newly emigrated little old man from Greece) remembered us from the night before and welcomed us like royalty. It is from him and that night that I learned that the most humble food becomes a feast when it is served with much love. “Mr. Steve” the chef made our Thanksgiving dinner a memorable affair and we were very glad we had chosen to go back. We left the diner that night with full tummies, completely awed and inspired by the ideals of a man more that twice our age.

Black Friday we woke up at the crack of dawn for our first experience of facing the early morning door buster shoppers. There was nothing we really wanted, but to see the knock down drag out fights over discounted frying pans and Pyrex sets at Macy’s. Blue and I were not disappointed and the people watching was far better then the best of reality TV. Not sure we will do it again, but it was entertaining in a sense. We shopped our favorite stores, which were much quieter in comparison and we filled shopping bags with troves of treasures to wrap up and set under our tree till Christmas.

With the day moving fast, we finished our shopping, loaded the car, dined on some more doughnuts, checked out and made our way on the highways back to our home in Ohio. On a whim we stopped in a town called Bethlehem in PA. There was a Christmas festival in full swing and Blue grudgingly left his ambitions to get home in the car for a while as I begged for a 2 hour break. Spoiled and convincing, I won and Blue begrudgingly set out to have a good time. The sky was bright blue, the air crisp, and at the end of the 2 hours even Blue had to admit he was glad that we stopped.

Holiday tunes on the radio, we wound our way through the holiday traffic and were home tucked in bed before midnight. Still dizzy from the frantic pace of our latest adventure, we laid our heads to rest on the smooth silkiness of our very own cotton sateen encased down pillows and hunkered down for what could only be called a long winter’s rest. No visions of sugar plums this time, our dreams were laden with the scents of street vendors selling pretzels, shiny cases full of imitation Rolex watches, colorful knock off designer purses, and all of the sights and sounds of our trip. The sights and sounds that will have to carry us through till the next time, whatever and whenever that may be.